Bombay Jayashri

Bombay Jayashri might have lost out to British singer Adele in the Academy Awards this year, but her song in the upcoming film Dekh Ke would change the popular perception of Bhojpuri movie music.

Jayashri’s Pi’s Lullaby track in Life of Pi had earned her a nomination for Best Original Song but the Skyfall track clinched the award.

Dekh Ke director Nikhil Raj said: “She had recorded the song for our film before her song in Life of Pi got the Oscar nomination. I was happy that someone who has lent her voice for my film was nominated for the Academy Awards. It was a cheerful moment for every person associated with the movie.”

He further said: “Those who missed her song in Life of Pi can enjoy her voice in my film. It is a lovely track and she has given her best. Our music director Paul Jacob helped me get her for the movie. He knows her for many years.”

Dekh Ke, being produced by Philharmonic Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, is set to release in August. There are 10 songs in the film. The song — Ye saiya jee gaon dikha di patjhad mein sawan ke milan dikha di — has been penned by the director and sung by Jayashri.

Speaking over phone from Chennai, Jacob said: “Jayashri is the charm of the song and she enjoyed the Bhojpuri track even though she does not understand the language. She is open to new ideas. Before attempting the song, she asked for the meaning of the lines.”

On what forced her to take up the challenge of singing a Bhojpuri song, Jacob said: “She has performed in Mauritius, where many speak the language, many times. When I requested her to sing, she said yes. You have to listen to the four-and-a-half minute track to believe how wonderfully it has been sung.” He added: “The lyrics involve a lot of things close to my heart. When the song was being recorded in Chennai, I was really excited.”

Jayashri is presently on an Europe tour, he said.

Jacob, along with Bony Chakraborty, has directed the music for the film. Bony was the lead vocalist of a Bengali band Krosswindz. Apart from Jayashri, Sri Lankan singer Manickam Yogeswaran and Bollywood singer Kailash Kher have also sung for the movie. “It is a big moment for the Bhojpuri industry in terms of music. The industry has always been neglected in this field and I hope this initiative will change the perception about Bhojpuri movie music,” said Jacob.

Revealing more about the storyline of the film, Nikhil said: “It is a journey of an actor who becomes a real character for society. The story is based on a real incident when I was travelling for my television show. It is story of a Bihari Sikh youth in the army who had lost his family in the 1984 riots.

“He decides to take revenge by raising awareness on the effects of the riot. It is about bringing change in society.”