Red, White and The Blues...Kee magazine Menswear shoot: Shot in Hong Kong.

Photography: Douglas Pieterse
Art Director and Producer: P.Ramakrishnan
Stylist: Reema Khanna
Hair, make-up and tattoo art: Karen Yiu
Model: David O at Models International
Location: Courtesy of Tree at Horizon Plaza, special thanks to Ms Anna M

Shoot for Kee magazine's special issue dedicated to Japan. 

Editor/Publisher Ann Tsang did an incredible issue and we - Reema Khanna-Mulchand, Douglas Pieterse, David Oshry, Karen Yiu, m'self - are so proud to be a part of it. Everyone contributed their time, effort and money to do this entire thing to raise money for Japan. 

See earlier link, The Making of... Red, white and The Blues.

A Matter of Taste: An exclusive interview with Culinary Legend Pierre Gagnaire in Hong Kong

Even for France’s history of fine chefs, Pierre Gagnaire has made a special name for himself. Crave meets the culinary legend and learns how his global reach has not altered how he judges good food.

Text by P.Ramakrishnan, images courtesy of Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

I am sitting with the legendary French chef Pierre Gagnaire at the bar in his restaurant Pierre at the Mandarin Oriental hours before the first customers arrive. Outside the rain is pelting down and Hong Kong is not looking its best. But Gagnaire, ever the gentleman, is speaking generously of the city.

Aside from his restaurant in Tokyo, this is his only establishment in Asia and he clearly has an affection for this city.

“It was the right time, and the right place,” he says of his decision to open a restaurant here. “There was another restaurant at the top floor of the Mandarin before. It was great, so I never thought I would open here but the right opportunity arose. In my career, the right timing has always come along.”

With his suave good looks and gallant demeanour, one feels Gagnaire, 60, could have cut it as a movie star had he turned his hand to acting. Fortunately for the culinary world, he applied his immense gifts to cooking and his story is one of almost unblemished success.

Born in Apinac, in France’s Loire Valley, by the age of 18, he was already a commis chef and within two years he was a cook admiral on the French submarine Surcouf. During the 1970s, he travelled the world, returning to France to work at Clos Fleury, a restaurant run by his father near Saint Etienne. He was honoured with his first Michelin star in 1977, which enabled him to go solo and open a restaurant in the centre of Saint Etienne. In 1986, a second Michelin star followed for a different restaurant, and in 1993, the coveted third star.

Now he is the holder of multiple Michelin stars and has restaurants all over the world (Paris, London, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Seoul, Dubai and Hong Kong). Such is his reputation internationally, the French government bestowed him the grand title of Commandeur des Arts & Lettres.

But ask him to recall his early days and there are no misty-eyed recollections. “I absolutely hated working in the kitchen when I was young,” he tells me.

“The restaurant business is a terrible business. Everyone worked from dawn to late night – early morning, in fact. Everyone was busy running here and there. And then the restaurant failed.” His venture in Saint Etiene eventually closed despite glowing reviews.

“I wasn’t planning a career in cooking,” he recalls. “The chef’s life was not good before. A lot of stress. The ambience was not good. You never see your family. No, I certainly didn’t like it at all.”

But while he might not have liked it, the French public most certainly liked his cooking. Besides the Michelin stars, he was asked to cook for a heads of state summit lunch at the Arche de la Défense during François Mitterrand’s presidency.

“I remember very well why the first restaurant failed – the city was too small,” he says of the Saint Etienne debacle. “The people were not ready for such high-end cuisine. I learned a lot from the closing of the first restaurant. This was more than 40 years ago. The customers were not there for fine dining. Yes, I do think we learn from our mistakes more than our successes.”

Gagnaire’s career took a turn for the better when he began a fruitful partnership with Hervé This, Collège de France professor and father of Molecular Gastronomy, in 2001.

It was during this period that Gagnaire really developed his culinary philosophy, which he describes as “mixing the old with the new, traditional cooking style with modern sophistication”. Hervé This helped him understand how the basic chemical compounds in food affects taste and how to develop a harmony of flavours.

