Noted fusion artist and playback singer Remo Fernandes, who gave us some crazy dance numbers back in the 90s, turns a year older today. Unlike his contemporaries back in the day, Remo added an Indian element to Rock ‘n’ Roll and all his peppy, groovy numbers. His voice and antics worked to his advantage too.
His first ever break in the Hindi film industry was as the singer and composer of the title song from Jalwa (1987). This one was path-breaking for Remo. People fell in love with his sexy, not so Indian voice, and this track also became his first shot to fame in Bollywood.
After Jalwa he went back to making music albums and travelling the world, performing at music festivals. It was in 1995 that he finally moved into the Hind Pop genre and became a filmi playback singer. And what better way to start the journey than with a Mani Ratnam film and an AR Rahman composition? Humma Humma for Bombay (1995) still gets us grooving and is deservingly up there as an evergreen classic.
By now Remo had arrived. His next big hit was from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Khamoshi: The Musical (1996). The Goan flavours of this happy carnival song and Salman Khan’s dance moves remain unforgettable.
In 1998, along with his newly formed band The Microwave Papadums, Remo released his first and only Hindi pop/rock album to date titled O, Meri Munni. It was surely a platinum album, as it topped all charts.
In the same year, when everyone thought that Remo’s voice only suited peppy dance numbers, out he came with a love song in the Ajay Devgn-Kajol starrer Pyaar to Hona Hi Tha (1998). We absolutely loved this twist!
Here’s wishing Remo a happy 63rd and hoping to hear much more of his music in Bollywood films again!
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