Alisha Chinai : “I Haven’t The Remix of My Kate Nahin Kat-te, And I Don’t Want To Hear It’

There is an awful earful awaiting those who watch Abhinay Deo’s Force 2 .The remix of the Laxmikant–Pyarelal composition Kate nahin kat–te from Shekhar Kapoor’s Mr Indiawill hit you where it hurts the most.

Alisha Chinai who sang the original number is not even listening. “I haven’t heard the remix. I didn’t even know they were doing a  re-mix of my most well-known film song until someone pointed it out to me.and I was  like….Kate nahin kat–te? Really??? I mean some songs you’d think are just not replaceable. But then I  guess the producers who sold the rights for the remix know better.”

Alisha who slammed the charts with her seductive chords in the 1980s and 90s lives a life of semi- retirement with her father Madhukar Chinai in their home in South Mumbai. “My father has been unwell for some years now. Looking after him is top priority for me. Music can wait.”

Not that she is totally out of the music scene. “I have been there done that  and  I’m semi-retired  and  blissfully happy .To the new singers  my advice…. you don’t need record companies any more!!! Start your own YouTube channel showcase your work  and  get your shows on your own merit!Priyanka Chopra is India’s global icon and  now the new debutant Ananya Birla  is signed to Universal abroad..That’s ironic too ,it just re-confirms that music  scene in India is suffering badly. They don’t recognise real artistes!!I record my songs mostly in English and put them on Youtube since that’s the best place to expose your talents without fear of intrusion. There is no money in the music industry and playback singing is more or less dead.”

Alisha recently recorded a version of the traditional thumri Babu mora naihar chootojaiye with her father. Apparently Saregama–HMV has taken objection to what they see as a copyright infringement.

But Alisha is adamant, “I’ve re-sung the new version of the old traditional song. How  is that a copyright infringement? Saregama  has blocked monetization for me, when this is a brand new version which I recorded in London with UK producer Ravi Bal. Earlier also I had done  a version of Baabul mora with violinist L. Subramaniam.Anyway my lawyer has sent Saregama a legal notice, and the song is under dispute, just like my pop anthem Made In India was.”

Alisha feels playback singing has no future. “Artists are uninspired and unmotivated in India there is no honest collection-bureau for singers royalties.Singers and music producers are  all wary as there’s so much corruption in  the music business. It’s almost like a music mafia here!!! Singers don’t get their dues at all  and most of the new singers work for free  nowadays!! I stopped singing for Bollywood long ago!! Detached myself !Good artists just languishing here!! There is no money  period!!  Best for Recording Artists  now to put up a website on YouTube channel of their own and showcase themselves .And  you can  survive on reality shows that’s where the moolahis!!”
Alisha laments the  lack of  real non-film music in India. “There are no  credible composer producers for the pop dance genre either.They can only give us cheesy Bollywood sound nothing International so whom do I sing for??!! My Made in Indiabecame a global hit because of  my Collaboration with  Biddu!!!! No one here who understands POP!!Tinka Tinka is the best ballad Vishal–Shekhar have composed,  nothing else of theirs  even compares .And I had to sing it …Ironic!!!  I’m the hot-headed Bad Girl of Indipop and  Vishal Dadlani is the Bad Boy of Rock and  Bollywood .Although  his song productions are really wicked!! I have to admit !!!”