A good example to be found on the menu at Pierre at the Mandarin Oriental is red mullet poached with garlic and lemon. This signature dish wasn’t just thrown at the wall to see if it would stick. There’s a refined science behind it: every element – from taste and texture, aroma and flavour – has been calculated right down to the harmony of the colours on the plate.

Ever modest, Gagnaire prefers to ignore such plaudits when we chat and says, “None of that matters; does it taste good? That’s all I essentially care about.”

Pierre
25/F, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central
Tel: 2825 4001

My Favourite Things with Pierre Gagnaire

1. Fine dining is an art. Would you agree?

Yes, but to me, food is an emotion. For me, what I serve is an emotion. I put a lot of attention into what I’m making. I’m nourishing someone, I’m feeding someone, I care about what I make.

2. Does the trend for organic, vegetarian and healthy food affect your menu?

Yes. But I’m lucky that I’ve always worked with natural ingredients. I can make an entire menu that’s purely vegetarian. This was years ago, way before the trend for organic food. In France, everything was organic. We worked with what produce was available to us.

3. Do you change your menus in your restaurant around the world to match local tastes?

No. Fine dining here is the same as fine dining in London or Paris or Las Vegas. Well, with perhaps a little less spice.

4. Which Asian culinary traditions do you admire?

When I travelled to Japan years ago, the food presentation there changed my way of thinking. Presentation became very important and it still is. But it’s always absolutely about the taste. You must get pleasure when you eat. That comes from taste. Hong Kong has choices which I like and an elegance.

5. Is fine dining the way to woo a woman?

It can be. Of course!

6. Is that how you seduced your wife?

My wife? She likes Thai food. Curries. And you know what I do! It’s completely different. But I’m glad my wife isn’t in awe of me and the cooking. You can’t have a balanced married life if a partner is in awe of the other.

7. What do you like to make and eat?

It changes every day, depending on the city I am in, my mood, the ambience … what I feel. You know what I want right now more than anything in the world? A glass of water with a slice of lemon. I’m a simple man.

fantastics: Menswear shoot: Summer of 2011

Another day, another shoot. For New York based mag, fantastics.

Great to work with the ageless wonder Alexis. First shoot with Hong Kong based photographer Cheric Kwong.

It's hard to work with new photographers but if there's one thing I learned from Ann Tsang, the notorious editor/publisher at antithesis and its series of publications, you gotta work with new people and mix things up.

The shoot did not go as planned but... well, it all worked out at the end!

Very grateful to James Nixon, editor, for helping us showcase our biz and shizz. =0)

Great Escapes: Travel like a movie star to these resorts, private islands and luxury vacation hot spots

Cast yourself in a role of the lifestyles of the rich and famous courtesy of these holidays from heaven, writes P.Ramakrishnan. 

When Tom Cruise landed in Hong Kong for the premier of Mission: Impossible II he arrived on a private jet that he piloted. From the airport, he was whisked by chopper to the rooftop of The Peninsula where a private elevator delivered him down to a press conference. Sound tempting? 

If you want a movie star experience then drop a line to Alan Rogers, of Red Carpet Enterprises (redcarpet.co.uk). The company specialises in holiday experiences that rival Hollywood jaunts. There is in fact a "Tom Cruise" package where you can fly to Cape Town, take private flight training lessons, choose a route before getting fitted for your own signature flight suit. With a pass to a military airspace in a Hawker Hunter fighter jet to thrust yourself skyward at speeds of 960km/h just 20m above the ground, you can grab the controls and try out all sorts of stomach-churning stunts. A weekend's high flying costs about HK$160,000. But that's the tip of the ice-berg. 

"A 10th birthday celebration saw us hiring a battleship where the inside was themed like a football pitch," says Rogers. "An ex-England footballer played five-a-side with the boys' friends, who then finally presented him with a signed shirt and ball from his favourite team. We choose very carefully the appropriate venues and hotels for each occasion. Our travels find us in some of the best villas, venues and hotels in the world, sometimes rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous." 

For a more children-centric experience, Red Carpet can provide a trip to Lapland. A visit to a reindeer farm, sled rides, races with huskies, snowmobile rides across frozen lakes and a stay in a private lodge. Let's call this the Marlon Brando experience. 

