Malkit Singh is a renowned & award winning Punjabi Bhangra singer based in Birmingam, England. Till this date he has crooned some of the most popular numbers like “Gur Nalo Ishq Mita”, “Tootak Tootak Tootiyan”, “Kurri Garam Jayee”, ‘Dekh Li Villait”, “Chal Hun”, “Jai Hind” et al. Malkit Singh was in Mumbai recently for a special show on Baishakhi when Shaheen Raaj cornered him for a little interactive session.
To set the ball rolling how about giving us a brief insight into your background?
Basically I hail from Punjab. Incidentally speaking I was born in Hussainpur and brought up in Nakodar, Punjab. But to pursue my musical inclination I had shifted to Birmingham, England in the year 1984. Till this date I have crooned some of the most popular numbers like “Gur Nalo Ishq Mita”, “Tootak Tootak Tootiyan”, “Kurri Garam Jayee”, ‘Dekh Li Villait”, “Chal Hun”, “Jai Hind” to name just a few, like a drop in an Ocean.
How come you have not lent your voice for Bollywood movies in a career spanning three decades?
To be very frank I have a flourishing global career as a crooner. And since I am based in England I do not find it feasible to shift bag & Baggage to the Mekkah of Bollywood. And perhaps the producers & the directors do not call me thinking that they may have to pay me the two way fare from England to Mumbai and back. Besides a handsome remuneration as my crooning fees. Well! it is a totally wrong assumption. I can bear all the expenses of my so called trip on my own. And I certainly can’t settle down in Mumbai forever, thereby chucking up my lucrative career in England.
But you are still very popular in Bollywood!
Yes! You are right. And all thanks to my runaway hit songs. I became more known out here especially after my two songs “Chal Hun” & “JaI Hind” became a part of the soundtrack of Gurinder Chhadha’s movie ‘Bend It Like Bekham’. And I would also like to thank all the Bollywood music composers especially Mr. Bappi Lahiri for blatantly coping my chartbusting numbers like “Gur Nalo Ishq Mita” & “Tootak Tootak Tootiyan”. These so called music composers may term it as an inspiration. But I would say that they have been indulging in blatant plagiarism down the years.
One last question your daughter Amardip was recently sentenced to 2 years of jail in UK for having sexual relations with a handicapped minor. Comment.
You have said it all sir. I would not like to make anymore comment as this is strictly supposed to be a very private family matter and since everyone kept on harassing me or rather pestering me with all sorts of questions I have removed myself from each and every social media outlets. Period!