Shreya learns to rock

Mumbai: Her melodious classic numbers "Bairi Piya" and "Dheere Jalna" helped Shreya Ghoshal in carving a niche for herself, but now she wants to learn rock music to connect with her friends.

"My knowledge in rock music is zero. So I have started educating myself for my friends who don`t understand any other music," the 27-year-old posted on mirco-blogging site Twitter.

The singer received awards for "Bairi Piya" ("Devdas"), "Dheere Jalna" ("Paheli") and "Noor-e-Khuda" ("My Name Is Khan").

Shreya Ghoshal has her hands full

Who says only mango people or the aam junta experience network problems on their phone?

Singer Shreya Ghoshal expressed her frustration with the same recently as she wrote on a microblogging site, "Feel so helpless when I don't have network on my phones. I cud totally achieve nirvana if I cud recover from this need." Significantly, the singer has been keeping very busy recently what with her laptop going kaput and her drummer Rohan's birthday and her concert in Indore. Infact the singer has been so busy that she also wrote on the site, "So, a packed day ahead. Hope I make it on time everywhere." Well good luck to you Shreya.

Shreya talks about American films

Give it to our musicians to come up with not just interesting but also witty observations.

Singer Shreya Ghoshal, who happily "locked herself home" to avoid the Ganapati visarjan processions in maximum city Mumbai (she revealed on her microblogging site), recently bared her view about "American". The National award winning singer, wrote, "A superhit American movie HAS to hv a virus/alien/supernatural being. And tht one man who can save the mankind (Americans) from extinction."

Earlier that day Shreya had tweeted that she wanted to see "Contagion" and "Super 8". So, maybe she finally she managed to squeeze out time from her hectic schedule for these movies. We, for one, enjoyed her observations, too! Atta girl!

I am a girl next door: Shreya Ghoshal

Singer Shreya Ghoshal's fame is not their family's dinner table conversation, but her marriage is, she says, as she speaks to us about things close to her heart

Despite being a successful playback singer you've managed to maintain the girl next door image...

I don't believe in pretending to be someone else. I'm what I actually am in real life. For instance, like any normal girl, I fight with my mother. I mean, it is just fine. In fact, I fight daily with my mother. You know, how mothers are – both caring and complaining. Toh yeh sab har subah chalta hai. She scolds me if I don't take care of my hair, or get a bit non-serious about my diet. There are occasions when she even draws a comparison between me and my friends. So statements like, 'See how different your friend looks!' are expected (laughs). I know she has a point when she says that; her concerns are genuine.

Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas awards for Lata Mangeshkar, Shreya Ghoshal

Lata Mangeshkar has been chosen for the Special Award instituted by the Kairali-Swaralaya-Yesudas trust. Shreya Ghoshal, one of the best-known female voices in the film industry, was selected for the Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas award for the year 2011. The awards were announced by Jury chairman M A Baby and Kairali TV executive director P R Ajayan at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on August 2.

Mangeshkar is being presented with the honour for her overall contribution in a career spanning nearly seven decades, rendering songs in 36 regional languages besides Hindi. Ghoshal has also sung in regional languages including Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Assamese, Marathi and Punjabi.

Mangeshkar’s award comprises a cash component of Rs 2 lakh, memento and citation, the ‘Swaralaya’ award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, memento and citation. The awards would be presented at a function in Thiruvananthapuram in September.

Shweta records duet with Shreya!

The last week has been among the happiest for singer Shweta Mohan. That's because Shweta, who is the daughter of singer Sujatha, got a chance to sing with her role model, Shreya Ghoshal, on a Telugu track for none other than maestro IIlaiyaraja.

"It was a beautiful experience," she starts off, "I was always looking at how she was delivering her lines and getting her diction right and am happy that the number has come out well."