For the last quarter of his life, the actor lived on a private island and rarely appeared beyond the confines of his tropical paradise. Before the terms "organic", and "going green" entered the vernacular, Brando was doing it all. For a private island fantasy, head to Ratua in Vanuatu (you can rent the island), a self-sufficient retreat with postcard views and luxurious villas. Dotted with a dozen Indonesian-style villas, made with 200-year-old teakwood, the private houses are furnished with natural material - the island has a no plastic policy. 

The former coconut plantation gets all its consumables purchased in Indonesia and then shipped to Ratua. Most of the food is produced on the island or purchased locally, the goal of this resort is to leave a minimum carbon footprint. Spend afternoons horseback riding or canoeing, or snorkeling in the azure blue waters. 

Having eaten, prayed and loved on screen for more than two decades, Julia Roberts has had many reasons to grin through an admirable career with hefty paycheques. She traipsed through Italy, India and Bali for her last film but it's hard to imagine Pretty Woman slumming it in Calcutta. Despite Roberts' legendary down-to-earth vibe, it seems impossible to envision that she stayed in a hut with nominal access to tap water. 

Sher Bagh in India would be the sort of earth-friendly, animal-reserve-meets-glamorous-getaway that would suit the highest-paid actress in the world - and for those of her ilk. It's got all the ingredients the film had, but in a capsule of bug-free comfort. Tented camps at Sher Bagh are as legendary as some of its VIP guests. Impeccable service, incredible food, a communal feel and one-ness with nature loom large. The tents are fitted with air-conditioning, a 24/7 butler service (fancy a gin-and-tonic at 4am?) and the sort of plush surroundings that reek of Passage to India cinematic charms and regalia. Early morning scheduled safari rides to see the magnificent creatures that roam about - there are indeed tigers lurking in the distance, as the name suggests ("tiger garden" is the literal translation to Sher Bagh). As the tiger population decreases with each passing year, this reserve is the last of its kind in Asia. Conspicuous consumption meets conservation, the moment your Canon catches a yawning tiger at sunset, it'll be the experience you'll bore proceeding generations with. Cantor and jeep rides that ferry guests to and from the resort run like clockwork. The running joke of 'IST' (Indian standard time, where things happen at their own pace) doesn't fit the whopping bill (this isn't a location for backpackers), as everything runs to precision. A cocoon of extreme comfort and luxury awaits upon your return from the safari rides in the otherwise sweltering heat of Rajasthan. 

Campfire meals and drinks, tales and folklore of prince and princes, epic love stories between Mughal Kings and a Rajput princess, it's live theatre with a Bollywood twist. Sunrise and sunsets in nearby parks (in particular the expansive Ranthambhore), it's all a bucolic and beautiful adventure. There are few people Oprah Winfrey would envy. With more than a billion dollars to spare, what could she possibly covet? 

Gwyneth Paltrow's holiday, apparently. When the Oscar winner last appeared on Oprah, she relayed her trip across Spain with celebrity chef Mario Batali as she ate her way through the country. "I would love to do that," said the talk-show host. And here's how you can. Foodies looking for an experience in Spain should head to La Maroma. Set on a private hilltop in Andalucia, La Maroma (akvillas.com) enjoys grand views over almond and olive groves and the estate's private vineyard. 

Expectedly, fresh olives, nuts and wine from the panoramic views that you see from your own rooms are brought in. The cortijo (a Spanish farmstead) has fused the rustic-chic style to provide modern luxuries (wi-fi, broadband, sub-terrain heating and air-conditioning) and comfort, but still maintains the traditional Andalusian architecture of its heritage (Spanish antiques and locally made hand-crafted furnishings litter the grounds). Hand-stitched Suzani tapestries above the beds, private indoor and outdoor lounges, terraces and pool that face different vistas that encircle the villa, it's the sort of place a star would seek respite from the paparazzi. But it's not just the scenic location that makes La Maroma stand out in a city teaming with grandiose holiday possibilities. It's the food. As you watch Batali and Paltrow go through an ever-changing and colourful menu, you can taste the sumptuous food shown on screen - but instead of schlepping from one location to another in the fetid heat, you can have it delivered to your table. 

