She’s won the National Award for the second consecutive year. And it’s by no means a small achievement for the 25-year-old.
This is also her fourth National Award. Predictably, Shreya Ghoshal is still over the moon after the announcement. “It definitely feels great. But you know what? I’m really nervous. That’s because now, there is more responsibility on me,” said the singer when Hyderabad Times spoke to her. “Now, I have to keep delivering better music everyday. I can’t be laidback and let it all slip through. I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
But the award is more special to the velvet voiced singer since she has won it for not one but two songs — Jiv Dangla from the Marathi film Jogva and Pherari Mon from the Bangla movie Antaheen. “Today one finds melody missing in most numbers. But these songs only prove that there are melodious tunes in movies too,” says Shreya.
On winning the award for songs in regional languages, Shreya says, “Bollywood film music composers are under a lot of pressure to add elements of disco or bhangra or any other flavour currently popular with the youth. But when it comes to regional films, composers are given a free hand and they compose music they believe in. I think it’s a matter of great pride to be singing such soulful tunes,” she says.
And when she’s not busy at the recording studios, Shreya is doing a weekend television show, Music Ka Maha Muqabala. Apart from exercising her vocal chords the singer has presented herself as a young, stylish and vibrant individual before her audience. “It’s fun to break stereotypes. I like being myself and my outfits reflect that. As far as performances are concerned, I connect best with the audience at live concerts. For those who can’t come to see me perform live, this show gives them an opportunity to catch me singing on stage. Trust me I just love it,” she confesses.
So what next? “Well, the National Award has made me more conscious about the choices I make in life. And no matter what language I sing in —Tamil, Telugu, Bangla or Bhojpuri — my aim will be to give it 200 per cent.”
