Bollywood welcomes a new voice in Amruta Fadnavis

Amruta Fadnavis is anything like the stereotypical wives of politicians we assume to be, content to be in the background, dressed in crisp saris, playing hostess to their husband's guests and attending the obligatory charity event. That's so not her style. When we met this associate vice-president Axis Bank at the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's official residence Varsha, she turned out in an all-black, semi-formal skirt-and-top ensemble. And there was nothing to suggest that hers is the voice in the spiritual track of Prakash Jha's forthcoming Jai Gangaajal.

"Singing for films has happened very suddenly. Though I've sung for a Marathi film and two Hindi ones, it's still not sunk in," laughs this wife, mother, banker and singer. She insists we have poha, Nagpur style (truly yummy) with tea.

Later, during the shoot she recounts how filmmaker Kunal Kohli who heard her sing on a friend's phone-recording, approached her for his yet-to-release Phir Se. "I've always wanted to pursue singing, but the opportunity never came up. But now I'm amazed at how many people approach me to sing!"

Does this have to do with being Amruta Fadnavis, the chief minister's wife? "Well, it's like youngsters who come from filmy families and start their careers in Bollywood. Initially, more doors open for you. But beyond that, it's solely based on merit. People who hear me sing aren't going to go by who I am. They want good music."
Praise from filmmaker Jha underlines this thought. "The moment I heard her silky, deep voice, I knew this had to be the voice for my Sab dhan maati track. Unlike the other 11 tracks, most of which are in Bhojpuri, this one by Manoj Muntashir isn't and stands out."

"Amruta's tayyari made things easy. We recorded over two sessions in just two hours," add composers Salim-Suleiman.

Such praise isn't new for Amruta. She got a pat on the back from Asha Bhosale when she rendered the sounds-easy-but-actually-tough-as-hell Madan Mohan composition Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho from Hanste Zakhm at a concert commemorating the late Mohammed Rafi. "I'm a huge fan of hers so praise coming from her was special," says Amruta, who wants to be as versatile as the veteran singer. "Even at this age, her throw, inflection and modulation is amazing."

Daughter of a gynaecologist mother and an ophthalmologist father, her musical abilities come from her dad. "He sings daily for an hour, a routine I've seen since childhood. This has left a huge impact on me. I learnt the basics of classical music from him."

And what has been her mom's legacy? "She taught me the importance of having an identity beyond being a spouse and/or mother. Yes, it means over stretching and hard work. But even while attending to the family, she never let go off her career."

Amruta also admits that she's lucky to have a supportive husband. "He's always encouraged me. Given the nature of his job, he is busy 24x7 and we rarely have time to ourselves. Music is a good way of dealing with that." Does she have him vet the offers before accepting? "Asking him to do that every time is impossible. But we had a long chat on the dos and don'ts about singing even before Phir Se."

She's clear that anything with double entendres or something that translates into risqué on screen is a no-no. "People create controversies even when where there are none. As the CM's wife, I have to be doubly sure about who I'm working with and the kind of work I'm doing."

She recounts how a remark to a TV network about liking Bajirao Mastani was juxtaposed with the BJP youth wing's opposition to the film. "I've been raised to speak my mind freely, but now I realise one can never be too careful."

This Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan fan, laughs when asked if the chief minister ever sings with her. "Ours was an arranged marriage. Until a few days before our wedding, we didn't even know each other. At the sangeet, he heard me sing for the first time. Our families then pushed him on stage, asking us to sing a duet. I remember singing RD Burman's Piya Tu Abb Toh Aa Ja. That was the only time he joined me with the 'Monica! Oh My Darling!' refrain."

As we're about to leave, columnist-writer Shobhaa De and her shipping tycoon husband, Dilip De are ushered in. And Amruta turns hostess.