Alisha Chinai/Chinoy's grievances against all actresses - including Sridevi

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi in Mr India (1987) 

While searching for quotes on singer Alisha Chinoy [she subsequently changed her surname to Chinai] and Sridevi, found this feature online... and this quote makes us a little sad;

"In the past, I saw Sridevi walk away with all the raves for my song 'Kaate nahin kat-te' in Mr. India. It hurt then, it hurts more now. I'd rather sit at home jobless than allow my talent to be used to further any actress' popularity," a livid Alisha said. (from News 18, back in Dec 2010, long before Sridevi tragically passed. Context is relevant here, for obvious reasons.).

Alisha Chinai spoke out against other actresses too, but this particular line stung a little bit. Sridevi has always credited her singers, choreographers and directors and never spoke out against anyone else-- always complimenting others for their work and efforts. It isn't as if Sridevi deliberately hogged all the accolades for the collective. If the credit went to Sridevi for her memorable dancing and acting in the way that song was picturised in particular--as she was the face on screen--well, it's no fault of hers. Every element in Kate nahin Katthe was grand, be it the way it was shot, choreographed, be it the styling, sets, direction, camerawork... and of course it was a welcome change as the singer's voice is so soothing and not a high-pitch like many others who were successful around that same time. The 80s was a bizarrely loud decade, be it in acting, costumes, dialogue delivery, music or presentation! Everything was so over the top in commercial Hindi cinema! Alisha's voice was like warm honey--and we loved and welcomed the change.  

However, she isn't wrong in her thoughts either; actresses often get credit for songs and the singers are  left on the side. Had Lata Mangeshkar not fought for the rights of singers, an entire generation and subsequent one would never see their name in print. In the 1950s, people actually thought Madhubala sang her own songs, had Lataji not battled the bigwigs for credit, royalty, hell, even basic payment, there would many a penniless playback singer out there today. 

Playback singing as we know it today, is rather unique to Bollywood and uninformed fans in the past may have given credit to the actresses, but in this era of the internet informed (and occasionally misinformed), and social media age, every single person watching a Hindi film knows that none* of the stars on screen sing their own song (*with a few memorable exceptions - but that's for another blog post). You know a song is sung by Lata, Asha, Anuradha, Kavita or... Alisha! 

Alisha Chinai memorably sang for Sridevi in nearly half a dozen films;

1. Kate nahin kathe, Mr India (1987)
2. Ek do teen chaar, pyar chahiye, Waqt Ki Awaaz (1988) 
3. I'm a bad girl, Guru (1989)
4. Chodh chala rahon main, Pathar Ke Insaan, (1990) 
5. Cha raha hai pyar ka nasha, Chandra Mukhi (1993)

For the record, we remain huge fans of the singer Alisha Chinai - in the shrill cacophony of that dire decade, the 1980s, her soothing voice was like a melodious balm, she softened the songs for us and we - and our headphones - are grateful.  I have every single album of hers, cds and audios! Nothing will beat the Guiness record held by her with Made in India-- which has several gems, not just the main track. We salute the fine singer, and hope still doesn't blame Sridevi and the applause she garnered for Alisha's original voice. 

Daane daane pe likha hai khanewale ka naam,

gaane gaane pe likha hai gaanewali ka naam; Alisha. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alisha Chinai (@alishachinaiofficial)