User:Shaphiu/Shreya Ghoshal

Shreya Ghoshal (born 12 March 1984) is an Indian singer.

Early life
Ghoshal was born on 12 March 1984 to a Bengali family in Baharampur, Murshidabad district, West Bengal. She grew up in Rawatbhata, a small town near Kota in Rajasthan. Her father, Biswajeet Ghoshal is an electrical engineer and works for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, and her mother, Sarmistha Ghoshal, is a literature post-graduate. She also has a brother named Soumyadeep Ghoshal. Her mother used to help her in her rehearsals and she accompanied her on the harmonium and started practicing mostly Bengali songs. Her father recognizing her talent, enrolled her into formal training in Hindustani classical music with Mahesh Chandra Sharma. Her first stage performance was made at a club's annual function. Ghoshal completed her schooling up to eighth grade at the Atomic Energy Central School in Rawatbhata.

In 1995, Ghoshal became the winner of the All India Light Vocal Music Competition in New Delhi, which was organised by the Sangam Kala Group, in the Light Vocal group at a sub-junior level. She made her first on-screen appearance Awaz Nayi Andaz Wohi (1996), which was aired on the channel EL TV, where she made her first studio recording. At the age of 11, Ghoshal won the 75th Children's Special episode of the television music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma (now Sa Re Ga Ma Pa) on the channel Zee TV, which was hosted by Sonu Nigam. After the competition, Kalyanji Virji Shah—one of the judges —convinced her parents to shift to Mumbai to persuade a career in music for her.

In 1997, when her father was transferred to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, she was relocated to Mumbai with her family and studied at the Atomic Energy Central School in Anushakti Nagar. She joined the Atomic Energy Junior College to study science. She withdrew from the junior college and enrolled at the SIES College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in Mumbai, where she took up arts with English as her major. In Mumbai, she trained under Shah's academy for 18 months, while Shrimati Mukta Bhide helped her in learning the basics and nuances of classical singing. In 2000, at the age of sixteen, Gajendra Singh of Sa Re Ga Ma asked her to once again participate in the mega-finals—its 75th episode—of the competition, ultimately winning it.

2002–04: Devdas, Jism and career beginnings
Ghoshal caught the attention of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who was searching for a fresh and talented, "innocent-yet-playful" voice for the character of Paro—portrayed by Aishwarya Rai— in Devdas (2002), when she participated in the 75th episode of Sa Re Ga Ma. Bhansali's mother was watching the show and during Ghoshal's performance, she called him to watch her performance, after which he decided to give her a chance in his next film.

On 9 March 2000, Ghoshal auditioned for the role and was selected, who was asked to sing the song "Bairi Piya"—a duet with Udit Narayan—casually. She performed the track, surmising it was a rehearsal, to learn that both Bhansali and the music director of the film, Ismail Darbar liked it "so much" that they announced it was the final take. Her Higher Secondary Examinations were nearing that time and she would take her books and notebooks to the studio in order to study during downtime. The song garnered her first National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer award and a nomination in the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, where she won the latter for "Dola Re Dola" along with Kavita Krishnamurthy. She performed three other tracks for the film; "Silsila Ye Chahat Ka", "Chalak Chalak" and "Morey Piya". Ghoshal was next heard in Darbar-composed Desh Devi, where she performed three tracks for the film.

After rendering traditional semi-classical songs for her previous ventures, Ghoshal performed two seductive numbers for M. M. Kreem's Jism, which prevented her from being stereotyped. According to Ghoshal, "Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai" and "Chalo Tumko Lekar Chale" from the film "made everyone look at [her] in a new light", opening the doors to a "versatile image". Ghoshal was awarded with another Filmfare trophy for the song "Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai". She thereupon worked with Anu Malik, where she performed the female version of "Aye Meri Zindagi", "Seena Pada" and "Aai Jo Teri Yaad", alongwith the bhajan-styled "Har Taraf". In spite of providing vocals for "Har Taraf", Ghoshal made her first on-screen appearance with the song. Apart from Inteha, Ghoshal provided vocals for Malik in two other films, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and LOC Kargil, where she recorded the song "Chann Chann" for the former and "Pyaar Bhara Geet" for the latter, along with Sonu Nigam. Besides, Ghoshal made her first collaboration with Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy by performing the female version of the song "Tu Hi Bata Zindagi". Calling her sing "effortless" in the song, The Hindu mentioned that she was "able to impart the required emotions" for the song.