Guests staying at La Maroma can enjoy the "Instant Unwind" package, which includes organic produce, including an immense fruit and vegetable box delivered to your doorstep, shopping service for any additional provisions, fresh flower arrangements and wine tasting and tapas on arrival. Private four-course gourmet dinners, by villa chef David Palacios, alongside welcome hampers with local Spanish delicacies and basic provisions, are included. 

The markets of Andalucia - Marbella, Fuengirola, Coin - are all nearby, as is the village of El Rampido where the protected reserve called the Paraje Natural Marismas del Rio Piedras y Flecha del Rompido lies. With the onsite wine bodega stocked with local wines, it's a festival of fresh food and drink. As Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and her brood found solace in Africa to escape far from the madding crowd, they hit various parts of the continent, before culminating in Namibia where Jolie gave birth to their child. For some bush luxury, head to Camp Jabulani (akvillas.com). As a matter of extreme privacy, it has only six suites and its own herd of elephants. 

Accredited by the Relais & Chateaux, Camp Jabulani is a family-owned and managed private luxury safari lodge within the Kapama Game Reserve in Hoedspruit, South Africa (in close proximity to the Kruger National Park, and scenic Mpumalanga region). The best part is a herd of trained elephants rescued by the local endangered species centre that roam the camp. Watching the animals in their natural, protected habitat as they swim and play is the National Geographic moment aspiring photographers dream of. And to further lift your spirits, there are hot-air balloon excursions. 

With never more than a dozen guests at any given time, the exclusive Zindoga Villa is suited for the family traveller. Daily elephant safaris, safari drives in the Big Five private Kapama Reserve, indulgent treatments in the outdoor Therapy Lapa, culinary delights at the hands of the masterful chefs, with all the accoutrements of a luxury holiday with an elephant stamp of approval, this one's not to be missed.

Published in Style magazine, May 6, 2011 

My Life: Nick Priestly

The florist to the stars makes a prediction to P.Ramakrishnan ahead of Britain's royal wedding.
Picture by Nora Tam




TAX LOSS
Before I became a full-time florist, I was a tax accountant in London - as was my wife, Vivienne, who was born in Hong Kong and lived here until she was 15. We met in 1999 while working in international tax consultancy for Arthur Andersen. She decided one day to quit and sell flowers. Somewhere along the way, I realised I was so bored with the rigmarole of accounting life that I quit and joined her. Thus our company, Mood Flowers, took root [in Glasgow, Scotland]. Of course, I never thought while growing up that I'd get into this industry - I don't imagine many people grow up thinking they're going to be florists. Since 2003, this is what I do full time, seven days a week. Now, I'm obsessed with flowers. When my wife and I see a film, especially a romantic comedy where, inevitably, there's some big wedding scene, after the movie, we talk about the floral arrangement in the shot. Alfie, Wedding Crashers, Sex and the City all had great flower arrangements. We notice it in the background of bedroom shots, we notice it if the flowers are aged. Most Hollywood film productions have lavish production budgets and we see it well spent on the flora - we can then try and recreate it if requested.

We don't have a standalone shop, we have an office and we deal mostly with hotels and weddings - more than 200 weddings a year on average. From classic white weddings, using peonies and roses, to winter wonderlands using iced flowers, and exotic weddings using hundreds of stems of vibrant pink phalaenopsis orchids; we've done them all. Budgets vary anywhere from GBP1,000 [HK$12,500] to GBP25,000. We make movable centrepieces so that after the wedding dinner, guests can lift the bouquets and take them with them - I hate to see them wasted. We can't take them back, it's bad form and bad luck to recycle wedding flowers.

WEDDING CRASHES
Out of the hundreds of weddings we've done, only twice have we had to reject a client. They had dozens of ideas but couldn't make a decision. I knew we had to walk away as nothing we did could make them happy. Sometimes a client's ideas can't translate into an attractive arrangement. We get clients who want to go for a symbolic look: 11 white roses with one red stuck in the middle - it looks horrible, like a target. Despite our protests that this won't look good in a photograph or on the table ... well, we do have to listen to our customer as they are always right. I offer my opinion and then we try to work around their ideas. We've had to do strange things like spray-paint roses blue or purple. Dyed flowers look so artificial but how do you argue with someone who insists on purple roses, which don't come naturally in nature? And no, it wasn't Victoria Beckham [she did have a purple and gold wedding, but the flowers were tasteful].

