Sheeba Lateef Khoja has been a driving force in the world of media and entertainment industry for over two decades. From her impactful roles as Senior Anchor and Senior Producer to her remarkable contributions as a Writer and Poetess, she has left an unparalleled legacy. Her journey spans some of the most prestigious media groups, including the Times of India Group, ETV Network, TV Today Network, and Network 18 (TV18 Broadcast Ltd.), where she worked in the Features, Editorial and Content Department.
She has conceptualized, directed, produced, written, and hosted numerous television, entertainment, and feature-based shows, earning numerous accolades for her exceptional contributions. Some of her notable awards and recognitions include:
ENBA Award
Maharashtra Empress of the Nation Award
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Bharat Puraskar
Featured on the cover page and cover story of the Print Digital Media English Magazine Corporate Impact and Corporate Insight.
Her academic achievements further reflect her excellence, with a Postgraduate Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, an MA in Urdu and Kashmiri Literature, and a Diploma in Hindi. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sheeba is a gifted poetess and the author of the acclaimed poetry collection, Pyaar Beshumaar: A Ghazal Sangreh, showcasing her creative depth and passion for literature. She has worked as an actor and a lyricist as well.
Sheeba Lateef runs her own production house Trio – set of three arts in Mumbai and has been working on many projects so far. She has produced a soulful Ghazal Album named Love struck in which renowned Singers of music industry like Shaan, Anup jalota, Mahalakshmi iyer, Jaspinder Narula, Shahid mallya, Jaswinder singh, Prithvi Gandharva have lend their voices. This Album is going to be released soon.
Sheeba Lateef Khoja embodies passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to bringing positive change to society.
“Lovestruck” is described as a soul-stirring collection of ghazals that weave an intricate tapestry of love. What was the core vision behind bringing this specific theme of love to life through ghazals in this album?
The core vision behind Lovestruck, a soul-stirring collection of ghazals was to capture the multifaceted nature of love through the emotive and poetic essence of the ghazal form. We blended traditional ghazal elements with contemporary musical sensibilities, creating a universal yet deeply personal exploration of romance, longing, and emotional vulnerability. It emphasizes emotional authenticity and feelings like the euphoria of new love to the melancholy of separation. Lovestruck aims to create a musical experience that feels both nostalgic and innovative, offering listeners a journey through the highs and lows of love with a modern yet soulful voice.
You’ve mentioned “Lovestruck” is a fusion of traditional and modern music. Could you elaborate on how you balanced these two elements to create a sound that is both timeless and contemporary?
Lovestruck balances traditional and modern musical elements to create a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary, preserving the soul of the ghazal while making it accessible to a modern audience. This fusion evokes nostalgia for traditional ghazal lovers while drawing in new listeners through its contemporary flair. By carefully blending poetic lyricism with modern instrumentation and universal themes, Lovestruck creates a timeless yet fresh sound that honors its roots while embracing the present.
Ghazals are inherently poetic. How did you ensure that the musical arrangements complemented and enhanced the raw emotions and poetic journeys within each ghazal, rather than overshadowing them?
Our approach in Lovestruck was to ensure that the musical arrangements amplified the raw emotions and poetic essence of each ghazal, allowing the poetry to remain the heart of the album without being overshadowed. By keeping the poetry and vocals at the forefront, using required instruments and maintaining evocative production style, we ensured Lovestruck’s musical arrangements complemented the ghazals raw emotions and poetic journeys. This approach allowed the album to retain the soulful, introspective essence of the ghazals while giving the ultimate experience for listeners.
The album features intricate interplay of sitar, tabla, harmonium, violin, and guitar. What was your process for selecting these diverse instruments, and how did you ensure they harmonized to create such an intimate atmosphere?
We approached the selection and integration of sitar, tabla, harmonium, violin, guitar etc. in Lovestruck with a deliberate vision to blend the soulful essence of traditional ghazal music with a modern, intimate sound that resonates with diverse audiences. This process of selecting these instruments was to ensure that their harmonious interplay will create the album’s intimate atmosphere. The meticulous arrangement and production, I ensured Lovestruck harmonized tradition and modernity to create an intimate, soul stirring atmosphere that captures the essence of love through the ghazal form.
As a producer, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the production of “Lovestruck,” and how did you overcome them?
Well! Taking on the role of producer for Lovestruck, I encountered several challenges in crafting a soul stirring collection of ghazals that balanced traditional authenticity with modern appeal. The key challenges faced during the production process were many like; Balancing traditional and modern elements, preserving poetic clarity in production, coordinating between music director, musicians and singers, maintaining emotional authenticity, time and budget constraints and adapting to the expectations. I became a bridge and addressing these challenges through careful planning, collaboration, and a commitment to the ghazal’s emotional and poetic essence, I ensured Lovestruck emerged as an authentic, and innovative album. The process required balancing artistic vision with practical execution.
The album aims to capture the essence of being utterly consumed by love. Were there any specific ghazals or lyrical themes that you felt most strongly conveyed this essence during the production phase?
