*Playback singer Shrradha Pandit, has turned composer with her own album Teri Heer. And she credits AR Rahman in part for her achievement* Shrradha Pandit had started her musical journey at the age of 11 in uncles Jatin-Lalit's Khamoshi - The Musical wherein she sang Mausam ki sargam ko sun and Gaate the pehle akele. Shrradha's first break as a lead female singer came with Tanuja Chandra's Sangharsh wherein she sang two songs, including Pehli baar baliye with Sonu Nigam. In the same year she had the hit Ae Shivani (Khoobsurat) with Sanjay Dutt.
In the millennium, her duet with Kailash Kher, Rang deeni in Aadesh Shrivastava's Dev was extremely popular. Her other songs that have been noticed under leading composers like Sajid-Wajid, Sukhwinder Singh, Anu Malik, Anand Raaj Anand and others include Peer manava in Black And White and Chal jhoothi in Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai. She has also sung in Soch, Haasil, Hum To Mohabbat Karega, Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar, Raju Chacha, Saaz, Paagalpan, Shararat and Stumped. Her next film is Paathshala composed by newcomer Hanif and she is also working with A.R.Rahman in a film and in his Nokia album. On the way is also a World Cup song composed by Aadesh Shrivastava and a song for Faasle composed by Deepak Pandit. The granddaughter of Pandit Pratap Narayan, who is the elder brother of Pandit Jasraj, and daughter of eminent tabla player Vishwaraj Pandit, elder brother to Jatin-Lalit, Shrradha belongs to the famous Mewati Gharana of music and has been trained in Hindustani Classical by her grandfather. Why did she think of Teri Heer as the subject of her first album as composer and singer? "I have targeted the North Indian audience mainly. Also my voice and persona match Indian music rather than Western. But I have tried to blend in a bit of the West too." She adds, "Also, Heer is a symbol of love. I have made love songs that give me a chance for some gaayaki. I am sure people will connect to Heer as a subject, though the songs are not above Heer as in Heer-Ranjha." Shrradha Pandit's younger sister Shweta, despite starting out four years later, is already two albums old. So why has the elder sister started out so late? Smiles Shrradha, "I was too young when I got to sing in films like Khamoshi, Khoobsurat and Sangharsh, but I did the songs because it was for my uncles' films. I was in school in the ninth standard at the time of the last film. I thought that I needed to mature rather than rush it up, and also wanted to complete my education - I have done my Bachelors in Art in Philosophy. I did not like to choose music at the cost of education or vice-versa and sacrifice either - the minimum I needed to be was a graduate." She adds, "And I do not think that I have missed out on anything. I never approached any composer then, though many called me. I have always been recording songs but not really extensively. I am not ashamed to say that mujhe waqt lagaa to become a decent singer, kyoon ki music ke liye waqt lagnaa hi chahiye." Shrradha has now decided to promote herself as a playback singer. But then how did the composer bug bite her and does not she feel that it will hamper her prospects as a singer? "I always was into composing," says Shrradha. "I composed for Shweta's reality show Mission Ustaad on 9x. There were others who were also doing songs but it was my composition that was selected. A.R.Rahman sir told me that my composition was "awesome" and Javed Akhtarsaab also praised me. Rahman sir asked me to develop my art. So in a way he was part inspiration for Teri Heer." Still, will not this hinder her singing prospects? "No, I do not think so," she says seriously. "Today's industry is very open - singers are composing, composers are singing and both singers and composers may even write lyrics. The trend is towards everyone turning into a full-fledged entertainer. And anyone who wants to take you as a singer does so only because he finds your voice impressive." Shrradha wants to say that listeners should not be too judgemental about her album. "An album is about self-expression, unlike a playback song that is not about you. Since it is my first effort, I would like it to be appreciated because it is heartfelt. I am not trying to prove anything and I do not have a hot, mind-blowing kind of video! I have a mix of songs, and we've even experimented with lounge and with vocal scales." What about the competition, which is much stiffer now than at any point? "I agree, but getting breaks in those days was much tougher unless you were exceptional," feels Shrradha. "Today, you may be called to dub and the song retained in your voice if they like it, or if some other singer cannot come in and you get a break and so on. I do not think that we can wait for an ideal break anymore. It's more about getting songs by chance." She denies the contention that singers do not really get an opportunity to excel creatively in today's kind of flippant music. "I do not think that's a general rule. Look at Tandoori nights - if Himesh Reshammiyaji has homed in on Sunidhi Chauhan it is obvious that he needs her expertise to do justice to the composition." And yet one would expect Shrradha with her background and training to go in for classical music as a profession. "That is my training ground," agrees Shrradha. "But playback singing is extremely challenging, because I have to put myself into the shoes of a character and work to specific requirements. And I will tell you one thing: a fully-trained classical singer may find a thumri easy but still find it very difficult to sing playback. Playback singing is a science on its own!" http://www.screenindia.com/news/Heer-and-Now/384300/ -- regards, Vithur
