0:00:08 > 0:00:12Playback is the fusion of two very personal memories.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14First memory -
0:00:14 > 0:00:17I used to listen to a Hindi film song over and over again
0:00:17 > 0:00:19called Dum Maro Dum,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22and in the middle of it was this Asian woman
0:00:22 > 0:00:25singing incredible jazz riffs in a really deep voice
0:00:25 > 0:00:26and I've always remembered it.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30She's called Usha Uthup, by the way, and she's fantastic.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Second memory was watching All About Eve,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35which became one of my favourite films,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37and I was really fascinated by the relationship
0:00:37 > 0:00:39of an actor to the understudy
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and, in this case, a playback singer to the star.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44That whole idea of couples that are tied to each other,
0:00:44 > 0:00:48need each other, but don't necessarily like each other.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51The result is Playback, and I hope you enjoy it.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Now, many of you probably know
0:00:55 > 0:00:59that the Bollywood film industry is the biggest in the world,
0:00:59 > 0:01:00making global superstars
0:01:00 > 0:01:03of the all-singing, all-dancing actors who star in them.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06What you may not know is that most of these actors
0:01:06 > 0:01:08don't actually sing any of their songs,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11they "mime" to playback singers,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14who literally become the beloved voice to the famous face.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17So, ahead of tonight's sold-out Bollywood Spectacular
0:01:17 > 0:01:19at the 02 arena,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22I'm delighted to welcome its biggest female star, Priya Patel,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25and her playback singer, Mala Mistry.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28She's not here.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Erm, she just running a little bit late, I'm just hearing.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36But welcome, Mala, I'm sure that we can fill time before she arrives.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41Oh, no, no, no. I don't usually do the interviews without Priya Madam,
0:01:41 > 0:01:42she doesn't like it.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45OK, right, but I'm sure our viewers would be fascinated
0:01:45 > 0:01:48to hear your wonderful story.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51My...story?
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Yes, yes, you know, how you became the voice
0:01:54 > 0:01:56of the biggest superstar in India.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00I'm sorry, people usually close their eyes
0:02:00 > 0:02:01when I open my mouth.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Tell me, how did you develop your talent?
0:02:05 > 0:02:08- Was that at school? - School?
0:02:08 > 0:02:11School was a living hell for me.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14People laughed at me when I said I wanted to sing.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Right, that was because of the...
0:02:17 > 0:02:18Why was that?
0:02:18 > 0:02:21How do the heroines sing in our movies?
0:02:22 > 0:02:23High.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Simpering sopranos with their tinkly laughs and tiny waists,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31panting around trees like pre-pubescent morons
0:02:31 > 0:02:33waiting to be caught by the hero
0:02:33 > 0:02:35because, God forbid, any respectable woman
0:02:35 > 0:02:37should look like she wants to be caught.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40So they develop this girlie descant
0:02:40 > 0:02:43because that's how men think every virgin should sound.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48I am a natural alto. I have never sounded like a virgin.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51That and my slight facial-hair issue
0:02:51 > 0:02:56meant I got called some very unfortunate names.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58- Like what? - Man...
0:02:58 > 0:02:59Oh.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Big-balled, hairy man.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04"Show us your balls, hairy man!"
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Until that day when a group of my so-called friends
0:03:06 > 0:03:09tried to rip off my trousers to see if I, in fact, did own a pair.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13That's why I've worn a sari ever since.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17- Is there any sign of Priya? - And then I discovered jazz.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan and Bessie Smith -
0:03:20 > 0:03:24real women who sounded like... real women,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28their voices deep and dark as their pain.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31So I wore my sari and I sang the blues.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I think I would have gone absolutely mad
0:03:34 > 0:03:36- if it hadn't been for... - Me!
0:03:36 > 0:03:39I am so sorry, everyone.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42My driver got hopelessly lost on the way here,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and I had to do my make-up in the car, I must be such a mess.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- Darling! - No, you look wonderful
0:03:48 > 0:03:51SHE GIGGLES Stop it! But enough about me.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Has Mala been telling you
0:03:53 > 0:03:55how I rescued her from a seedy jazz club?
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Well, it wasn't seedy, as such.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Yes.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02She was singing for her supper, literally.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06And I just happened to be passing by on my usual evening charity route,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09feeding these hungry little street urchins,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12when I heard this...noise.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Voice.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15Noisy voice.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17So unusual.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18And I knew at once
0:04:18 > 0:04:21that if something like that came out of my mouth,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23people would remember me.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Of course I got Mala to be a little less weird,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28because I didn't want to sound like an actual freak.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30But what we ended up with
0:04:30 > 0:04:34was a voice that went totally with my face - sexy chocolate.
