Music sensation Shreya Ghoshal, who recently collaborated with ace filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, for his first non-film album Sukoon, opened up about the changing dynamics of Love songs in the present days.
Shreya Ghosal is one of the most influential singers that we have in the country. Teri Meri, Raabta, Manwa Laage, Dil Dooba, Saathiya, Naina Re , Nee Jathaga, Chali Chaliga, and Mandaara are some of her most popular songs. The complete oeuvre of Shreya Ghoshal entails hundreds of chartbusters across the mainstream Indian film industries.
Recently, the ace singer collaborated with talented film director and music composer Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his first non-film album Sukoon. The filmmaker is known for presenting intriguing stories such as Devdas, Black, Bajiroa Mastani, Padmaavat, and Gangubai Kathiawadi. The enchanting singer started her film career with Bhansali’s Devdas. Although the two have collaborated multiple times post-Devdas, working with the sensational director for his maiden non-film album is a feat that Shreya is going to cherish for years to come. The album Sukoon entails nine songs and Shreya sang two melodies namely: Tujhe Bhi Chand and Qaraar.
There is no dearth of romantic songs in today’s world. We have at least a dozen love tunes released every week. The singer says today’s love songs don’t hold the same depth anymore. However, she feels Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s new album has brought back the old charm with the much-needed quotient of “human connection”.
“Love songs today often lack depth and end up becoming all about “trivial emotions,” commented the award-winning singer, and continued, “After a long time, something so pure like Sukoon has come out. Every song on this album is special, intricate, detailed, and deep. It covers the emotions of love so beautifully. Nowadays, when we talk about love songs we end up talking about trivial emotions. It’s more about hook lines and how catchy the tune is. Somewhere down the line, we are forgetting that music is not just about having fun. Music can have a lot of depth which even the younger generation, who are growing up listening to music in whatever way they do, are missing out on.”
Looking at how the album reminds us of the need to revisit the lost human connections in today’s world, the Teri Meri singer opined, “Sukoon has given that sense of human connection, the depth that is missing in our lives. It makes you think and feel in different ways. From the time you fall in love, have your break-ups, having good times in life to hard times in life, it’s a bouquet of various emotions that a human being goes through.”
Commenting further about the album, Shreya added, “This format or genre of music which is not done much in his films, he is able to do in his original album. So I’m happy to be able to work on a project of this kind in today’s times when pure music is kind of missing. He has finally done an album that is only about music. He is a phenomenal composer and we have worked on a lot of films. This project is very different in terms of how it sounds. It comes from his love for ‘ghazals’ and the kind of music he enjoys listening to.”
Talking about her association with the ace director, she said, “He is someone who I look up to as a mentor, as a person of genius skills. He is an extraordinary artist. To be able to work with him on multiple projects has been my privilege. I’ve learnt a lot from him. He is the one who gave me ‘the big break’. I have learnt a lot under his mentorship. I was very young when I started working with him. My sensibilities about music have developed because of the work I have done with him. The way he listens to music, how he has pinpointed things to me about even the greats and legends. He has been a big influence in my life so to say professionally yes. I am extremely inspired by his way of work.”
People have this preconceived notion that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a tough taskmaster. Shreya thinks otherwise, “His persona is very warm, unlike the image that people have that he is a taskmaster. He is not like that. He’s very passionate, loving, and has a great sense of humour. He is a fabulous person to hang around. We relate to the common love for food as well. He can be extremely fun. I’m privileged to have a friendship along with a professional relationship with him.”
The experienced singer that she is, Shreya is all the more excited to work with new talent across various industries. She wrapped up by saying, “I really look forward to working with the new generation of new entries of creators who are so fresh in their ideas and styles of music. There is a learning process in both ways. Music has been constantly evolving in the last so many years that 20 years have been actually quite a big journey. Lots of great collaborations have happened. Amazing world tours have happened, concerts, live experiences. I’m very fortunate. I think it’s just a start, there is a lot to do.”