STAR TREATMENT
We have designed for many celebrities such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Keira Knightley. Keira was staying at a serviced apartment and had a rather famous admirer who wanted a bouquet delivered to her doorstep on Valentine's Day. I delivered it to her front step personally. She had a secret pseudonym and there were passwords and codes and all that entails celebrity life. No, I really can't say who the admirer was; I respect the privacy of my clients.

When any major celebrity comes to Glasgow, they end up staying at the luxury/boutique hotels and we get the call to deliver specific flowers to them from either the hotel or PR agency. We get to dress their rooms before they arrive and arrange for a bouquet as they come in. No one's been particularly difficult or diva-esque. Michael Jackson, Elton John and Madonna, they've been very happy to receive flowers, as most people are. I've seen people's faces light up upon receiving them. It's a very different expression I see now, from when I was a tax accountant.

SCENTS AND SENSIBILITY
It hasn't been confirmed yet who will do the flowers for Kate Middleton and Prince William. The relationship with Kate's florist will not be unlike the one she has with her dressmaker; it's very personal. When she steps out of Westminster Abbey, apart from the dress, the flowers will be one of the first things people will notice. The florist and Kate will obviously discuss her preferences but will also look for flowers that symbolise something of her life. Throughout history, royal brides have had a duty to follow tradition. However, it is clear that each had their own preferences considered when choosing their wedding bouquet. The Queen chose mainly whole sprays of orchids, signifying her role as leader of the Commonwealth, while the Queen Mother included white heather, symbolising her native Scotland.

THE KENYAN CONNECTION
It's unlikely Kate will choose anything too far from the royal norm. As a contemporary princess, she would suit a spring-themed, hand-tied bouquet of white ranunculus and lily of the valley. Many celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and royal figures love lily of the valley on special occasions. An alternative twist would to be to add a touch of sapphire blue, to match her stunning engagement ring, in the form of muscari, hyacinths or delphiniums. My prediction is Kate will have a traditional shaped bouquet including calla lilies [her favourite], white daffodils, to signify the fact that William is a prince of Wales, and Fair Trade Kenyan roses, to signify William's charity work in Africa and the place of their engagement. Her bouquet is also likely to include royal staples such as jasmine, lily of the valley and a sprig of myrtle, which has been included in all royal bouquets since Queen Alexandra's back in 1863. I think it would be good if the bouquet was more petite and elegant than some royal bouquets in the past, which would reflect Kate's understated style. I also think it's unlikely that, in a recession, Kate's bouquet will be too ostentatious. Similarly, I don't think the dress will have a long train, as Diana's did. Times are very different now.

FLOWER POWER
Whatever Kate chooses, her floral preferences will filter down to the 'commoners' over the coming months and years. Kate's flowers will be as hotly coveted by future brides as the style of her wedding dress. Brides will be looking to their florists to get the royal feel without the royal budget. Brides have become much more knowledgeable about flowers and often know exactly what they want, and there are many who follow the tastes of brides in the public eye. I look forward to recreating Kate's bouquet in the months and years to come.

Great Minds: Post magazine fashion shoot: Menswear Editorial: Shot in Hong Kong: South China Morning Post

Men's smart-casual gets a geek-chic makeover.

Photography Gabbard Studio
Production & Creative direction P.Ramakrishnan
Styling Reema Khanna
Hair and Make-up Karen Yiu
Model David O at Models International
Location Courtesy The Space, Cat Street Gallery, 210 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan




Trench coat, Burberry ($21,000)
Shirt, Hugo Boss Black ($2000)
Dark Grey Silk Tie by BOSS Black ($1000)
Trouser, Burberry ($5300)
Belt, Hugo Boss Black ($1050)
Glasses Alain Mikli ($8486)
Bag, Yves Saint Laurent ($17,500)
(not seen in pic -Shoes, Gram ($700))




Jacket, Gucci (15,000)
Linen shirt, Salvatore Ferragamo (TBC Cost)
Trousers, Burberry ($5,300)
Green and Taupe Horsebit Cashmere Print Cotton Carre' ($1,350)
Glasses, Alain Milki ($8,486)
(not in pic – Watch, Calvin Klein ($1,150) and Sandals, Burberry ($5,200)

