Singer Shreya Ghoshal, a judge on Indian Idol Junior, reminisced with Divya Kaushik about her early days of stage fright
When she began her small screen journey as a talent show singer, there was no public voting system or option to switch from one reality programme to another.
Shreya Ghoshal worked hard to impress the veterans, “who were all Khan saabs”, and soon got her ticket to Bollywood.
She remarked, “Things seem easier for kids today than before. I was a nervous contestant, fearful each time I went on stage, because of the judges. Merit was purely on the basis of music. Kids now participate with more confidence, because they know they still stand a chance, even if they don’t win a show.” Then added, “TV today has wide reach. When you get a platform, doors of opportunity open. Even if you don’t win, many are watching. They might like you and have something to offer.”
She went on, “Your lifestyle is taken care of, even if you choose to perform only at concerts and do your own shows. So the struggle that happened after leaving a reality programme, has reduced by several degrees. It’s a good change,” commented the singer, who says that apart from her teachers (her mother is her biggest teacher), she learnt a lot by listening to others.
Ghoshal will be a judge on Indian Idol Junior with Vishal Shekhar.
The trio were in the city for auditions and appreciative of the talent. “Not all participants were trained singers, but their voice touched the heart. Still very young, they were clear about what they wanted to sing,” shared Ghoshal. She said judging kids is tough.
“We decided not to break anybody’s heart. So when they weren’t up to scratch, we encouraged with the words that failure would inspire working harder. Only when you fall, you rise. Kids are fast learners who take everything to heart, and often recall what they learn later in life.”
Having been on the other side of the table, she understand’s contestants’ perspectives.
“My aim is to guide and motivate. And one word of advice for parents,” she commented.
The singer added, “I think kids should not be pressurised or forced over anything. They should enjoy and learn music wholeheartedly and not break their connection with it, owing to some unsuccessful attempt on a TV show or any other competition. I’ve seen children cry on the sets of shows. It has worried me. Why, I often wonder, is this so important for them at such an initial stageIJ Parents should tell them that winning is not the end of it all.”
Ghoshal was ten, when she started singing. And got her first break in Bollywood in Devdas at fifteen. There has been no looking back. But she rued that in the last two years the songs she gets have changed in content. There has been a focus on songs that are only made to make a film a hit or get an initial publicity.
“I sang nice, romantic songs at the beginning of my career. But in the last two years there has been dearth of songs with good lyrics. Everybody wants something spicy that becomes the talking point of a film. I think we have good poets in the industry like Neelesh Misra and Syed Qadri. There is no lack of talent. But its not utilised enough. However, everything has a phase. I am sure this shall pass too and people will want to return to good melodies,” ended Ghoshal.