Mile sur mera tumhara

Want to impress your wife on her birthday? Cut an album for her. It's a piece of birthday cake if you are a singer and composer like Roopkumar Rathod and have a singer spouse like Sunali ready to experiment with different genres of music.

Recently back from performances in London, the couple talks about Kalma, the album they have made together, their upcoming concerts in the city and the relationship they share.u00a0

Kalmasutra
The couple who are still in the process of recording their upcoming album can't stop talking about it. Sunali is not only thrilled with the ingenuous birthday gift, but is even more excited about trying her hand at Sufi for the first time in her life for the album.

Roop who is happy to be playing the music director says, "This is the perfect debut for Sunali and of course, the perfect birthday gift too." Even though he's hesitant in revealing all the details, he doesn't mind confessing that no album is complete without Sunali.

Music and magic
"Music binds and grinds the entire family together," laughs Sunali and Roop is quick to add, "Music is the reason why we are together. It's what brought us together." Recalls Sunali, "I first saw Roop at a concert were he was playing the tabla and I was seated in the first row.

I saw this handsome charming man smiling at me throughout the concert. Later when I got a little closer to him, I told him that I was awestruck by the way he kept smiling at me from the stage." But before she can complete her story, Roop butts in, "I told her that I could hardly see anyone from the stage (laughs)."

In chorusu00a0
And though music binds the two, it is also a bone of contention. Especially when Roop is playing music director (read dictator). "I treat her like any other singer." Just ask what they dislike about each other and we have a long list. Roop readily says, "I would advise Sunali to be less possessive about me.

Her possessiveness sometimes takes a toll on me." But Sunali is quick to defend herself saying that she would like to see Roop toning down a wee bit.

"He is very short tempered which becomes a problem when we discuss any issue." But all is forgotten when Roop graciously sings off saying, "Without Sunali, I am a complete zero," while Sunali just blushes away.

Who: Sunali and Roop Kumar Rathod
What: Talking about making music together
Where: At their Worli residence