Biddu has been on a break from music for quite some time now. Busy writing a couple of books, out of which his first book — an autobiography aptly titled Made In India releases this week. But now, Biddu is slated to perform in the city on February 12 and has just recieved a lifetime achievement award at the Annual India Rock Awards.
This will be Biddu’s first performance in the city in eight years. Biddu jokes, “I guess the last time I performed here was when the British were still ruling us!” He adds, “I am really relieved that I got this award before I hit the bucket.”
He feels that these awards weren’t there during the 80s and it’s a good sign for the rock bands. “We are no longer that old country, we are a young India. We have so many musicians in this country who need a boost. Bollywood I think has atleast nine awards every year. We should have more awards and even awards for pop singers,” says Biddu.
Biddu will be performing with Mumbai rapper Earl and a couple of keyboard players from the city. Biddu will play songs like La Bamba and Kung Fu Fighting. “I will be doing a lot of fun stuff with these songs. The rapping will add to them and make the sound different, as the originals are really popular,” he says.
The musician will also perform in Delhi and Bangalore after that. Though Biddu is set to go back to the UK next month, he says that he is not closed to performing in India soon. “If there are sponsors and people want me to perform here, I will,” says Biddu.
The name of his autobiography coincides with his most famous song in India but that wasn’t what made him name his book Made In India. “I was going to name the book The Boy With Gold In His Hair, as it has a connection with an incident in my life. But when I gave the book to some of my friends, they thought it didn’t suit it,” says Biddu.
It’s the last paragraph of the book that got him this name. “Basically in the last part I talk about how no matter where I go in the world I will always be an Indian. The earlier name sounded a bit too pompous in comparison,” he says.
He adds, “I have had a very adventurous life. It wasn’t as easy to get out of the country in the 60s. I finally hitch-hiked my way to the UK. Not many people in India know anything about my life and work in the UK. This book should give them that insight into my life.”