In 2004, Ghoshal contributed to the soundtrack album of Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda Hum by performing four tracks, which were labelled with an "average" tag by Joginder Tuteja from Bollywood Hungama. However, he was "impressed" with Ghoshal's rendition from her songs in Khakee, where he affirmed that Ghoshal's voice suits Aishwarya Rai to the "core" and she "lends credibility to the entire song" in "Wada Raha". Besides, the two duets with Nigam; "Dil Dooba" and "Youn Hi Tum Mujhse", were equally favored by music critics. Further complimenting her vocals in the song "Hum Tumko Nigahon Mein" and "Soniye" from Garv, Tuteja asserted that Ghoshal's "vocals have started to suit the current breed of actresses better and better with each passing day". Apart from Dil Bechara Pyaar Ka Maara, Ghoshal worked with Nikhil–Vinay in three other projects, by recording "Betab Dil Hai" from Phir Milenge, "Agar Dil Kahe" from Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya and "Woh Ho Tum" from Muskaan.

During the time, Nadeem–Shravan composed Tumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story was considered to be the biggest album for Ghoshal, as she sings all the numbers with an exception of one song. She performed a wide variety of songs—from a jazzy number to soft romantic tunes—in the album. According to Ghoshal, the album allowed her to "experiment with the entire range" of her "singing capabilities". Besides, Ghoshal lent her voice for Malik, where she sung "Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha" and "Gori Gori" for Main Hoon Na apart from the title track—which received the maximum praise from critics. Mid Day affirmed that Ghoshal provided "perfect accompaniment" for the track, while Rediff.com was "impressed with her rendition". The year marks her first collaboration with Rajesh Roshan and Daboo Malik by singing the melodious track for the former composed "Saansein Ghulne Lagi" from Aetbaar and performing the track "Shikdum" from Dhoom, for the latter.

2005–07: Zeher, Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Guru and Jab We Met
Ghoshal was bestowed with her second National Film Award for her rendition of "Dheere Jalna" in Paheli. As claimed by Daily News and Analysis, the song "treads the fine balance between the classical and popular genre of Hindi film music". Barring the song "Dheere Jalna", Ghoshal was heard in two other tracks "Kangna Re" and "Minnat Kare", composed by M.M. Kreem. She provided vocals for Kreem in one of his another compositions: "Guzar Na Jaye" from Rog. With the film Parineeta, Ghoshal made her first collaboration with Shantanu Moitra. She performed four tracks from the film alongside Nigam, which includes "Piyu Bole", "Kasto Mazza" and "Soona Man Ka Aangan". Thereupon, the duo worked for the soundtrack album of Yahaan, performing a soulful track "Naam Adaa Likhna", "Urzu Urzu Durkut" and a Punjabi track "Mele Chaliyan". Ghoshal's work in both the films was widely acclaimed, subsequently being nominated for the Filmfare Awards with the song "Piyu Bole". Reportedly, Ghoshal was selected to sing the female rendition of the track after being auditioned by many other artistes. In an interview, Moitra stated; "Pradeep wanted a little trill of laughter in the middle of the song and she did it effortlessly".

Along with "Piyu Bole", Ghoshal received another Filmfare nomination for her rendition of the song "Agar Tum Mil Jao" from Zeher. The song along with "Jaane Ja Jaane Ja" from the same film was acclaimed by music critics. Apart from providing supporting vocals for Himesh Reshammiya's "Aashiq Banaya Aapne", Ghoshal's voice had been used in some of his other compositions released during the year. "Tu Hi" from Yakeen and her songs included in the album of Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye and Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! were moderately received by critics. However, while reviewing Malik-composed "Pehle Se", Bollywood Hungama wrote: "Ghoshal sings in a mature manner and does well once again to prove herself as a dependable playback singer". Similar sentiments were echoed for the song "Bolo To" from Shabd which was composed by Vishal–Shekhar.

