Power Packed

Hard Kaur’s tattoo ‘Power’ on her arm shows her voice power. She talks about her collaboration with Honey Singh and their plans in future

She needs no introduction. As the first female rapper she stormed the male bastion and made a name and mark for herself besides being a hip-hop singer. Having lived in the United Kingdom for a major part of her life, she shifted base to India some years back and has made a mark with her singing in Hindi films, live shows and her appearance in the dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’. She’s feisty, warm, and instantly welcoming as you enter the Marriott hotel room for the rendezvous. Hard Kaur (born Taran kaur Dhillon) chats nineteen to the dozen and is quite endearing too as one catches up with her when she visited the city for an event.

Her recent effort is the awareness song “Karle Voting Karle” (available on You-tube) which makes for quite an interesting watch. A rather different looking saree-clad and slightly ‘demure’ Hard Kaur with a flower in her hair (a la Salma Sultan – remember this newsreader?) sings this with her hands folded and in a tune which harks back to yesteryear too! This is catchy, peppered with relatable lyrics and strikes the iron where it is needed! “I wanted to encourage people to vote and wanted to do something different (from the usual where people join hands and request for votes). I looked back at olden times and I liked newsreader Salma Sultan’s big flower in her hair. That was an inspiration to go old school. I thought I should wear a saree. My mom will be happy. So I wanted to have fun too musically also.” Such a video is surely to go down well with the youth as it talks to them (musically) in their language. It’s fun to watch despite making a plea to vote! In today’s times celebrities endorsing products, ideas or themes such as the right to vote make a lot of difference.

Ever since she discovered hip-hop in UK while she was young it has helped her immensely in her times of personal crisis and to be herself when she had to adjust to new environment and surroundings.

Her tale of struggle is well known. “I have gone through everything that can be done to a woman. I am not bitter. Everyone has problems. One must turn negative into positive and that’s how I am happy.” She has sailed across tough situations, overcome them and created a niche for herself with her rap and singing. It’s not easy to rap but Hard Kaur has gained mastery over it. A good rapper should have diction, timing, breath-control and be original as you have to create. One cannot learn from someone, one has to teach oneself! Buster Rhymes is someone she has looked up to in the world of rap.

For a girl who had to fight to go on stage and take the mike Hard Kaur now gets the opportunity to do many live shows. “I enjoy going on stage. Nothing can beat that. When people start singing the songs you sing it is the best feeling.” Her admirers range from the age of three to seventy. Hard Kaur’s appearance on TV in ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’ too won her a large fan following.

With Honey Singh on the scene now chances of collaboration seem to be on the cards. “He’ll write. We plan to do something. We have to find time,” She says she has loads of new things to do. I am part of Certified Fresh which does real hip-hop and Mumbai Rappers which has amazing projects in the US. There is also a Punjabi Single coming out. I have sung for films like ‘Youngistan’, ‘Babloo Happy Hai’.

Hard Kaur also donned the acting cap for Patiala House. “I am known as drama queen but not an actor. I love to act but give me a decent role not a heroine’s friend. There are original independent films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Delly belly’ and many more, so why should we copy from English films? If there are right characters then call me.” (Are film people listening?)

Hard Kaur has gone through enough in life. “There can’t be joy without pain. I am thankful everything happened at an early stage. Hip-hop saved my life. It gives me a lot of freedom.” Her mother has been her inspiration and her real source of strength. “My mother is the real Hard Kaur, I’m the franchisee,” she says laughingly.

This girl who has made it on her own is still grounded despite the fame and success. “I’m a fighter. One has to remember where one came from. I still cook and clean,” she says modestly. Here’s wishing more power to Hard Kaur as the tattoo ‘Power’ on her arm!