Latest news with #BabaSehgal
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Baba Sehgal to Bohemia and Honey Singh: Tracing the Rise of Indian Rap Royalty
Before rap became a chart-topping fixture in Indian pop culture, it was the voice of rebellion echoing through the streets of the Bronx in the 1970s. Rooted in resistance, rhythm, and raw honesty, rap emerged as a storytelling tool for marginalized Black youth in America. It was poetry laid over beats, a soundtrack to survival. At the heart of it was DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant whose iconic 'breakbeat' technique—looping instrumental segments—ignited the birth of hip-hop at New York block parties. When The Sugarhill Gang dropped Rapper's Delight in 1979, rap went mainstream. As its influence spread, echoes reached Indian shores in the early 1990s. Initially, Indian rap was more imitation than innovation. But it didn't take long for local voices to reshape it in their own image. 03:35 Dil Dhadke: Baba Sehgal India's First Verse: From Ashok Kumar to Baba Sehgal Though often overlooked, Ashok Kumar's Rail Gaadi (1968) is seen by many as India's first flirtation with rap—a spoken-word rhythm piece recited more than sung. But it was Baba Sehgal who gave rap a desi identity. His 1992 hit " Thanda Thanda Pani" mixed Hinglish lyrics, comic timing, and a distinct Indian flavor that made rap relatable to the masses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo His music videos weren't just catchy—they were unapologetically local, laying the groundwork for future artists. While critics debated his 'authenticity,' Sehgal had cracked the mainstream. He didn't copy the West—he carved a niche. As he later said, 'I was doing something new. I wasn't trying to be anyone else.' Bollywood Joins the Beat By the late '90s and early 2000s, Bollywood began to toy with rap. Artists like Bali Brahmbhatt brought in hip-hop elements, but the big bang came with the arrival of Bohemia, Yo Yo Honey Singh , Badshah , and Raftaar. Bohemia, often dubbed the pioneer of Punjabi rap, brought depth and realism, reflecting the migrant experience. His tracks were introspective and raw. Meanwhile, Honey Singh turned rap into a party phenomenon with high-octane anthems that dominated dance floors, car stereos, and weddings. Badshah and Raftaar added further polish, fusing rap seamlessly into Bollywood. Yet the soul of the genre was often diluted. Baba Sehgal famously remarked: 'Bollywood has no rap. I feel that singing a few lines in a film song and the makers promoting it doesn't make it a rap song. Rap means rhythm and poetry, and it has a definite beginning and end... I feel doing a song on alcohol, women, and many other things is not rap; this is just like a gimmick.' Gully Boy: India's Hip-Hop Earthquake Then came Gully Boy (2019), a cinematic explosion that changed everything. Directed by Zoya Akhtar and inspired by real-life Mumbai rappers Divine and Naezy, the film captured the soul of Indian street rap. With Ranveer Singh playing a Dharavi-born rapper, the movie painted a poignant portrait of dreams, defiance, and identity. The film's anthem, Apna Time Aayega, became a generational slogan. It was more than a hit—it was a declaration. The film won critical acclaim and became India's official Oscar entry, legitimizing Indian rap like never before. Honey Singh Reflects on Past Mistakes & 'Glorifying Satanic Powers' In His Music: 'Meri Zindagi...' The Rise of the Independent Rhymes Post- Gully Boy , the indie rap scene exploded. Artists like Divine, Emiway Bantai, Seedhe Maut, Prabh Deep, and KR$NA now command huge fanbases without Bollywood backing. Their music speaks of caste, capitalism, politics, poverty, and pride—delivered in languages like Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, and Bengali. Streaming platforms and social media gave Indian rappers freedom. No labels, no gatekeepers—just beats, bars, and belief. The Nana Patekar Surprise In a quirky twist, Nana Patekar, in an exclusive conversation with ETimes, revealed that rapper Badshah told him he might've kickstarted Bollywood's rap trend. Recalling the Love Rap from the 1994 film Krantiveer , Nana said: I met Badshah recently, and he said I started the rap trend with that song from 'Krantiveer.' It was a lovely song, 'Love Rap,' featuring Bindu ji. We had so much fun shooting it. The choreographer eventually surrendered, saying, 'I can't teach Nana Patekar anything.' (Laughs) He told me, 'Jo karna hai karo; this is the frame.' My steps were entirely improvised. Even Bindu ji was instructed to manage whatever I did, and she did it brilliantly. From Rhymes to Revolution Indian rap today is a mirror of the country itself: multilingual, passionate, rebellious, and full of hustle. What started in the Bronx has bloomed in the bylanes of Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and beyond. And as Gully Boy reminded us: Apna time aayega? No— it's already here.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Baba Sehgal was told by underworld to ‘stop making music' because he was doing well outside Bollywood: ‘They were insecure'
