SHIAMAK DAVAR MAKES
IT TO THE BILLBOARD

According to Shiamak, the Billboard people called him up enquiring about the album, and the next thing he knew was that he was mentioned in the magazine. “It’s a small write-up, but important for me nevertheless. It gives an assurance that your work is really good,” says Shiamak happily. The singer then went on to thank Vijay Lazarus of PolyGram, Vinay Sapru of PolyGram, his wife Dhanashree, Kunal Kohli for making the video of the song Jaane kisne, and Saroj Khan for making him dance to her tune in the video. “It was very nice of Saroj Khan to do my video. It shows that we have no egos, atleast I don’t,” he asserts.

The sales of Mohabbat Kar Le are reported to be encouraging, with the video Jaane kisne featuring among the top five in almost all countdown shows. “The album has sold more than four lakhs,” claims Shiamak, “On, both MTV and Channel [V] it was at No. 2,” he beams.

For Shiamak, the last six months have been fruitful, and have always kept him in the news. He made his debut as a film choreographer with Yash Chopra’s Dil To Pagal Hai and his choreography, especially for the song Le gayi le gayi won him accolades and the Screen-Videocon Award for the Best Choreographer. He then made his debut as a Hindi pop singer and cut his debut Hindi pop album Mohabbat Kar Le, because of which he has now got a mention in the Billboard magazine. And the latest excitement in his life is that Shiamak has sung his first Hindi film song for PolyGram’s Jhoot Bole Kauva Kaate, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

What made him decide on singing for Jhoot Bole...? “I did it because it is a PolyGram film, and because of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who is my favourite director. I just love his Abhimaan,” exults Shiamak. The song he has sung is the title song, composed by Anand-Milind. “It was great fun singing that song which goes Chhat pe kaala kauva. The song is hummable and catchy, and Anand-Milind are just amazing,” he opines.

Shiamak is known to be a good singer of English numbers, thanks to his musicals that have been staged. How comfortable is he singing in Hindi? “Oh, I am quite at ease with Hindi songs, especially after I sang Come on Raju, come on, tu to hai Bharatmata ki shaan at the National Games ceremony,” he assures.

So what exactly has the Billboard written about him? “They have described me as India’s pop sensation who’s Hindi album has sold very well,” Shiamak reads out proudly.

What’s coming next, a Grammy? “I leave it to God,” Shiamak concludes with a smile.