CELEB UNPLUGGED

ROHINI HATTANGADI
The versatile actress who created waves as Kasturba in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi, and is currently in the news for her power-packed performance as the fiery politician in the tele drama Mahayagya, prefers listening to ghazals and old Hindi film hits...

I don’t understand western music. I believe one has to have an ear for such music. And I don’t. So I steer clear of this kind of music. I have heard a few chart-toppers, thanks to my son who is an avid FM fan, but they didn’t appeal to me.

I prefer Mehdi Hasan, Begum Akhtar and Jagjit Singh’s ghazals and film songs. Old Hindi film hits are my favourites. I just adore Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam from Guru Dutt’s Kagaz Ke Phool. I don’t care much for the present day chartbusters. Most of them are just straight lifts. There are so few original tunes being composed these days.

I have little knowledge of Indian classical music. But I listen to a lot of it. Since I am a dancer, I have a fair knowledge about the taal. Also my husband loves classical music and buys up a lot of such cassettes. And he makes me listen to them compulsorily. Bhimsen Joshi is a favourite at our home. I can’t really sing a ghazal or a slow number, but I am quite good singing those songs with a fast beat.