You can love him, hate him or simply not understand him, but singer Baba Sehgal has continued being a constant source of entertainment for almost three decades. From quirky Instagram posts to working with Mani Ratnam and A R Rahman, Sehgal can't be forgotten. But back in the day, there was a time when the singer had to leave the country for his and his family's safety. He recently talked about his brief stint abroad and shared how he had to move because of the underworld. In a chat with Siddharth Kannan, Baba was asked why he moved out of the country in the late 1990s. Sehgal shared that like many in Bollywood in those days, he was also getting calls from the underworld gangsters. 'I didn't really think that people would be after me, but I too got a call, and during that time the underworld's influence was very strong. Everyone was getting a call and being given instructions, and then eventually, I too received a call, and they told me to stop making music,' said Sehgal. During that time, T-Series head Gulshan Kumar was assassinated in broad daylight by underworld gangsters in Mumbai. Film director Rakesh Roshan was also shot but he survived the attack. ALSO READ: Emiway Bantai's prophet gave him a superstition to protect against evil eye: 'Nothing can touch them, except death' He added that it was an 'extremely confusing' time and claimed that the reason why people in power wanted him to stop was because he was achieving success outside of Bollywood. 'Maybe I got a call because I was doing an extremely good job in the non-Bollywood sphere, which made people feel insecure. It was a very scary time; people were being murdered and extorted, and at that point I got an opportunity to go and work in Singapore, and I took it.' He shared that he was in Singapore on a work visa and was recording songs for a company that was also working with AR Rahman. After his time in Singapore, Sehgal moved to New York, where he learnt sound engineering and sharpened his skills as a DJ. He later returned to India to pursue Bollywood projects and continued to work on his solo projects as well.
News18
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
'What Ridiculous Lyrics': Punjabi Rapper Baba Sehgal Slams AR Rahman's Hit Song
Last Updated: Baba Sehgal shared that it might be possible that AR Rahman and Mani Ratnam likely didn't understand the Hindi lyrics of the song themselves Singer Baba Sehgal has disclosed his dissatisfaction with the lyrics of the Hindi version of the iconic track ' Rukmani Rukmani ' from the film Roja, composed by AR Rahman. In a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Sehgal shared that he was approached for the Hindi version of the Tamil song during a performance in Chennai. An assistant director played the Tamil version for him, but he did not pay much attention and agreed to it. Sehgal claimed that Rahman and his team pleaded for his help to release the song, leading Sehgal to contact friends who requested he sing the Hindi version. 'When I saw the Hindi lyrics, I thought, ' Kitne wahiyat geet hain yaar. Kisne likha hai ye! (The lyrics are ridiculous, who has written it!) The issue is that songs in a different language sound fine, but in our language, we understand the meaning better. I don't think Rahman or Ratnam knew what those Hindi lyrics meant," Sehgal shared. Just One Collaboration With AR Rahman Sehgal revealed that the collaboration with Rahman was limited to just this one song. 'It was forced upon me. I didn't agree with the song; I found it very cheap. Another woman was brought in to sing the female dialogues. Later, I asked Swetha Shetty to sing them as well, and she did so brilliantly. This was my first and last song with Rahman, as language proved a barrier. We never met again after that," he said. Who Is Baba Sehgal? Baba Sehgal is credited with introducing rap to India in 1992 with his song ' Thanda Thanda Paani '. Originally an electrical engineer, he rose to fame as a rap star in the early 1990s, aided by the rise of MTV. Over the years, he released several popular songs and later appeared in films. He continues to engage his audience by sharing songs and music-related videos on social media. First Published:
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Baba Sehgal disses AR Rahman's song Rukmani Rukmani: ‘Kitne vahiyat lyrics hai'