2006 marks Ghoshal's first collaboration with Ravindra Jain, where she performed three duets with Narayan titled "Mujhe Haq Hai", "Do Anjaane Ajnabi" and "Milan Abhi Aadha Adhura Hai". For the album, she also recorded "Hamari Shaadi Mein" with Babul Supriyo and two sisters conversation song "O Jiji" with Pamela Jain, along with a bhajan performed with Jain. Ghoshal's "obsessive" vocals were appraised in Roop Kumar Rathod's composition, "So Jaoon Main" from Woh Lamhe. Despite the length, the version was particularly acclaimed from the album. During the year, Ghoshal performed her ever duet with Sunidhi Chauhan—though they have contributed in multi-singer songs together—with the Salim–Sulaiman's composition, "Imaan Ka Asar" from Dor. In spite of providing backing vocals for Lage Raho Munna Bhai's "Bande Mein Tha Dum Vande Mataram", Ghoshal and Nigam performed a romantic duet titled "Pal Pal Har Pal", a composition by Moitra, which was highly applauded by the music critics. For the song, she received a Best Female Playback Singer nomination at the 52nd Filmfare Awards. She was next heard with Vishal Bhardwaj in the song "O Saathi Re", which exudes the feeling of intimacy and deep love. Ghoshal's low pitch rendition in the song was positively noted by critics.

Ghoshal teamed up with Sajid–Wajid for the soundtrack album of The Killer, where she performed two tracks alongside KK titled "O Sanam" and "Teri Yaadon Mein". Praising the "sweet" vocals from the former, Bollywood Hungama praised how she pitched in "momentarily" for the former while bringing "a little western twist to her voice". Other releases, "Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani", "Koi Tumsa Nahin" and "Chori Chori Chupke Chupke" from Rajesh Roshan-composed Krrish were also favored by the critics. Reviewing the album, Bollywood Hungama wrote: "Ghoshal is extremely competent and justifies her continued presence in the big league". They also mentioned that Ghoshal has reached to a similar level of Alka Yagnik in terms of "class, quality and style". Apart from rendering "Aa Paas Aa" and the female version of "Ek Pal Ke Liye" from Ankahee, composed by Pritam, Ghoshal lent her voice for five tracks for the album Holiday.

In 2007, Ghoshal provided vocals for Anand Raj Anand's composition, "Hoth Rasiley" along with Shankar Mahadevan. She also recorded a thumri in the mujra style for Khoya Khoya Chand. Titled "Chale Aao Saiyan" and composed by Moitra, the song was particularly praised for Ghoshal's "different" vocal structure. She even lent her voice for two other songs for the album; "Sakhi Piya" and "Thirak Thirak". She again worked with Moitra for Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, where she performed "Hum To Aise Hain" along with Chauhan which also had Swanand Kirkire and Pranab Biswas lending supporting vocals. In a review from Rediff.com, Raja Sen wrote; "The two-sister song works, from moustache-and-cow similes to paan spits to a fantastic 3-2-1-2-7-2 count, the female vocalists doing the upbeat words justice". However, they found "Kachchi Kaliyaan" from the same film less appealing with its "bad remix background" though praised Ghoshal, Chauhan, KK and Nigam for giving the song "the vim it requires". Apart from providing background alaap in Monty Sharma's composition "Masha-Allah", Ghoshal was heard in the classically oriented numbers "Jaan-E-Jaan" and "Sawar Gayi", included in the album Saawariya. She also recorded her first track in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali's composition, "Thode Badmaash" for the same album, providing a "feminine quality" to her "temperate nuances".

During the same year, Ghoshal sang the peppy rain song, "Barso Re" for Mani Ratnam's Guru, a composition by A.R. Rahman. A Review from Bollywood Hungama praised Ghoshal's rendition of the song and opined that it was a different incarnation of her in comparison to her previous records. The song won her third Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. The same year, she came up with the song "Yeh Ishq Haaye" from Jab We Met, which was successful in earning her a third National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer. The duo earlier worked with the classical track "Mere Dholna", performed beside M. G. Sreekumar, which was acclaimed with special mention to the alaap towards the "climax of the song". Ghoshal also lent her voice for Vishal–Shekhar with few of his compositions and was particulary praised for the theme song of Ta Ra Rum Pum along with the romantic song "Main Agar Kahoon" and the dance song "Dhoom Taana", where some critics compared her singing style of the latter with S. Janaki. In the year, Ghoshal worked with Ilaiyaraaja for the album Cheeni Kum. While reviewing the theme song of the film, Bollywood Hungama wrote: "Ghoshal's voice sound so crystal clear that makes one stand up and appreciate her immense talent".