During the production of Lovestruck, our goal was to capture the essence of being utterly consumed by love, a hallmark of the ghazal’s emotive power. Certain ghazals and lyrical themes stood out. These ghazals, 1. Ek Ladki ne 2. Mizaj banke and 3. Udd gayi, stood out during production for their lyrical depth and musical arrangement, powerfully conveying the essence of being consumed by love. Their poetic themes, paired with carefully crafted arrangements, made them the emotional heart of Lovestruck, resonating with both traditional ghazal lovers and modern audiences through their universal portrayal of love’s overwhelming power.
“Lovestruck” explores the delicate interplay of joy and sorrow. How did you guide the artists (vocalists and musicians) to convey this emotional depth and nuance in their performances?
My role as both artist and producer of Lovestruck along with my music director involved guiding the vocalists and musicians to convey the delicate interplay of joy and sorrow, a defining characteristic of the ghazal form, to capture the emotional depth and nuance that define the album’s exploration of love. Our approach during the production of Lovestruck was to ensure the performances resonated with the album’s soul stirring essence. We organized extensive rehearsals where musicians and vocalists could experiment and refine their contributions. I fostered an open environment for feedback to align everyone with the album’s emotional goals.
Given the rich tradition of ghazals, what new elements or perspectives do you believe “Lovestruck” brings to the genre, setting it apart from other ghazal collections?
We envisioned Lovestruck as a bridge between the rich tradition of ghazals and a contemporary audience, infusing the genre with fresh elements and perspectives while honoring its soulful essence. In summary, Lovestruck brings new elements to the ghazal genre through its fusion of traditional and modern instrumentation, accessible lyrics, polished production, universal emotional narratives, youthful perspective, and balanced interplay of joy and sorrow. These innovations make the album stand out from classical ghazal collections for a contemporary, global audience, all while staying true to the soul stirring essence of ghazals.
The album is described as a “tribute to lovers; past, present, and eternal.” What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away after experiencing “Lovestruck”?
We created Lovestruck as a heartfelt tribute to lovers across time; past, present, and eternal, with the intention of evoking a profound emotional connection to the timeless experience of love. My hope is that listeners walk away from the album with a deep sense of resonance, reflection, and inspiration, carrying the messages and feelings like universal Connection, embracing the bittersweet nature of Love, nostalgia and timelessness, inspiration to love courageously. I hope listeners
experience Lovestruck as a deeply personal yet universal journey through love’s many shades, leaving them with a renewed appreciation for its beauty, complexity, and timelessness. Whether they’re reminiscing about past loves, navigating present ones, or dreaming of eternal connections, I want the album to linger in their hearts, inspiring them to embrace love’s transformative power with courage and vulnerability.
What was your collaboration process like with the lyricists, composers, and vocalists on “Lovestruck”? How did you ensure a cohesive vision for the entire album?
My role as both artist / lyricist and producer of Lovestruck required a collaborative and intentional process with lyricists, composers (Music director), and vocalists (Singers) to create a cohesive album that honored the ghazal tradition while infusing it with a modern, soul stirring vision of love. This entire process and the steps I took ensured a unified artistic vision for Lovestruck. The collaboration process for Lovestruck was a blend of creative synergy and meticulous planning. The result was a cohesive album that seamlessly blended traditional ghazal elements with contemporary flair, delivering a soul stirring tribute to lovers that feels both timeless and fresh, as evident in all tracks.
What inspired you to produce a ghazal album in particular, and what do you hope this album contributes to the appreciation of ghazal music today?
My decision to produce Lovestruck, a ghazal album was driven by a deep personal connection to the genre and a desire to reintroduce its emotional richness to a contemporary audience. I was immersed in the soulful melodies and poetic depth of ghazals throughout my life. I felt a personal calling to explore this genre, drawing from my own experiences of love’s highs and lows. The ghazal’s capacity to express complex emotions through poetic simplicity inspired me to create an album that could capture these universal feelings.
I hope Lovestruck introduces ghazals to younger and global audiences who may be unfamiliar with the genre. By incorporating modern production techniques and accessible lyrics, the album aims to make ghazals relatable to listeners. I want new listeners to discover the genre’s emotional depth and appreciate its ability to articulate love’s complexities, fostering a renewed interest in ghazal music.
My hope is that Lovestruck serves as a bridge between the ghazal’s rich tradition and contemporary music, preserving its poetic and emotional essence while making it relevant today.
As a younger artist in the ghazal space, I hope Lovestruck motivates emerging musicians to explore and reinterpret the genre. By showcasing a youthful perspective and modern production, I aim to demonstrate that ghazals can be a vibrant platform for creative expression. I want the album to inspire a new wave of ghazal artists who blend tradition with innovation, keeping the genre alive and dynamic.
In essence, I was inspired to produce Lovestruck by my love for the ghazal’s emotional and poetic depth, coupled with a desire to make it resonate with today’s audiences. I hope the album contributes to a renewed appreciation of ghazal music by broadening its reach, preserving its essence, deepening emotional connections, inspiring new artists, and celebrating its cultural and universal significance. Through Lovestruck, I want listeners to feel the timeless magic of being lovestruck.