Singer Baba Sehgal worked with AR Rahman on the Hindi version of Roja's popular track Rukmani Rukmani. Now, in a new interview, he has revealed that he didn't like the lyrics of the song at all. Also read: AR Rahman says his recent health scare made him realise that people do want him to live The song has been composed by AR Rahman for Mani Ratnam's 1992 film. During an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Baba Sehgal looked back at the time when he was approached for the Hindi version of the Tamil song during a performance in Chennai. He shared that there was an assistant director who came and played Rukmani Rukmani's Tamil version. But he didn't pay much attention to it and just said 'yes' to the song. Baba claimed that Rahman, along with his team, came to his hotel and requested him to help release the song. He mentioned that he helped the team get in touch with some of his friends, who asked him to sing the Hindi version. He said, 'When I saw the Hindi lyrics, I was like, 'Kitne vahiyat lyrics hai yaar. Kisne likha hai ye?' (How cheap are these lyrics? Who wrote this?) The problem is, when we listen to songs in another language, they sound fine. But in our own language, we grasp the meaning. I don't think Rahman or Ratnam knew what those Hindi lyrics meant'. Baba also spoke about why the song turned out to be his only collaboration with AR Rahman. 'It was a forced thing. I was not at all convinced with the lyrics. They were very cheap, I feel. Another lady was called to sing the female lines. Later, I told Swetha Shetty to sing those too, and she nailed it. That was my first and last song with Rahman. Language was a problem. We never met after that,' he shared. Baba Sehgal is credited for introducing rap in India with his song Thanda Thanda Pani in 1992. An electrical engineer by training, Baba Sehgal attained stardom in the early 1990s as a rap star. His ascent had much to do with the rise of MTV in those years. Over the years, he released several songs that went on to take their place in the party playlist of people. Later in his career, he also appeared in films. He regularly takes to social media to share varied videos related to songs and music.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Baba Sehgal recalls getting threat from underworld asking him to stop making music: 'Bollywood was very insecure with me...'
Baba Sehgal revealed Bollywood's insecurities impacted his career. He found recognition in South Indian cinema after feeling sidelined in Bollywood. Sehgal shared he received underworld threats in 1998, warning him to stop singing. Despite the challenges, he continued his career. He also reflected on the turbulence in the entertainment industry during the late '90s. Rapper and music icon Baba Sehgal recently opened up about his challenging journey in the Hindi film industry, revealing how Bollywood's insecurities and industry pressures shaped his career. From feeling sidelined by Bollywood to gaining respect in South Indian cinema, Baba also shared a shocking encounter with the underworld that threatened his passion for music. In a candid chat with Siddharth Kannan, Baba reflected on his journey in regional cinema, sharing that the South Indian film industry gave him the recognition he never quite received in Bollywood. Citing his impressive body of work—including over 250 Telugu songs, 35–40 Tamil tracks, and more than 25 Kannada numbers—he said the South took him seriously and embraced his music. In contrast, he described Bollywood as being insecure about his presence right from the start. Sehgal believes his direct and upfront personality may not have aligned with Bollywood's expectations. He recalled how music directors would reach out to him, but perhaps found his demeanor or way of speaking off-putting. Despite rising to national fame in the early '90s with Indipop chartbusters like Thanda Thanda Paani, Baba feels his success outside the film industry may have made the Hindi film music scene uneasy and hesitant to fully embrace him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pistol de sudură laser multifuncțional siginificant Află mai multe Undo He also shared that he received a threat call from the underworld back in 1998—a time when such intimidation was not uncommon in the entertainment industry. While he never imagined being targeted as he considered himself 'just a singer,' the incident came as a shock. He recalled how the experience brought immense stress to both him and his family during that turbulent period. Baba further revealed that the underworld call he received in 1998 wasn't about extortion—but a warning to stop making music altogether. 'They told me to stop singing. The tone wasn't aggressive, but it was serious,' he recalled, adding that the calls often came at night, making it a deeply unsettling experience. Despite the threats, Baba chose to stay the course, building a successful career beyond Bollywood with the support of his loyal fans and the South Indian film industry. Baba Sehgal also reflected on the turbulence in the entertainment industry during the late '90s. He described it as a confusing period when non-film music declined, remixes took over, and the underworld gained influence. 'It wasn't just me; the entire industry was shaken,' he said, highlighting the widespread challenges artists faced during that era.
