With singer Shaan in the song Ankhiyaan, singer-politician Babul Supriyo made his musical return in Hindi after a seven-year hiatus, and he is thrilled to be back with his first love.
Fortunately, I have the opportunity to divide my time between Kolkata and Mumbai. I did not have the opportunity to go on tours and perform because my permit to sing was quite stringent while I was in Delhi. However, my Chief Minister has granted me complete freedom to do anything.
I therefore spend a lot of time in Mumbai, where Shaan has long been a renowned composer. How long would I admire his work, because I kept hearing about it on Instagram? “I knew that he would say yes,” he says.
Babul Supriyo reflects on his break and reveals that it was not his choice. “I sang Sarphiri for Imtiaz Ali’s Laila Majnu as my final song, but what else could I have done?
People wanted me to sing everywhere I went, even on a serious platform, even though I was not permitted to do so. The two songs they made me sing would be the first thing on TV, even if I went and gave a well-received speech.
Every major meeting and every location depicted that. Although everyone was seen giving excellent speeches, Babul Supriyo’s song was just played for entertainment purposes.
“It is about what your boss permits,” he continues. His then-chief minister approved Navjot Singh Sidhu’s request to continue his TV job without raising any issues. I had to follow our Prime Minister’s instructions since he did not want me to do that because he believed it would weaken my standing as a Union Minister.
In fact, Mamata Banerjee, my chief minister, is a music promoter. We have to sing a lot since she writes and tunes. The speaker insists on playing a Babul Supriyo song at the conclusion of every assembly.
The singer declares, “This is Babul 2.0,” marking the beginning of something fresh for him. My better half and my passion is music. I once resigned in 2017 because I was unable to handle not being granted permission to sing. The cancellation of my American tour cost me a lot of money.
I therefore submitted a handwritten letter of resignation in 2017 that was rejected. However, I am not interested in power, therefore if given the chance, I would quit politics right away. I just enjoy making decisions; I do not flaunt it, and my pals are aware that I am not into any hanky panky.
I am proud of the wise choices I make. I am trying to inject some music into politics because I like it but politics is so divisive.
