Turn up the volume

Mohit Chauhan Shares The Melodic Contours Of His Life

Shantam Neogi, XII D & Akshit Kaul, XII F, AIS MV

Mohit Chauhan is one of India’s most loved playback singers who has defined an era of soulful music. From his early days with the iconic band Silk Route to becoming the voice behind countless Bollywood hits, his journey is nothing short of inspiring. With two Filmfare Awards, a Maharashtra State Film Award, and three Zee Cine Awards to his name, Chauhan has etched his place among the finest voices of Indian music. Today, he is one of the most influential figures in the world of Indie pop. Let’s hear it from the man himself.

Venturing into music
I don’t recall the exact moment I began singing as it has always been a part of my soul. As a child, I would sing in my neighbourhood, experimenting with tunes and rhythms. But professionally, my journey started much later. When I moved to Delhi, I formed a band called Silk Route, and in 1998, we released our first album. That was when I truly stepped into the world of music as a career. From that point onward, my life revolved around music, and I never looked back.

Taking the Silk Route
In Delhi, I tried my hand at music professionally, starting with jingles and advertisements. I had never seen the inside of a studio before, so it was an entirely new experience. It was during this time that I met Kem Trivedi, a trained classical pianist, and Atul, who played guitar and saxophone. We began jamming together, creating original tunes, experimenting with arrangements, and shaping songs from scratch. That was the beginning of Silk Route, and that camaraderie and creative energy fuelled our music.

Tackling the Bollywood divide
There is a subtle but significant difference between performing in a band and singing for films. When you’re in a band, you make your own music. In playback singing, you are lending your voice to a character, a story, and a scene. Someone else writes the song, someone else composes the music, and you bring it to life. Each approach has its challenges, but both are equally rewarding. At the end of the day, it’s about creating music. Since I’m largely self-taught, I have spent countless hours exploring, experimenting, and enduring small frustrations. But this struggle has shaped me. It has taught me patience, persistence, and the joy of discovery.

Remembering the guru
Kishore Kumar has been my guiding star. Even though I never met him, listening to his songs taught me nuances of pronunciation, dynamics, and emotion. Every song I sing requires a different emotional approach - a patriotic song might need aggression, while a romantic song tenderness. Adapting to a music director’s vision or singing in non-native languages like Tamil adds another layer of challenge. But these experiences have enriched me as a singer.

Message for Amitians
Success in music is unpredictable. You need to stay happy, hopeful, and compassionate. For young artists, empathy is essential as it fuels creativity. Above all, keep practicing and embrace the journey. The so-called ‘Ten Thousand Hour Theory’ holds true - dedication can take you to remarkable heights.

The soul from the past

Book: Many Lives, Many Masters
Author: Dr Brian L Weiss
Published on: July 15, 1988
Genre: Psychological, Science, Spiritual, Non-fiction

Synopsis: Many Lives, Many Masters tells the true story of Dr Brian Weiss, a sceptical psychiatrist who discovered past life therapy after his patient, Catherine, began recalling traumatic past life memories and channelling messages from spiritual ‘masters’ during hypnotic sessions. These sessions, which revealed details about Weiss’s own life, led to Catherine’s healing from anxiety and depression, prompting Weiss to change his understanding of the mind, death, and the interconnectedness of life. This book presents evidence supporting the concept of reincarnation, where souls are reborn into different bodies to learn lessons and pay karmic debts. It tells us that souls may choose different lives and families in order to learn specific lessons, which helps them to spiritually progress. Souls must pay off their karmic debts accumulated in previous lives, which can influence their current circumstances. 
Why is it worth reading: The novel is a profoundly moving account of one man’s unexpected spiritual awakening. It emphasises love, compassion, forgiveness, and learning as the new purpose of life. Moreover, the book offers powerful insights into healing and helps readers find deeper meaning in life through medical experience. The narrative is appealing, making you question the world beyond science and humanity. Some of the stories portray Indian mythology as well, which makes it very relatable.
Iconic quote: “We are frightfully concerned with our own deaths, sometimes so much so that we forget the real purpose of our lives.”
Rating: 4/5
Review by: Praneel Praval
AIS Gwalior, X A