Alka Yagnik, arguably the reigning queen of playback singing in Bollywood, celebrates her birthday on 21st March, 2005. She speaks to Radio Jhankaar in an exclusive interview. Here are excerpts from the interview:

Aanchal: Alka Ji, wish you a very happy birthday!
Alka Yagnik: Thank you. Thanks a lot!


Aanchal: Do you think the film Hamari Bahu Alka was tailor-made for you to make a start in Bollywood? And does that make you believe in destiny?
Alka Yagnik: Well, I do believe in destiny. And that was too much of a coincidence, I would say. It was like being wed into the industry!


Aanchal: When you were 10 years old, your mother brought you to Mumbai.
Alka Yagnik: We had some friends in Calcutta. We met them at a party. There, they asked me to hum a few lines. And I just sang. Being a kid, I was not really conscious of what was happening around me, so I just sang a few lines. These friends said they had very good connections, especially with Kalyan Ji - Anand Ji. So they told my parents, "Why don't you bring her to Bombay? We will introduce her to Kalyan Ji - Anand Ji. They are very good at grooming new talent." So, on one of my vacations, my parents brought me to Bombay and we were introduced to Kalyan Ji- Anand Ji. They were extremely impressed. But, the only thing they said was, I would have to wait a while because I was a child and my voice was just like a child's at that moment in time.


Aanchal: Is it more important for you to be correct technically or emotionally in a song?
Alka Yagnik: One can bring oneself to be technically correct. Emotionally, you are or you are not. Emotions aren’t something which can be measured or planned. When you are singing a song, if you feel the song and sing it from your heart, emotions come naturally. There are people who can sing from the heart and there are people who cannot, though they may sing well technically. Singing perfect technically and singing with emotions are two different things. As for technical part of it, I keep working on it, so that I keep getting better. As for emotions, whatever words I have in front of me, I just feel them. I just put myself in that situation, feel them and sing. The emotions come naturally.


Aanchal: You have been in the industry for almost 25 years but we haven't seen the age reflect in your voice or in your appearance. Iska raaz kya hai? (What's the secret?)
Alka Yagnik: Iska raaz kya hai? Music, aur kya ? (Music, what else?) I don't feel I have been here for 25 years. My spirits, my energy, the way I feel and think and the way I get charged and passionate about my work is the same as it was several years ago. I do think music is ageless. An example is Lata Mangeshkar. At the age of 75, she sings for Priety (Zinta) and sounds sweet and young. If she can do it at her age, I am far away. It’s just the way you feel. As for my voice, I think its God's blessing.


Aanchal: Which is most important - personal satisfaction, audience appreciation, critical acclaim or awards?
Alka Yagnik: Personal satisfaction would be first. Second would be audience appreciation. Third would be awards I guess. And then, critical acclaim. Because critics are just one section of the people. It's what is commented by one person or a section of people who criticize. I feel the best critics are the people, because once you are accepted by the people, critical acclaim doesn't matter. There are lots of people who are very popular who are not at all critically acclaimed. So, you may not be a favourite of the critics but you must be a favourite of the people. That's what I believe. If you are critically acclaimed, very good. If not, well, it's just too bad. But as long as people love you, all's well.