T-shirt and Jacket, Salvatore Ferragamo ($23,900)
Trousers, Gucci ($5,300)
Belt, Gucci ($2,100)
Shoes, Tods ($3,500)
Watch, Void ($1,600)
Glasses, Alain Mikli ($3,588)

Cardigan, Valentino ($9,100)
Shirt, Shanghai Tang ($1,480)
Grey pants of striped Suit set by BOSS Black ($7450)
Shoes, Hugo Boss Black ($3,450)
Glasses, Alain Mikli ($3,354)
Watch, Calvin Klein ($1,800)

Jumper, Salvatore Ferragamo ($20,500)
Glasses, Alain Mikli ($8,486)
Watch, Calvin Klein ($1,150)

Top, Gucci ($6,200)
Grey pants (part of striped suit set) by BOSS Black – ($7,450)
Belt, Burberry ($4,500)
Briefcase, Bothos ($4,300)
Watch, Void ($1,400)
Glasses, Alain Mikli ($3,588)
(not seen in pic Shoes, Cipher $1,170)

Jacket, Burberry ($45,000)
Vest, Burberry ($2,900)
Trousers, Valentino ($5,500)
Shoes, Cipher ($1,170)
Sunglasses, Void ($600)
Bag, Tods ($21,700)



Published in Post magazine, p31
April 17, 2011

See earlier post The Making of...

My life: Sunidhi Chauhan: Indian Singer rocks Hong Kong

Having kicked off her Asian tour in Hong Kong, one of India's most prolific singers talks to P.Ramakrishnan about her musical heroes. Pictures by Douglas Pieterse. Shot exclusively for South China Morning Post.

SMALL STEPS

I was five years old [when] my dad’s friend said to him, “There’s a show for the local community [in Delhi], let her go up on stage and sing. It’ll be cute. She’s so little - people will love it”. At first my father didn’t agree. Then he said fine and he knelt down on his knees, said to me, right before the show, “Go right there in the middle of the stage, sing your song to the mic, and then come back.” That’s exactly what I did. I didn’t notice the applause, see the audience (the stage lights were too bright). There was no fear. I liked to sing but which child doesn’t? I had no concept of whether I was good or not.

But after that show, people kept going up to my parents to say, “You’ve got something here, she can really sing. You must pay attention to it”. Since then, I’ve been singing on stages, small and big. And I’ve never been in awe of performing. Because my first experience was so casual and matter-of-fact - go to the centre, sing, come back, that’s the approach I took for years after. Other singers moved and danced along. I was painfully shy, finally at one show, I started moving along and dancing a bit to the song, I started enjoying the experience of being on stage, years later.

FANATICAL BEHAVIOUR

The only time I slightly panicked was at Hisar (a small state in North India). There were around 100,000 people there and I was the only singer with my troupe of musicians. They wanted to hear the song “Beedi”, which was a rage that year. I usually save it for the finale, as it leaves an impact, but the people started chanting for that song. It kept getting louder, so I finally told my background musicians, lets change it up and for the fifth song, I started singing the intro to the song. The crowd went wild – they torpedoed towards the stage, broke the barricades. It was manic. Thank God we had cops and security, I was escorted out – the show ended right there. I’ve never seen that kind of frenzy for anything. I don’t know how I feel about it, happy they loved the song or in alarmed at the reaction.


HITS AND MISSES

I can never really tell when a song’s going to be a hit or a flop. When I sang “Dhoom”, it was for a film with a cast that wasn’t that famous (at the time), it became a rage. In India, if the film is a hit, the song becomes a hit, I mostly sing for films so if its well picturised on a lead actress, the chances of it becoming a rage is stronger. But times are changing with music videos focusing on singers, with reality TV appearances, singers are more recognizable, a song can run on its own merit.

I love to sing soft, melodic, romantic numbers, but I keep getting the pop hits that you hear in clubs everywhere. Not that I’m complaining, but I do love to sing every genre of song. I have no favourite music director or co-singer, I genuinely like them all. From [Oscar winner] A.R. Rehman, who’s the most humble, soft-spoken soul I’ve met in the industry, to the newcomer music directors or co-singers. I have no qualms about singing for anybody, with anybody.


