Shreya Ghoshal
Shreya Ghoshal was born on 12 March 1984 to a Bengali Hindu family in Berhampore, Murshidabad district, West Bengal. She grew up in Rawatbhata, a small town near Kota, Rajasthan. Her father, Bishwajit 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 has a younger brother, Soumyadeep Ghoshal. At the age of four, she started learning music.
Career
Shreya Ghoshal completed her schooling up to eighth grade at the Atomic Energy Central School in Rawatbhata. In 1995, she won the All India Light Vocal Music Competition, New Delhi, organised by Sangam Kala Group, in Light Vocal group in sub-junior level. 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.
Shreya Ghoshal joined the Atomic Energy Junior College to study science. She dropped out 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.
Shreya Ghoshal’s mother used to help her in rehearsals and accompany her on the Tanpura, starting with mostly Bengali songs. At the age of six, Ghoshal started with her formal training in classical music.
Shreya Ghoshal acquired training from Late Kalyanji Bhai for 18 months and continued her classical music training with Late Mukta Bhide in Mumbai. Her first stage performance was made at a club’s annual function. When she turned six, she started her lessons in Hindustani classical music. In 2000, at the age of sixteen, she participated and won the television music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma (now Sa Re Ga Ma Pa) on the channel Zee TV.
Shreya Ghoshal’s first studio album was Bendhechhi Beena
which was released on 1 January 1998, with 14 tracks. Some of her earlier albums are O Tota Pakhi Re
Ekti Katha (1999)
Mukhor Porag (2000).
Ghoshal recorded Bengali studio album Rupasi Raate (2002). Ghoshal recorded devotional songs in albums like Banomali Re (2002), and later, Krishna Bina Ache Ke (2007).
Bollywood Debut
Once Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mother Leela Bhansali was watching television, when Shreya Ghoshal was performing on a television show called Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs.
Sanjay, was really impressed with Shreya’s voice after which he decided to give her a chance in his next film. According to Bhansali, Ghoshal’s voice had the innocence needed for the character of Paro in Devdas (2002). Ghoshal sang five songs in the film, namely, “Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka
Bairi Piya
Chalak Chalak
Dola Re Dola
With established singers such as Kavita Krishnamurthy, Udit Narayan, Vinod Rathod, KK, and Jaspinder Narula. Shreya Ghoshal was sixteen when she recorded the first song for the film, “Bairi Piya” with Udit Narayan. Her Higher Secondary Examinations were nearing that time and she would take her books and notebooks to the studio to study during downtime. 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“
Chalo Tumko Lekar Chale
from the film that made everyone look at [her] in a new light opening the doors to a “versatile image“. She was awarded with another Filmfare trophy for Best Female Playback Singer 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“, along with the bhajan-styled “Har Taraf“. In addition to providing vocals for “Har Taraf“, Ghoshal also made her first on-screen appearance in Saaya, as the school girl singing 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 singing “effortless” in the song, The Hindu mentioned that she was “able to impart the required emotions” for the song. In the year 2015 started with Ghoshal’s another collaboration with A.R. Rahman in Tamil film I. Besides rendering vocals for original Tamil duet “Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal
Tu Chale alongside Arijit Singh
Telugu version Poolane Kunukeyamantaa alongside Haricharan.
The original Tamil version song “Pookkalae Sattru Oyivedungal” was met with positive reviews by critics, with most critics praising the vocals of Ghoshal. Nicy V.P. from International Business Times commented on Tamil version, “Haricharan’s crystal clear voice, Shreya’s Hindustani driven singing lead to a chart-buster, here. With regards to Shreya Ghoshal, we have to dig deep the dictionary to come up with some new adjectives to praise her singing.” Later that year, Ghoshal sang the female version of song “Hasi” from film Hamari Adhuri Kahani composed by Ami Mishra which got critical precedence over male version sung by Ami Mishra himself.
Devesh Sharma from Filmfare remarked, The female version of Hasi, sung by Shreya Ghoshal, works better than the male version, sung by guest composer Ami Mishra himself. Ghoshal elevates it with her superb effort and the softer arrangement works better for it overall. Ghoshal also performed the female version of the song “Gaaye Jaa“
For the film Brothers composed by Ajay-Atul which received positive reviews from music critics.
Glamsham praised Ghoshal’s vocals labelling them “sugary sweet and superbly controlled”. Bollywood Life commented, “Shreya Ghoshal amazes the listener by making this situational song such a great listen and just for her lovely voice, one has to put this song on a loop” The same year saw Ghoshal again collaborating with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Bajirao Mastani. She performed three songs in the film, namely Mohe Rang Do Laal
Deewani Mastani
She also dubbed these songs in Tamil and Telugu versions of the film’s soundtrack. The qawwali interlude song “Deewani Mastani”
Ghoshal started 2019 with two classical numbers, Ghar More Pardesiya
Tabah Ho Gaye
for Abhishek Varman’s period drama Kalank, for which Shreya Ghoshal won numerous awards and accolades including a Zee Cine Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Later, sang Yeh Aaina for the film Kabir Singh, composed by Amaal Mallik and written by Irshad Kamil, which was picturised on the film’s lead Shahid Kapoor and supporting actress Kiara Advani
Habibi Ke Nain along with Jubin Nautiyal, composed by Sajid-Wajid, for the film Dabangg 3.
