Never too late

He has been a top violinist for almost 50 years,but has just taken the first step towards composing music. Surinder Singh explains why.

He has been a top violinist for almost 50 years,but has just taken the first step towards composing music. Surinder Singh explains why.

From Naushad to Salim-Sulaiman,Surinder Singh has played the violin for them all. I was eight years old when I began learning the violin from Pandit Ramprasad Sharmaji,composer Pyarelals father,who has taught half the industrys musicians, says Singh. I was about 10 when Pyarebhai took me to Lata Mangeshkar didi and I began playing the violin for Surel Bal Kala,an orchestra group that featured Lataji,Usha,Meena and Hridaynath Mangeshkar with Laxmikant and Pyarelal as arrangers and other musicians including Jai Kumar Parte,who later joined Kalyanji-Anandji. I was paid Rs 5 for the first show. Once,they offered all the musicians either cash remuneration or a chance to attend the premiere of Ten Commandments. We all chose the latter!

Why did he remain a musician for so long and turn composer only now at the age of 63?

In those days,if someone got a break as a composer or arranger,the other music directors would stop calling him to play,and I had my parents and younger siblings along with my wife and children to support , he says candidly. I was also doing very well as the topmost grade musician in pay-scales. From 1969,I worked a lot with Kalyanji-Anandji in particular,and even had a major contribution to the orchestration of Amitabh Bachchans version of Mere angne mein,which he graciously acknowledges even today. Almost every composer worth his salt has used Singhs services.

The change came when Singh had to stop playing the violin some years back because of his frozen shoulder. My sons are both chartered accountants and they told me that I must record and present to the world my compositions that I had been making off and on, says Singh. I recorded three songs and everyone who heard them loved them and told me that I must go ahead. I am releasing the CD soon with seven songs,from which ArtistAloud.com has selected five for a digital release. As a musician,Singh is only too aware of the advantages of a digital release in terms of instant and global reach.

Singh states that all his songs are in the film music genre,backed by good lyrics,arrangements and singing. Singh has even played the violin on his new album. I played the violin by holding it between my feet supported with a cushion as I cannot play it on my shoulder, he reveals.

Three very talented new singers,Abhilasha,Vaibhav and Keshav,have sung my songs, adds Singh. I want to encourage new talents who will at least be able to tell others that they have sung for me and so get a platform. This is a field where luck plays a huge part I had signed a film as composer that never took off and if I can give someone opportunities that I never got myself,it would make me very happy.