Archive · 10 Jun 2025
Baba Sehgal on his only collaboration with A.R. Rahman
Baba Sehgal, a famous singer, once worked with the music director A.R. Rahman on a Hindi song.
The song was originally in Tamil, but Baba was asked to sing it in Hindi.
He didn't like the Hindi words because they didn't sound good.
He felt the people who made the song didn't understand the words either.
Baba didn't feel right about the song, and they never worked together again.
Baba Sehgal was approached to record a Hindi version of the Tamil song 'Rukmani Rukmani' from the film 'Roja'.
Sehgal found the Hindi lyrics jarring and felt they lacked depth.
He believed neither Rahman nor Mani Ratnam fully understood the lyrics.
Sehgal felt the collaboration was not organic.
He and Rahman never worked together again due to the language barrier and lack of connection.
- Who
- Baba Sehgal, A.R. Rahman, Mani Ratnam, Swetha Shetty.
- What
- Baba Sehgal's experience recording the Hindi version of 'Rukmani Rukmani' with A.R. Rahman.
- When
- Early 1990s, interview at an unspecified time.
- Where
- Chennai and unspecified hotel.
- Why
- Baba Sehgal discusses his sole collaboration with A.R. Rahman, and why they didn't work together again.
- Main Subject
- Baba Sehgal
- Collaborator
- A.R. Rahman
- Film
- Roja
- Song
- Rukmani Rukmani
- Female Vocalist
- Swetha Shetty
Sources
Baba Sehgal Calls Rukmani Rukmani’s Hindi Lyrics ‘Cheap’: AR Rahman, Mani Ratnam Didn’t Want Me To Sing It
'Bollywood Was Insecure', Says Baba Sehgal, Credits South Industry For Recognising His Talent
Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman didn’t want me to sing Roja’s ‘Rukmani’, recalls Baba Sehgal: ‘Rahman was just a bachcha then’
Baba Sehgal Had A 'Party' Making First Film Miss 420: Aaja Meri Gaadi Me Baith Ja Was Shot Over Month