Babul Supriyo On His Fondest Monsoon Memories: Rainy Season Is All About Singing, Tripping

Versatile singer Babul Supriyo has lent his voice to several memorable rain and monsoon-themed tracks across Hindi and regional cinema. We asked the popular singer about his favourite monsoon song.

He says, "Monsoon indeed is the season of romance, and I absolutely love the monsoons. There are umpteen songs, but I just think romance becomes even more mushy when there is some rain in it. When it is raining and you find a couple below an umbrella or getting wet in the rain, the romance just gets a little more garnished. My favourite rain song would be the iconic "Pyaar Hua Iqrar Hua."The Raj Kapoor and Nargis song definitely tops the list for me."

Babul who has been born and brought up in West Bengal, shares his fondest childhood memories of monsoons.

He says, "There are so many rainy-day memories from my childhood because I used to live just by the River Ganga. I have always been a very big fan of soccer. I used to play it a lot and I still play. There were certain rules that we followed throughout the year in terms of where you could foul, how you could foul and what were the right and wrong ways to foul a player. But during the rainy season, it was all about slipping, tripping and all kinds of mischief and fun that you could have on a slippery grass and then blame it all on the mud and the rains. At the same time, music was always a part of my rainy days. Several times during the rainy season, my grandfather, my mentor, my dad and I would take walks around the river when it used to get very dark and was about to rain. Many times, we actually ended up coming back completely wet. In those days, there used to be a lot of hailstorms too. I remember it very well. Singing was always a part of it. I have very fond memories of those rainy days."

We all know rain has inspired countless Bollywood classics. So if you could recreate one iconic rain song, which one would you choose and why? On this Babul says, "If I could recreate one iconic rain song, I would definitely do "Rimjhim Gire Saawan" because, apart from being one of my favourite songs, it is sung by Kishore Kumar. I have really loved singing that song from my early childhood. So yes, if there is a chance to recreate it, though there is no one who can get anywhere close to the manner in which Kishore Kumar sang it, I would love to do something with that song as a tribute."

As a singer, how the monsoon season brings out a different emotion or depth in music for him. On this the talented singer shares a logical view. He says, "As a singer, we are supposed to deliver in front of the mic. It's a profession and there is a professional approach to it. Whether the hero and heroine are going to the Alps and are completely covered in ice or shooting in a hot desert, it doesn't really matter because you are recording the song somewhere in Andheri, Juhu or Lokhandwala in an air-conditioned studio. But yes, if someone tells you that the song is going to be picturised in the rain, then, with the rainy season being my most favourite season, I think it brings something different. As I said, rain garnishes romance and makes it a little more mushy. I have sung quite a few songs that have been picturised in the rain. If you ask me to choose one, when I came to know that the title song of "Hum Tum", "Saanson Ko Saanson Mein," would be picturised in the rain, it put me more in my comfort zone. I could picture a couple having fun, running around, using an umbrella or going below the shade of a tree in the rain. That gives me a better frame of mind to emote the lyrics of the song."

On asked about his favourite monsoon playlist Babul says, "My ideal monsoon playlist would have the best songs that we all associate with the monsoon season. I wouldn't necessarily be biased towards choosing my own songs. Whatever makes me feel romantic, whatever adds to my enjoyment of the rains, I would include those songs in my playlist. "Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein," "Aaj Rapat Jaayen To, Humein Na Uthaiyo..." There are so many great songs that I would love to hear during the rains. And yes, there are a couple of very famous and beautiful Bengali songs sung by some great Bengali artistes. So, there are definitely going to be quite a few Bengali songs on that particular playlist."