Shreya Ghoshal performs on stage in UK-garners millions of views on TikTok
Shreya Ghoshal performs on stage in UK-garners millions of views on TikTok
Singer Shreya Ghoshal considered as India’s greatest living female singer at UK
Concert
Shreya Ghoshal who was on a concert tour to recent UK garnered millions of views on TikTok for her live performance
But it might surprise one to hear her articulate that she needs to do more” which is regardless of having millions of fans around the world, multiple hit songs and acclaim within Bollywood and beyond.
In her exclusive interview with BBC Asian Network, she says she feels a sense of responsibility to the next generation of singers.
Shreya follows in the path of another – Lata Mangeshkar, one of India’s most beloved singers, who died in 2022.
Since then, Shreya has been touted as the one to take on the mantle of the legendary performer, whose extraordinary career spanned more than half a century.
Lata’s voice soundtracked hundreds of Bollywood films and she recorded thousands of songs in 36 languages.
According to Shreya, she “refuses to process” the comparisons, saying they go “in one ear and out the other”.
But, nevertheless, she does insist it’s important to recognise those that came before her, continuing their legacies while forging her own.
Speaking to ‘Beyond Bollywood Show, she said that shw is for sure that there’s a generation that’s not heard Lata Ji and she is probably trying to bridge that gap for them to access her.
Adding that’s why she keeps singing her songs and talking about her, since we need to celebrate greats.
The concert was a setlist which included a medley of classic songs by legendary artists like Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.
Shreya looks up to Lata and Asha Bhosle in particular as her “gurus”.
She thinks that she is taking a little bit of that in her singing and giving it to the next generation, so they feel the magic that they have given us.
She went on to add that she has heard many artists in the world and knows there is too much perfection and beauty in the work that these legends have done.
Adding further that she gets inspired by them in every step of her life, but knows there is a lot more to do – and she isn’t being humble. That’s the truth.”
Notably, Bollywood in recent years has become dominated by electronic music, with melodies similar to pop and mainstream dance.
Shreya was raised on classics recorded from the 1960s through to the 90s, when songs were recorded with full orchestras and incorporated a blend of Western classical and traditional Indian styles.
She says it’s important to her to incorporate these influences to ensure young music lovers and aspiring singers do not forget the roots of Asian music.
It is different.
Our subcontinent has a very old history of music, from classical, to folk, to our film music and it’s distinctly different with its nuances, and this is the legacy which makes this subcontinent feel so proud of their heritage.”
Shreya also wants to help the next generation of singers thrive
Shreya reflects on her rise in music, which can be charted back to the age of four – when she began learning music and classical singing with her parents.
By the age of 12 she won the children’s version of reality TV singing competition Sa Re Ga Ma.
Through the show she was noticed by renowned film director and music composer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who asked her to sing on the soundtrack of his 2002 blockbuster hit film Devdas.
Those days she was so nervous, she came from a small town, all she knew was to keep her eyes down and just sing.
She never thought it would catapult her to the mainstream where she is today.
‘We’re brown artists mixing Bollywood with Beyoncé’
Badshah: I love being loved but fame is uncomfortable
The ‘nightingale of Bollywood’ whose voice ruled India
In recent years, things have come full-circle, with Shreya herself now appearing as a talent show judge on Indian Idol.
Thinking about her 22 years in the industry, only now is she “finally living in the moment”.
Up until a couple years ago, she was still trying to find her foothold in the industry and the kind of music she desired to do.
As for now, she is just trying to find her place in the industry, not just the Indian industry, but around the world.
News Edit K.V.Raman