Later that year, Shreya Ghoshal was also heard as the lead singer, in a first, alongside fellow singer and rapper Mellow D, on Kiske Liye Tu Marega
Dega Jaan
Two versions of the upbeat title track of Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.’s Manoj Bajpayee – starrer Amazon Prime Video original series The Family Man, composed by Sachin-Jigar. Her rendition of the tracks was widely praised, with the lyrics receiving appreciation for being an ode to middle class struggles in the Indian society.
Concerts and Charities.
Ghoshal performs in musical concerts around the world. In 2013, she went to Australia and New Zealand and gave performances at the Brisbane Convention Center, Dallas Brooks Centre in Melbourne, the Sydney Opera House and Vodafone Events Centre in Auckland.
In the same year, she performed at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in United Arab Emirates. The same year, she paid her respects to the casualties of an excessive rainfall in Mauritius with a concert at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre in Pailles.
Along with Hrishikesh Ranade, she also made a stage performance during the 18th annual day celebration of Airports Authority of India. She made London tours where she performed twice in Royal Albert Hall in 2013 and 2014. On the first tour in 2013, she also celebrate 100 years of Bollywood by performing many of the old Bollywood hits songs.
In 2006, along with Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shiamak Davar, Ghoshal performed the theme song of 2010 Commonwealth Games at its closing ceremony, as an invitation to everyone to the following Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The same year, she along with 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.In 2011, she became the brand ambassador for Joyalukkas jewellery.
Collaborations
Ismail Darbar – Bairi Piya, Silsila Ye Chahat Ka, Chalak Chalak Pyaar Se, More Piya, Dola Re Dola Re, Om Jayo Maa Ashapura, Taron Ki Odhke Jhilmill.
Anu Malik – Aai Jo Teri Yaad, Seena Pada, Har Taraf, Aye Meri Zindagi, Yun Hi Dil Ko Agar, Deewana Dil, Dhalne Lagi Hain Raat, Chhann Chhann, Pyaar Bhara Geet.
Sajid – Wajid – Hum Tumko Nigahon Me, Soniye, Kuch Kaha Aapne, Mere Mehboob Mein.
Sanjeev – Darshan – Jal Raha Hain Badan, Tum Paas Ho.
Himesh Reshammiyan – Pyar Mein Tere, Tu hi, Tumhi se, Tera Mera Milna.
Awards
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Bairi Piya” Devdas – 2003
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Dheere Jalna” Paheli – 2006
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Yeh Ishq Haaye” Jab We Met – 2008
National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Jeev Dangala” (Jogwa – Marathi) & “Pherari Mon” – 2009.
Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent – 2003
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award (shared with Kavita Krishnamurthy) – “Dola Re” – 2003
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award – “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai” 2004
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award – “Barso Re” 2008
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award – “Teri Ore” 2009
IIFA Award for New Music Talent – 2003
IIFA Best Female Playback Award (shared with Kavita Krishnamurthy) – “Dola Re” – 2003
IIFA Best Female Playback Award – “Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai” 2004
IIFA Best Female Playback Award – “Barso Re” 2008
IIFA Best Female Playback Award – “Teri Ore” 2009
Zee Cine Awards
Zee Cine Award Best Female Playback Singer (shared with Kavita Krishnamurthy) – “Dola Re” (Devdas) 2003
Zee Cine Award Best Female Playback Singer – “Piyu Bole” (Parineeta) 2006
Zee Cine Award Best Female Playback Singer – “Barso Re” (Guru) 2008
Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “O Saathi Re” (Omkara)2007
Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Yeh Ishq Hai” (Jab We Met) 2008
Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Teri Ore” (Singh Is Kinng) 2009
Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Zoobi Doobi” (3 Idiots) 2010
Star Screen Award Best Female Playback – “Noor E Khuda” (My Name Is Khan) 2011
Sansui Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Dola Re” (Devdas) 2003
Stardust Award – New Musical Sensation (Female) – (Devdas) 2003
Indian Telly Awards – Best Title Singer for a TV Show (Ye Meri Life Hai) 2004
Anandalok Puraskar – Best Playback Singer – (Manik) 2005
ETV Bangla Film Awards – Best Playback Singer – Female 2005
Bengal Film Journalists’ Association – Best Female Playback Award – Shubho Drishti 2006
Zee Astitva Award – Excellence in Music 2008
Mirchi Music Award – Best Female Playback Singer (Kannada) – “Na Naguva Modalene” (Manasaare) 2009
Mirchi Music Award – Best Female Playback Singer (Malayalam) – “Chandhu Thottille” (Banaras)2009
BIG Bangla Music Award – BIG Bangla singer of the year (Female)2010
Gulf Malayalam Music Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Anuragavilochananayi” (Neelathamara) 2010
Star Anando Sera Bengali Award 2010
Asianet Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Manjumazha” (Aagathan) 2011
Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Manjumazha” (Aagathan) 2011
Vijay Award for Best Female Playback Singer – “Mannippaya” (Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa) 2011
Swaralaya Yesudas Award – 2011
