Shreya Ghoshal has turned over a new leaf with the launch of her first non-film ghazal album "Humnasheen". The melodious songstress turned 30 Wednesday.
Shreya is glad that she chose ghazals to make a transit to non-film work.
"I have been a fan of ghazals, but I had never thought I would take it up as my first step into the non-film world. But now that I have done it, I am happy that this was the step I took first, doing something which is equivalent to good poetry and soulfulness," Shreya said here at the launch of the album Tuesday.
Shreya says ghazals give her a chance to do something she can't do in films.
"Urdu poetry has it's own charm and impact. I can't do raag-based singing in films and I don't even expect that to happen in films," she said.
Shreya is a Bengali, but she has worked hard on her Hindi and Urdu diction. She has thanked all those who have helped her.
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"Diction needs to be very clear. I am a Bengali, but I was brought up in Rajasthan and that's why my Hindi is good.
"My tilt towards Urdu happened only after I entered the film industry. There are so many talented lyricists and composers from whom I learnt something everyday. I have learnt music from Kalyanji (composer) and he also told me how important diction is.
"Now when I hear old songs of Lata-ji (Mangeshkar) and (Mohd.) Rafi saab, I can see how particular they were to ensure that the words were clear and beautifully pronounced," she added.
Shreya started her career with regional music albums and devotional songs. She was just 16 when she recorded her first song "Bairi piya" for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas".