A meeting that launched Benny

Bollywood singing sensation Benny Dayal is a Malayali raised in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He lived there for 18 years and completed his high school education. He moved to Chennai in 2002 and completed his graduation from Madras Christian College (MCC), and lived there for 10 years.

He was the cultural convener at MCC, where he joined because it was well-known for its cultural activities and it gave him the stage confidence. After his graduation, Benny did a diploma in journalism from the same college as it would keep him connected to the band scene.

For as long as he was playing with his band, Benny says that he felt like a rock star. Subsequently, he shifted to Mumbai in 2012 and has stayed there ever since. Initially, Benny did jobs like working at a BPO and then working as a journalist to support himself till music could finally earn him a livelihood...

Tell us about your journey?
The taste I had of the real world was quite an eyeopener. Every single music director I met had nothing to offer. I would plead to get a chance to sing, at least in the chorus, but I did not have a breakthrough. My father had just had an open-heart surgery and my parents had to shift back to India from the UAE. I couldn’t ask for money or tell them anything. My brother was just settling down into his job. There were days, I didn’t have money for rent or to eat three times a day. There are certain things I cannot talk about.

What was challenging in your musical career?
The most challenging aspect of my career was to stay positive in spite of all the hurdles that came my way as I got rejected from studio to studio. At the start, an established music director told me “You will never be a playback singer” and he slammed the door on my face. I didn’t retort but I couldn’t sleep for nights and I slipped into depression.

Sometimes well-wishers would betray me, and I didn’t know whom to trust. But I took a call to shun away all the negativity and only attract positivity into my realm. My story in the world of music isn’t a cushioned one; I have seen the downs so I can value the ups even more. This somewhere made me understand one universal fact – the more you help others in whatever way you can, the more the universe returns the favour in some form.

Tell us about your first meeting with AR Rahman?
My first meeting with Rahman sir was surreal. I never expected to meet him ever because I never even tried to reach out to him for any sort of work. This was because, most friends I knew, who could help me on that front would tell me that it's kind of impossible to meet him and he's very focussed on his work and it's a game of destiny for anyone to collaborate with him. But then like they say “Miracles are impossible things that become possible without us being in control of them”.

What was the turning point of your life?
The one turning point in my life was meeting Rahman sir in 2006. It came out of the blue. I was three days into this job when I got a call from Rahman’s office. They wanted me to sing harmony later that night. I was hoping it was not a prank. I ended up recording the same night in his studio where I met him in person and I had no words to even utter. I was spellbound. Surreal but true. But I have to thank Pravin Mani who is like my Godfather. He’s the one who imparted knowledge about professional singing. Before that, I was singing only for cultural events. He taught me a lot of the technical stuff. My first song was for his composition for S5, the band launched by SS Music

What was your first song?
It was during Ramzan; it happened around 4 am. Rahman sir wanted something in Arabic and Spanish and called me to sing “Chinnamma Chilakamma” for ‘Meenaxi’. When I started singing regularly, Rahman sir said I should quit my job. Finally, I had to leave the company because someone did an article about people in dual careers. My song from ‘Azhagiya Thamizh Magan’ had become a hit by then. So, it became a policy violation. The same night, I got a call from Rahman sir for a recording and later that night, he said: “Shouldn’t you leave early or you’ll be late for work tomorrow?” And, I told him: “No sir, I quit.” He shook my hand and said: “Congratulations!”

As a playback singer, what numbers do you prefer? – Romantic, slow, ballads or the energetic ones?
This is an unfair question. I love music and have loved singing absolutely anything that's been thrown at me. Music is just music for me. I don’t believe in creating boundaries in music and boxing music up

How is your life post marriage?
It’s really a myth. Life doesn’t alter drastically after marriage as it is commonly believed. Cathy just seems more beautiful and loving now. I have known her for many years so it’s just that now we are waking up to one another every single day and we are in the same city. Marriage is a beautiful journey and it makes the journey a joyride because it is not one but two minds, hearts and souls together.