'Wish to inspire people to celebrate the country': Producer Shailendra Singh intv

Shailendra Singh and music director Mithoon have collaborated to release the song 'One India My India'.
'Wish to inspire people to celebrate the country': Producer Shailendra Singh intv
'Wish to inspire people to celebrate the country': Producer Shailendra Singh intv
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Mumbai-based producer and business guru Shailendra Singh, who has produced award-winning films like Kanchivaram and Firaaq partnered with music director Mithoon in April to release the song One India My India. The song features singers such as Sukhwinder Singh, Jubin Nautiyal and Godswill. The song, nicknamed Anthem4Good, was acclaimed by people from several parts of the country.

On a rally to spread the message of the song, TNM caught up with him at Bangalore Palace for an interview. 

The song has a specific message with the intention to reach everyone. What drove you to take on this project? 

In recent times, we are facing a lot of divisiveness over many factors. We have a lot of youth in India, they are our asset. Instead of being taught about hope, love and unity, they are being taught division, hatred and to rebel against everything. That’s why we decided to inspire them by spreading the message of peace and love.

The song features a lot of star power. How it was when the song was being composed? 

I’d discussed it with Mithoon. We composed the song meticulously, especially the chorus. Then others came in and brightened up the project. I directed the video in 21 cities in nine days. 

I wanted to “massify” the song. I wanted everyone to feel the pulse of the song. Sometimes language can be a barrier and we wanted to tackle that through the chorus, so we all can sing along as one. We wanted it to be India's chorus.

The rally wasn’t in the original plan. Why the rally now? What is the purpose behind it? 

I believed that the song should be taken to the streets, to real people in real places. So we settled on the rally. We started our road trip on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi remembering his teachings on peace and non-violence.

I take pride in exploring every part of our country. I hope to introduce the vast beauties of this great nation throughout this trip and I hope we travel and get accustomed to the diversity of this country. I want people to raise their head and celebrate this nation, I hope to incite that spark in everyone's hearts. 

Is there any unique feature in the rally that you are doing? 

Everyone starts from north to south, from mountains to ocean. I thought why not reverse it, let’s start from the south. We are going to Hampi next eventually and will end our rally at Srinagar. We are hoping the people of Srinagar will welcome us.

We are meeting with unsung heroes in every location we visit, exchanging ideas with ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We will amplify their deeds through our social media. 

When can we expect a sequel in the future? 

It depends on how the rally ends and how it inspires us. We want the story of the people to be our calling. We are starting to sell merchandise on January 2, 2020 for “I love India” cause. I don’t have an agenda, I have a purpose. If I get inspired, I will be doing a lot more songs like this. India is never short on inspiration.

What is the message you wish to tell the public through this rally? 

 Find a purpose in your life, don’t look outside, look inside. It will take you to heights. Care about fellow human beings, treat them as family. We should never hurt each other. 

Editor's note: An earlier version of the story had incorrectly stated that Shailendra Singh had sung a song in the 1973 movie Bobby based on inaccurate information. The story has been amended.

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