2008–10: Singh Is Kinng, 3 Idiots, I Hate Luv Storys and My Name Is Khan
Lucky Boy.

Non-film work
In 2006, along with Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shiamak Davar, Ghoshal performed the theme song of 2010 Commonwealth Games at the 2006 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony, as an invitation to everyone to the following Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Influences
One of Ghoshal's earliest musical memories is listening to her mother, Sarmistha Ghoshal, sing classical Bengali songs at clubs. As a very young child, she was introduced to music by her mother, whom she refers as her first "guru". She states that her mother is her best critic. Ghoshal named her father, Bishwajit Ghoshal, as her inspiration in life, mainly because of his "principles in life and dedication to bring perfection in everything he does".

Ghoshal has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt. Expressing the love for the songs of Kishore Kumar and Mangeshkar, Ghoshal named Jagjit Singh as her inspiration to perform songs in the genre of Ghazal.

Voice
Ghoshal possesses a soprano vocal range of two octaves to C#6. In spite of her frequent high pitched rendition, Ghoshal has performed songs with a lower vocal range. Her voice has been described as "sweet" with "slightly huskiness". In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Ghoshal noted that her voice has transformed from the "girlish tenor" of the earlier days to a more matured texture. Ghoshal's voice is characterized in the media for being most suitable for higher-pitched renditions, although some critics have described that her voice tends to screech when she reaches a higher note of scale. Similarly, in the book Confession of a Coward — an Indian Adventure, it was stated that Ghoshal's high-pitched vocals are interesting and impressive, but "certainly take some time getting used to it". Ghoshal has voiced against correcting pitch with Auto-Tune.

What makes Ghoshal remarkable among her contemporaries, according to The Indian Express is, the "serenity in her voice" and the "enviable range". Further complimenting her versatile vocal range, they noted: "The honey-dipped inflection of [her voice], which once put in the recording studio, can turn into naughty, sensuous, serious, sad, comic and pure classical, depending on the requirement of the job". Naming her as the "most versatile singer of this generation", India West remarked the smoothness of her voice when flowing from "lower registers to higher notes".

Ghoshal took vocal lessons and did workshops with Kalyanji Virji Shah, where she learnt the technique about "throw of voice, straight notes, vibratos". Ghoshal considers classical music training as an asset in playback since it "keeps one's voice fit and fresh".

Today, if I do not do any riyaaz for two days, I find the change in my voice immediately.”(Notes from a singer)

Musical style
According to The Times of India, Ghoshal maintains the "touch of versatility" with her music by singing different style of songs from classical to pure commercial music. In 2003, Ghoshal admitted that she modulates her voice well, hence "none of the music directors have yet been able to label me".



Public image
But it’s her concerts that give Ghoshal the real high, the ones for which she likes to glam up, travel and sing to packed halls that chant her name. One of her concerts in Ohio, USA, even had the governor turning the day into Shreya Ghoshal Day. “Being on the stage makes me feel like a Goddess. It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade anything for,” says Ghoshal. And looking the part of the “Stage Goddess” is also a part of the process. “I’m a little middle class in these matters. I’m still not okay with something very short. I do like to hire a stylist once in a while, may be pick some nice designer wear too,” she says. As for the finances for these concerts, they are still handled by her father. “I am really dumb in these matters,” she says.

Impact and recogonistion
Usha Uthup.

Anu Malik: Shreya in particular among the present lot, is very impressive and I am using her voice for a lot of compositions.



Philanthropy
2006: Ghoshal alongside Sonu Nigam recorded the title track "Haath Se Haath Milaa" for the album put together by the BBC World Service Trust as part of an AIDS awareness campaign, where profits garnered through the album, was donated to HIV charities.