SHAAN            /       

Reason To smile...

... Make it two actually. Shaan is currently in the news as the voice for the cheeky child in the tele-serial, Chhota Muh Aur Badi Baat; but more importantly he is making waves as the singer of Musu musu... from the film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi. Which makes us wonder why he doesn't sing for films more often?

He's got a charming, well-trained voice, that's for sure. And Shaan has proved it over and over again right from the time he sang with his sister for their debut album Naujawan, which was followed by his solo album, Loveology. He reinforced the quality of his singing with the remixed version of Dil kya kare (Julie). Musu musu haasi, thus, is only the latest in a series of good musical outings for Shaan. Endearingly rendered by Shaan, the song is another showcase for his talent.

Compliment him and he modestly accepts it, but can't quite understand the attention being lavished on the number. "It's a simple song," he says, wondering what the fuss is all about, "with Nepali words, which means `give a smile'. But yes, I've got a good feedback, lots of positive response. People have been calling up to say that they have liked the song."

Musu musus happens to be the first film song of Shaan's who till now has only sung for albums and jingles. "I'd love to sing for Hindi films but I can't really get down to doing the rounds of the Hindi film composers, pandering to their egos and begging them to give me a song. If they feel I have it in me I will be only too happy to sing for them."

In the case of Musu musu... Shaan had things his way. The song landed into his lap without him having to try really hard. "The director of the film, Raj Kaushal, is a friend and so are the composers Vishal, Salim and Shekhar. We have done a lot of jingles and other audio visuals together. And they asked me to sing for their debut film Pyar Mein Kabhi Kahbi," says the young singer.

Originally Shaan was to sing all the songs for the film, but he ended up with only two songs. "Things didn't work out because of my trip to Spain. The recording clashed with my visit to Spain, and the director and composers said they couldn't wait for me to come back. So I recorded two songs before I left. Besides Musu musu ..., the other song I have sung is the romantic Woh pehli baar." It's no surprise then that these two happen to be the best numbers of the album.

Did he ever get the feeling that he was singing a potential hit? "I am not really good at predicting hits," says the low-profile singer who doesn't believe in tom-tomming about himself.

Besides singing, Shaan has ventured into another interesting field - dubbing for a toddler. He is the voice for the precocious tiny tot in the newly started teleserial Chhota Muh Aur Badi Baat. How was he chosen to dub for the toddler? "I was recording a jingle when I happened to meet the makers of Chhota Mooh Aur Badi Baat. They asked me to do the kid's voice and I thought why not give it a try because I hadn't done anything like this before," he narrates. "They recorded some dialogue samples and took it with them, I presume to check them out. After some days they called back to confirm that I would be the voice of the child. It's cool really because you finish dubbing for six episodes in a day."

The teleserial is inspired from the innovative Hollywood film Look Who's Talking? and its sequel Look Who's Talking Now, in which stars John Travolta and Bruce Willis lent their voices for the unborn child in the womb and the toddler respectively. Did he have a dekko at the films to get an idea of what he has to do? "I didn't see the films. It's not all that tough actually," he says. Did he have to take special care since he was dubbing for a toddler? "Not really because I have to sound like myself, an adult, and not like a child. In the serial the child speaks like an adult. And I don't have to rack my brains because the reactions of the child are scripted. Actually it must have been a headache for the script writers."

Other than all the appreciation, has Musu musu brought him offers for more film songs. "Not at all," he says frankly. "I guess things won't happen that fast." However, the young singer enthusiatically informs you that he is working on his new album. The new album will see Shaan shift labels from Magnasound to Virgin Records. "This one is also a pop album, but unlike my past albums it's a bit more serious, a step ahead sound-wise I should say. I have written the lyrics and composed the music with Ram Sampat, who worked with me on my earlier album. I have already recorded three songs. It's been a while since Loveology, so I'd like to see this one in the market soon." So do we.