Match Referees are meant to be no-nonsense people keeping a close watch on cricketers. But meet Shakti Singh, a former all-rounder from Himachal Pradesh and a BCCI match referee, who when not keeping a watch on the players, makes Bollywood stars dance to his voice. And to name a few, Govinda, Fardeen Khan, and Jackie Shroff have all danced to songs sung by Shakti.
Shakti has played for Himachal Pradesh and North Zone for more than a decade. In fact, he holds the record for hitting maximum sixes, 14 to be precise, in an innings in the Ranji Trophy.
Cricket, however, happened accidentally for him. “I had finished my college and was all set to catch the last bus from Mandi to go to a music studio, the college coach informed me that I had to go for the MRF Pace foundation trials at Unna. I was a bit hesitant because I was sure of failing,” he added.
Not only did he make it to the pace foundation, he also developed into a genuine pace bowler. He went on to become the first pacer to have taken 200 first class wickets for HP.
Shakti, however, did not stop pursuing music. “During my playing days, I had come out with my first album Hai Daiya, which was a mix of Hindi and UP folk,” he informed. “Even after that I did a few albums but those didn’t do well,” he said. He also kept concentrating on cricket.
In 2004, he retired from cricket and moved his base to Mumbai. After struggling for three years, he made his playback debut in 2006 in Mera Dil Leke Dekho with music director Jatin Lalit.
Though the movie wasn’t a hit, it gave Shakti the all-important break. After that, he sang in the Jackie Shroff, Sohail Khan-starrer Kissan and the latest song that hit the air was Aage Aage dekhe ja from the movie Life Partner. Last month, he recorded a song for Ajay Devgn-starrer Athithi Tum Kab Jaaoge.
Balancing between his two jobs — singing and ‘refereeing’ — has not been difficult. He carries a tanpoora tune on his mobile and does his riyaaz every morning and evening, when he is on a tour as a match referee.
Shakti says it’s difficult to chose between cricket and music. “When I am on the field, it seems as if there is nothing better in this world than this sport. When I am recording, it’s like heaven,” Shakti observes.
Does he regret not getting the fame in cricket? “Yes, every cricketer dreams of playing for India. But now I am just looking forward to building a career in music and after the songs in 2009, I am sure that in 2010 I will be able to make it big through my voice,” he signs off.