It was a challenge for the young singer to match with Shreya who's now busy in Kollywood. as well. "She motivated me a lot during the recording. Actually, I met her first at Rahman sir's studio when we were doing a song for Komaram Puli. Despite not knowing the language, she somehow gets her diction and 'feel' of the song perfectly. That's something I admire about her."
Post her much talked about marriage, it was rumoured that Shweta was settling in the US with her husband to manage his business.

"I don't know where those came from," she laughs, "I'm very much in namma Chennai and looking at singing in more projects." Her recent numbers in Ko and 180 have come in for much praise from the music fraternity. "The Amali... song in Ko was the first time I worked with Harris Jayaraj and it was a great experience," adds Shweta.

Considering that she's being much-indemand as a singer within filmi circles, does she think she poses a threat to her mom, the famous singer Sujatha? "Well, amma had stated in an interview that she's ready to compete with me. But as far as I'm concerned, I don't think I can ever be a competitor to her. She's somewhere on top...."

I don't want to make money from my music: Shreya Ghoshal

Amit her playback singing commitments, which take her across the country, reality television show shoots and public performances, Shreya Ghoshal has been finding little time to pursue a dream she's had for long -- release an album.

What she has been doing, though, is tweeting about her plans and asking for feedback from those following her on the micro-blogging site. "I am yet to get a fix on what I want to do for my album. But what's interesting is that I have a following spanning vast age groups amazingly, most youngsters have asked me to give the album a classical feel," she says. "I want it to be a Madan Mohan type of classic that people will want to keep in their collection," adds

Groups get more votes than solo: Manjeera

The first participant to be eliminated from X Factor, in her face-off against a group, feels groups can get more votes.

In its second week, the Indian version of the X-Factor has reached its first elimination. Manjeera Ganguly from Shreya Ghoshal's team was eliminated this Saturday and the participant was expectedly upset, considering the ouster came in a little too early, despite her impressive performance. "I am feeling low as the elimination came a little unexpected", says Manjeera.

Manjeera was in face-off with the Nirmitee group, a band of four students from Mumbai University. Was the competition too tough? "The Nirmitee group gave a wonderful performance, no doubt. But even I had put in a lot of efforts in my singing. In fact all the 12 finalists on X Factor are amazing singers", defends Manjeera.

Shreya Ghoshal bats for GV Prakash

The true test for any music composer is his ability to churn out melodies. That way, G V Prakash has proved his worth, said singer Shreya Ghoshal to CT recently, after receiving the Filmfare Award for her Un Perai number in Angadi Theru.

GV's always quiet but he thinks much beyond his age, she says, There's always something running in his head, about music, and about the song he's working on, she added.

The singer is thrilled to have worked with both GV and his uncle, the Oscar-winning A R Rahman, who she says, is someone who lets her explore her musical side to the hilt.

Shreya dislikes being called 'playback'

Shreya Ghoshal says she hates the practice of categorising crooners as "playback singers" in the Indian film industry.

"I'll tell you that one sad part of our industry is that everything is behind the screen. Singers are called playback, which is very derogatory according to me," Shreya told IANS.

The young and talented crooner, who has even won a national award, regrets that it takes a long time for the audience to know the real person behind the voices they love.

"When we go to perform anywhere, people come to see us and feel the personality. But the process of knowing how we look, how we talk, how we behave etc is very slow," she added.

Xceptional Talent—Xtraordinary Singers—Xtraordinary Show !

Vishal Srivastava an auto rickshaw driver, a trained classical singer from a humble family in Delhi came to Mumbai with just one dream… to educate his wife and become a singer. Vishal who never got any support from his family as far as music was concerned, was insistent that one day he will make it big and surmount his dreams.

His perseverance and pure dedication helped him make his way and put up an exemplary performance in the presence of seasoned singers Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal and ace director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Vishal’s moving performance left the three judges surprised and speechless. An emotional Sonu said, “If I would have been in your place, I wouldn’t have been able to give such a performance like you did. Your dream for your wife will get fulfilled”.

