Rekha Bhardwaj expresses that singing an item number wouldn't make her feel cheap: "A song can be sensuous and still be dignified..."

Rekha Bhardwaj, the melodious singer, gave insights about the aesthetic of a song and the magical resonance that the melody leaves behind for the soul. Recently, she sang the ‘Thaal’ song for the film ‘His Story Of Itihaas’ starring Subodh Bhave and Akanksha Pandey.

Rekha Bhardwaj's 'Thaal'

In a conversation with News18 Showsha, Rekha recalled the beautiful journey of the track. Calling it a nostalgic and culturally rich piece rooted in tradition, Bhardwaj stated that ‘Thaal’ is based on the tradition between a groom and a bride, where they put their hands in a clay pot filled with water and small objects to play a game. “It’s competitive but romantic – especially in arranged marriages,” she added. “The melody has a monotony that’s folk-like – it just flows.

I really enjoyed singing it, especially because the lyrics are so intimate,” Rekha stated while expressing the core emotions of ‘Thaal.’

Vishal Bhardwaj encouraged her...

Furthermore, the 61-year-old opened up about finding the mischievous side of the song. “It took me very long to rediscover that mischievous, naughty side of me through song. I had lost all confidence when I was first asked to sing it. But Vishal [Bhardwaj] believed in me. He played back a recording of me singing it casually one night and said, ‘Only you can sing this.’

That gave me the push I needed,” she said.Realising her potential, Rekha said that it was difficult to get work before it, but that song changed her perspective. “I can say this with pride – I am a really great singer when it comes to songs rooted in classical and folk traditions,” she said.

"Anything that lacks aesthetics is mediocre"

Subsequently, Rekha expressed how aesthetics define the artistic value of a piece. “Anything that lacks aesthetics is mediocre. Art is about aesthetics – whether it’s music, dance, or visual storytelling.”

She revealed that if she can’t feel the song, she can’t sing it as well as the song needs to resonate with her.

"A song can be sensuous and still be dignified"

Whether Bhardwaj would sing a song simply depends on aesthetics, irrespective of any genre. For her, singing an item song wouldn’t make her feel cheap, as it is a part of cultural expression. "It’s not about the form- it’s about how it’s executed. A song can be sensuous and still be dignified. Just look at Lataji’s Aa Jaane Jaan – those kind of songs had grace, not vulgarity," she stated. She ended her conversation by saying, "For me, any song is like a prayer, an offering through melody and emotion.

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