SHREYA GHOSHAL

Shreya Ghoshal has emerged as one of our most talented singers in the past decade. A National Award for Paheli has added yet another glitter feather in her cap and she has had a host of high profile releases including Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Om Shanti Om, Saawariya and Jab We Met. What does she plan to do now that she has scaled the heights of playback singing stardom in Bollywood?

Om Shanti Om, Saawariya and Bhool Bhulaiyaa are all doing very well at the box office and with them, the star power of playback singer Shreya Ghoshal has soared. Although Laaga Chunari Mein Daag has been panned by critics, Shreya's voice has nonetheless been appreciated. For the singer, though, this is just another day of hard work in the fickle world of film music. The difference, she points out, is that she can now afford to take it easy. After all, she has worked hard for the past five years. She wants to enjoy her songs as well but carefully says that she is not planning to be too selective. And why should she, when the best songs come to her anyway.

Om Shanti Om and its 70s music, are undoubtedly the biggest hit in recent times, was a fascinating experience for her. She recalls how music maestro Pyarelal did the recording for the number ‘Dhoom tana’ and how Yash Raj's music floor was actually filled with live musicians. It is a nostalgic trip back to the 70s for Shreya, who is used to the much more high-tech recordings of the past decade. She says Saawariya will always be special to her since it is a film made by her mentor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She compliments Bhansali's keen sense of acoustics and how much attention he pays to the music of his films.