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Tulsi Kumar: The Singing Daughter of a Musical Baron

by Roshni Mulchandani, Editor @ Loud Beats®

Her father is a musical baron, the Late Gulshan Kumar and she is his protégé. But there is more to Tulsi Kumar than meets the eye. The melodious young singer has already sung in a number of popular films including Billu and more recently Paathshala.

When Tulsi made her debut back in 2006, she immediately caught the eye of a number of popular music directors when her song, Mohabbat Ki from the film Aksar became a raging hit. With the backing of her father’s legendary reputation and the T-Series label to support her, Tulsi realized the mounting pressure on her career. But this didn’t stop the singer from working hard and ensuring that her singing was recognized as unique. And now four years later, Tulsi has a rising careergraph and a successful private album to her name. Loud Beats speaks to the baroness about her musical journey thus far and her future tuneful voyage.

Loud Beats® - When did you realize you wanted to become a singer?
Tulsi Kumar - At a very young, I think at the age of seven. I didn’t actually realize, my Dad realized. It was his dream to see me become a singer. That’s when he made me learn light classical music at Suresh Wadkar’s academy. So basically it was his dream that I am trying to fulfill.

Loud Beats® - What were some things your father told you that you will never forget?
Tulsi Kumar - He had a great eye for talent firstly. He’s made the lives of so many artists in the music line. I was very young when I lost him, I was all of thirteen. I just wanted to work hard and go on working hard so that I can live his dream. He wanted young singers to be on the scene and not behind. He promoted them so well. So I try to work hard on my front and be in the playback line because it was his dream. Now I’ve made it my dream also and by the grace of God, been blessed with a good voice but I really needed a lot of practice which I still do. And I will continue to do that. I just want to make him proud, that’s my dream now.

Loud Beats® - Who have been your inspirations?
Tulsi Kumar - Lata Mangeshkar of course. She is a teacher to all new singers. I look up to her. And apart from her I look up to my dad because whatever I am, I am because of him.

Loud Beats® - You began with devotional songs – what made you move to mainstream?
Tulsi Kumar - I didn’t really change; in fact I’m still doing a lot of devotional singing but I started with devotional. Then I started with playback in films. But singing is singing. Its just the feeling that differs. So when you’re singing a bhajan, you have a different feeling and when you sing a song for a film, it’s a different film. At the end of the day you have to good at your job which is singing. There is no switch still. I’m still doing a lot of devotional projects. In fact, a big devotional project is being planned and I’ve already worked on it which will be coming up soon. That’s a fusion project that I’m working on now and side-by-side I’m still doing a lot of playback singing too.

Loud Beats® - What is coming up for you now?
Tulsi Kumar - Of late I’ve sung for Paathshala and coming up is I have a track with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai. I’m so excited to be singing with an icon like him. I was a little nervous but we already recorded the track and I’m really looking forward to the release of that track. Apart from that I might be singing for Action Replay but I haven’t recorded for that till now. But that is in the pipelines.

Loud Beats® - And any new private albums?
Tulsi Kumar - No, not right now. As I told you, I’m working on this devotional album that has mantra’s from the Ramayana. It arranged in a very western way so it’s a good fusion of Indian and Western music. But at the same time it has a message to it. We will be shooting it so that’s another thing I’m working on it.

Loud Beats® - You’re private album did really well.
Tulsi Kumar - Actually it did do really well but right now the private album scene not on a very high note. The radio is not pulling songs from private albums songs. There are many issues with private albums. So basically what is on the scene is Bollywood; music for films. People basically want to see the stars. I will be working on an album soon but not this year.

Loud Beats® - How much pressure do you have on you to succeed?
Tulsi Kumar - Initially I thought there was some pressure and I used to feel that pressure. But gradually with time, I have realized that I don’t mind going slow and steady. That is the way my careergraph is going. I’ve not risen to overnight fame but it’s going slow and steady for me and it’s working. So I’ve well-digested it. I’m going to make it up there but it will time. But I’m ready to practice until then because it’s very important to hone your skills.

Loud Beats® - Which has been your favorite song till date?
Tulsi Kumar - Actually none of my songs are my favorite! I always like what other people sing. I’ll be honest and I’ll one of my favorite tracks that is really close to me is Aaja Mahi. I had a solo version in my album and a duet version with Neeraj Shridhar.

Loud Beats® - What is your opinion on the current Hindi music industry? What is lacking?
Tulsi Kumar - I think a lot of fusion music is coming in, Housefull kind of music. But I personally that the melodious romantic songs should come back. And there should be more room for female singers also! A lot of songs are male dominated. In films, the actor really important. There are very few heroine based films. The females need more solo numbers. We used to have more solo numbers during Lata Ji’s time; we need more of that. Nowadays, we have mostly male dominated songs.

Loud Beats® - What is the best compliment you have received for your singing?
Tulsi Kumar - I think it’s yet to come. I’m in the learning process. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments from great people. But I know I can do better and so the best compliment has yet to come.

Loud Beats® - Do you feel that with the number of singers propping up every day, it becomes harder to survive in this industry?
Tulsi Kumar - Yeah with all these reality shows, I think there are new singers everyday but everybody has a place for themselves in the industry and if you have a unique different voice, you will be called; not anyone else.