0:04:34 > 0:04:35Yes, please.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37Sorry?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39That's how my voice...
0:04:39 > 0:04:41MY voice.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45..put to my face, has been described as.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46I'm known as the Sexy Chocolate Girl.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Wow, sex and chocolate -
0:04:49 > 0:04:50everyone's two favourite things.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52SHE GIGGLES
0:04:52 > 0:04:56I'm a celibate diabetic, so not really.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Right, yeah.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03Not yours. But, er, listen, it's been a perfect partnership, hasn't it,
0:05:03 > 0:05:04for both of you, really?
0:05:04 > 0:05:09Priya, a shelf-full of awards over the last decade,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and, Mala, well, I'm just looking to see
0:05:12 > 0:05:15exactly how many solo albums you've clocked up.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Well, Mala doesn't really need to compete with other playback singers.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21You wouldn't need to, do you, darling?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Well, I wasn't allowed to, was I, madam?
0:05:23 > 0:05:27But remember that contract you made me sign all those years ago?
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Oof, what would I know about that?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31I'm just the talent.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35Which forbade me from singing solo or with anybody else.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Did it?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Why would you need to?
0:05:39 > 0:05:41That contract ran out finally.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Yesterday.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45And today...
0:05:45 > 0:05:47you can buy this -
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Finally Me.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Do you think it's a catchy title, madam?
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Finally..You!
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Too sweet.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Good luck.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01People love my voice, I know that.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Without this?
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Anyone can learn how to sing.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07But we all know the camera doesn't lie.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10However much you beg it.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Am I right, sweetie?
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Yes...
0:06:14 > 0:06:15Or no. Erm...
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Let's talk about tonight's concert.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21I have to rush, but I'm sure that Mala
0:06:21 > 0:06:23will keep all of your viewers entertained
0:06:23 > 0:06:26with her fascinating stories and without little old me.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27Don't be late for dress rehearsal,
0:06:27 > 0:06:30the weather's playing havoc with the buses.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33I love you all!
0:06:35 > 0:06:39I have my backing track with me if that helps fill time.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Yes, yes. Let's go ahead with that.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Er, so here we go - a world exclusive sneak-preview now
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- from Lama Mistry... - It's Mala.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53It's Mala. From Mala Mistry's new album.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56I'd like to dedicate this song
0:06:56 > 0:06:59to the person who has been my other half for many years.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01The parasite to my host,
0:07:01 > 0:07:02the yin to my yang,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04the ping...to my pong.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08The face to all my songs...
0:07:08 > 0:07:10up until now.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12# They say that love is blind
0:07:12 > 0:07:14# But I wasn't smart
0:07:14 > 0:07:17# The prettiest face can hide a pus-filled heart
0:07:17 > 0:07:20# The sunniest smile can be scabbed with lies
0:07:20 > 0:07:24# Priya's a bitch with the soul of a witch and lumpy thighs
0:07:24 > 0:07:26# She says she's an orphan
0:07:26 > 0:07:28# Who's been lucky and good
0:07:28 > 0:07:31# And now that she's blown everybody in Bollywood
0:07:31 > 0:07:33# She's never paid tax
0:07:33 > 0:07:35# Has all of her fat sucked out with a hose
0:07:35 > 0:07:39# And everything she earned last year went straight up her nose
0:07:39 > 0:07:43# You're just jealous You sad-faced cow
0:07:43 > 0:07:44# Not any more
0:07:44 > 0:07:46# With your pathetic lies and monobrow... #
0:07:46 > 0:07:48I've had laser surgery!
0:07:48 > 0:07:50# ..I'm the sun to your shadow I'm your daily bread
0:07:50 > 0:07:52# Without me you're nothing
0:07:52 > 0:07:55# Without me you're dead!
0:07:55 > 0:07:57# If I could just rip off your face
0:07:57 > 0:08:00# And put it on to mine
0:08:00 > 0:08:03# Everything would be fine
0:08:05 > 0:08:08# Let me rip off your face
0:08:08 > 0:08:11# Let me rip it off Let me rip it off
0:08:11 > 0:08:14# Let me rip it off Let me rip, rip it off... #