My Achievements are my Growth as a Musician and as an Individual.

Being original is the best thing
an artist can do for one’s own self.

Playback Singer
Composer and
Live Performer, Mumbai

Our readers would like to know more about your educational achievements in the field of music?
I haven’t studied music as a theoretical subject during the days of my formal education. My achievements are explicitly in the form of my songs, awards and accolades. And implicitly, my achievements are my growth as a musician and as an individual.

Who is your inspiration behind your musical journey ?
Initially my mother and then my Guru , Shri Jayant Sarkar and all the singers and composers who’s work I got exposed to at a tender age and the ones which influenced me profoundly.

Which was  your first song which gave you recognition as a playback singer in bollywood?
My debut song was Tha kar ke in  Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal returns which Pritam da gave me. But Jalte diye for Himesh Reshammiya in Sooraj Barjatiya’s Prem ratan dhan payo gave my career the flight it needed.

Why you chose the field of music for your  professional career?
I only wished to choose music as I’m passionate about it. But I couldn’t have if music didn’t choose me. Circumstances have been conducive for me to try my luck in this and by the grace of my parents’ support, audiences and composers who gave me work, I could have a noticeable body of work. I worked hard and still do so but it would be unfair to deny that luck plays a role in success. I’m grateful for what I’ve been getting for the last 15 years.

Please tell us your success story after initial performances on television/ digital media  to being a successful playback singer?

My underlying motive of appearing in reality shows was to get noticed by the people in the fraternity who can give me work. I always dreamt of having original songs to my credit and soon after the end of the competition, I recorded a song for Jatin Pandit ji in Sourav Shukla’s I am 24. In Bollywood, playbacks in Golmaal returns, Kaanchi, Raanjhanaa, Dangerous Ishq, Prem ratan dhan payo, Revolver Rani, Sita Ramam, etc followed besides movie songs in other regional languages. Today approximately, there are more than 500 films to my credit in 11 languages apart from Hindi and Bangla.

What is the significance of struggle period in your professional career in the field of music, who supported you the most?
That is the time one must not loose faith on oneself. Something that kept me relaxed all throughout was that my parents accepted me with or without my success. My mother told me that it is fantastic if I’m able to make it big but it is not the end of the world if I am unable to do so. Not many parents can do that gracefully I believe. They taught me that something may seem like the central point of my life but there’s so much more to life. So there is no point loosing my sanity by exaggerating something’s importance.

You are a live performer. Your live shows are very popular. Tell us about the most memorable show which you have performed on an international platform ?
During my US durga puja tour last year all the shows were success but for me the most memorable one was in Philadelphia.

In Bollywood Music Industry, one has to face a lot of criticism also, what is your experience? How do you deal with if someone criticise your singing?
I’m okay with people criticising me if it is constructive. It is actually not very hard. There are far more twisted things one can face here. Those are moments of test where some get engulfed by greed while some choose dignity over short-term gains.

I would tell them to find that element in your voice and style which exclusively yours. Being original is the best thing an artist can do for one’s own self. Don’t depend completely on work to come at your doorstep. In the age of internet, one can create their dedicated fanbase on their own. It has it’s cons but it is very empowering for beginners. I only am connected with Bollywood in fragments so I can’t comment on behalf of it. If it is quality concious industry, it is bound to give opportunities to new talents. That is all I can say. And if it doesn’t, there are ways and means to get established these days which I already mentioned. Bollywood is thankfully not the sole platform anymore to showcase talent for artists.

Your classical  songs are much appreciated by the audience.How do you feel while performing live classical songs?

It feels amazing. I owe a great part of my understanding of music to the music of my roots. It is what I grew up learning and I’m still an eager student of it who knows nothing about it. It is as vast as a few oceans put together. It is one of our country’s archival assets. By performing snippets of Indian classical oriented songs, I feel proud playing a small role in preserving this age old tradition and presenting it’s flavours to today’s youths.

Talking of Raag based songs, Sukh dukh, which released from Salim Sulaiman’s Merchant records, is one of my latest songs composed by Swapnil Mistry which is doing well. Out of my compositions, Swapno Michhil and Besabri are close to my heart. In the semi classical space, Benaam si khwahishein, my coke studio ghazal for Papon da is considered one of my finest by my listeners.

My collaborations with him are special and closest to my heart. There is always a desire in me to work with composers who’s songs can challenge my singing prowess. I met him at a stage when I was dying to sing intricate yet soulful melodies. It is not that I didn’t have good songs before that. But he gave me what I wanted and that too in abundance. Of late, people have liked our grand music videos too. They give me an opportunity to be in nature for long spans. To pick a favourite out of those, I’ll go with Reshmi dhaage.

I think I’m generally introvert but so many years of being in the entertainment industry helps one learn how to connect with people. I love doing that as an artist although a side to me is very reclusive and enjoys being on her own. Most people find me approachable and friendly. But I’m also that girl who truly opens up with a few people who really matter in her life. These are different shades of the same colour.

I work daily towards maintaining & improving my mental  physical and spiritual health. It includes yogasan, pranayam, dance, sitting in silence, etc. In today’s world, I feel that wellbeing also doesn’t come for free. There are practices which get us ready to achieve that state. I’m not prescribing anything for anyone. But this is working for me.

Filmfare award (east) gave me a dream come true moment as I’ve always seen established artists take it with gleaming eyes. But to be honest, people’s love, admiration and countless blessings are the most precious things I’ve received by the grace of being a musician. I’m admitting this with due respect to all the physical awards and certificates.

When I see my fans singing my originals in my live concerts, they just make me feel that this moment is worth the years of hardwork.