63 years old professional orchestra singer Rajendra Ghadvi has been singing for the last 40 years. An avid fan of Mohammed Rafi, auditioning for the first time, he entertained all the judges with a mind blowing performance on the very popular ‘Tarif karoon kya uski’ and took away all the praises.

A combination of great enthusiasm and zeal to do something big in his life supported Mr. Gadhvi to chase his dreams and come all the way without informing his family about this! First audition ever - Rajendra’s performance left all astounded and he received a standing ovation from Judge Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bhansali said, “You have been singing for the last forty years.

It has been a loss for the industry.” Shreya was suitably impressed with his energy at this age. Sonu a big fan of Rafi Saab himself got nostalgic and told him to focus on training and pursue his dreams.

Another amazing performance came from the Taj group, a duo comprising of two friends 68 year old retired government employee Kartar Singh and 59 year old Shobhi a professor from Agra. It was surely a dream come true for the Taj group when Shreya told them, “You have a lot of ‘shokhi, sur and romance in your voice… Dil abhi bhara nahi.” Kartar who never got any encouragement from his family whenever he told them that he wanted to do something in life as a singer was floored when Sanjay Leela Bhansali praised him and mentioned, “Jitna Khoobsurat Taj hai, utni hi khoobsurat apki awaz”. There is no turning back for these two who are determined to take the crown away.

That is not all, rigid hard work and willpower can take you where you want to be and this was proven right by the ‘Soul of Punjab’, a group of nine members each distinct from the other with one common bond, there passion for music.

The group put up a brilliant performance and got accolades from the judges. Shreya was so impressed with them, she heaped praises and commented, ‘Itne auditions mein ye pehla dil se kiya hua performance tha, agar aaj decide karna hota toh main aaj hi aapko apne group mein le leti.’ The judges felt that it was a performance that came from their ‘soul’.

This is just a small peep into the Xceptional talent you will get to see in the show, as many more Xceptional singers each with a unique talent are waiting to come and entertain you only on Xfactor India.

X Factor is the big daddy of all reality shows in scale and size, with versions in 24 countries and a unique format, which allows every contestant over the age of sixteen to enter the auditions. Divided in three categories 16-25 years, above 25 years and individual groups, unlike other reality shows, X factor is about providing bigger dimensions and bigger scope to all such people who dare to dream BIG and have been waiting for their dreams to come full circle! The panel of judges consists of the Xtraordinary trio, the dynamic Sonu Nigam a multitalented singer and an icon to millions of music lovers, the melodious, Shreya Ghosal along with the celebrated ace director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Singer and anchor Aditya Narayan will host the show.

So get ready to witness people come with their beautiful dreams in the show and see all those beautiful dreams gett fulfilled…as the biggest singing reality show X factor India s all set to hit Indian television screens on 29th May 2011.

Magic Realism - Indian Express !

Sanjay Leela Bhansali deconstructs his magical world of movies, counters criticism and indulges in producer speak all within the same interview! Excerpts from a lengthy conversation on movies and more.

Do you believe in X factor?

X factor is something that cannot be defined. Some people have it and you know it when you see it. Dilip (Kumar) saab or Amitabh Bachchan or Ranbir Kapoor in Saawariya. It is evident in that moment of magic you create with your performance — for instance, Govinda when he is dancing. Or Helen aunty. Among singers, it would have to be Sonu Niigaam, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan during their performance.

Is the X factor a criteria for people whom you choose as actors for your movies?

Absolutely. It is essential. There are so many kids I auditioned during Black, but why did I choose that particular girl (Ayesha Kapoor)? Because of the X factor. I had seen a picture of her running away from the camera — a still picture. It was a back shot with her hair flying but I felt there was something in that girl. The co-ordinator was aghast because I had not even seen her face, just her hair flying, but a certain aura was enough. Ranbir has the X factor that is so evident. And it is not only big stars that have it but even actors like Shernaz Patel or Suhel Seth who I worked with, they are all so charismatic while performing.