LEARNING TO LET GO

Politics in the music industry in Bollywood’s there. There’s no denying it – although I try to block it out. There have been instances, when I’ve sung a song, recorded it for a film… and then months later, I can see/hear that some other singer’s done the version on the album. I don’t know what happens behind the scenes, you hear things, but I’ve learnt to let it go. I feel, it’s their loss.

The tabloids in India are part and parcel of the game. It really doesn’t bother me what they say or write. A major film magazine wrote that I was dying to get married and settle down – none of that was true. They make up entire features and interviews and I’ve never thought of suing them. The headache of long legal processes, who has the time? I’m recording songs for multiple films, have concerts around the world, music-videos to shoot, I’m judging on reality tv shows, where’s the time, money, energy to waste on the rubbish they print?


REAL LIFE

Joining Indian Idol as a judge has been wonderful. I’ve had so much fun and its great to encourage and support the new generation of singers. I don’t see them as competition. There are over a billion Indians, more than 400 films made each year, most of them musicals, there’s room for every singer, I feel anyone can sing and I love to hear that I’ve inspired the newcomers. It means a lot to me. I must confess, I love the bad singers too. That part’s the most fun – the auditions with the tone deaf. The delusional ones make for great television viewing and I’m always sad when the audition process is done. It gets serious very quickly, the funny parts end.

Reality TV shows get a lot of flack, but how can I possibly say anything against it? It launched off my career. There’s a youtube clip of me online when I first won Meri Awaaz Suno [Listen to my Voice], which was one of the original reality show on National Indian television. I was 10 or 11… competing with other singers who were older, trained and I think most were in college or had professional careers. I’m wearing a ribbon in my hair, a brown knee-length skirt. I sang a classic song Tu Chanda [You’re the Moon], which was originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar – who was the head judge at the finale. My idol, my world, when I won the competition, I had to go up and receive the trophy from her, the living legend… and I burst out crying. Winning the competition or the cheque or the contract to sing for a studio didn’t mean as much then as being blessed by Lataji. She’s a goddess. The petite, 70-year-old (at the time) Goddess gave me a warm hug and it meant the world to me. When I see it now, I still get gooseflesh. That moment changed by life.


CELINE, WHITNEY, LATA AND AASHA

There was no formal training, no in-born passion to be a singer, I never thought like that. I liked singing, I would listen to tapes of legendary Indian singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Aasha Bhosle and mimic what they sing. I’d play the audio tape of the film Lekin, again and again, and emulate the Mangeshkar sisters who sang in the album. Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston are other singers that inspire me. The control of their voice as they reach high octaves, the passion they exude when they sing is great. I love Jennifer Lopez too, her music videos, her fashion, her dancing. The singing.. well, I love her. Can I leave it at that? [She giggles].


I used to mimic Lata Mangeshkar, Aasha Bhosle, and I can mimic other singers and actresses too. I used to perform it as an act in my shows, until too many people… fans of theirs started getting offended. My intention wasn’t to hurt anyone, make fun of them, but people took it wrong. So I’ve stopped. I’m not here to hurt anyone, just want them to enjoy music, so I used to copy their styles. Now, I have a huge catalogue of my own songs – I have no idea how many? 2000? Maybe more.


Working with Enrique Iglesisas was wonderful. I wanted to collaborate with other singers and when this opportunity came up, I grabbed it. He’s so humble, so enthusiastic about music. The bigger the star, the more humble they’ve been. We recorded the song partly in LA and part in Mumbai – the music video was also shot in LA and some parts in India, this fusion of styles. The original idea was different and how its come out is different, but collaborations evolve and grow. I feel it’s a first step for what’s ahead.

ENCORE ENCORE

Last time I came to Hong Kong [five years ago], I performed with one of my favourite co-singers KK. We had a blast of a time, the audience was amazing. Last night, even more so. The show was brilliant, I loved the fact people got up and danced on the aisles. At first, the audience seemed shy to move, but by the fourth song, they got into it. The requests for encores were wonderful. Awards, money, fame… nothing beats a great audience reaction.

Interview courtesy of Jade Group.

Outtakes from shoot.
All images Copyright Douglas Pieterse.