Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who mentored Shreya and provided her first break in ‘Devdas,’ spoke to Zoom on her birthday. Bhansali, being a hardcore fan of Lata Mangeshkar, expressed his belief that finding another voice like hers is nearly impossible. He sees Shreya as a remarkable discovery and encourages her to walk in Lataji’s footsteps, hoping she wouldn’t venture into pop music abruptly. According to Bhansali, Shreya brings hope for the future of Hindi playback singing. He believes that even if Shreya possesses just five percent of Lataji’s potential, it could mark the start of a new musical era. While acknowledging the unparalleled voices of legends like Kishore Kumar and Mohd Rafi, Bhansali asserts that voices like Lataji’s are irreplaceable. He reminisced about listening to Lataji’s songs since childhood, emphasizing the ethereal quality of her voice.
Bhansali reminisces about his reaction upon hearing Shreya sing for the first time during ‘Devdas.’ He noticed hints of Lataji’s influence in Shreya’s voice, although he emphasized that no one can match Lataji’s originality. However, Shreya’s voice resonated with the essence of the Lata Mangeshkar school, which convinced Bhansali to choose her for Aishwarya Rai‘s playback in ‘Devdas’ and later for Sonam Kapoor in ‘Saawariya.’ According to Bhansali, Shreya has evolved into a highly skilled singer, a fact he takes great pride in.
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Interestingly, Shreya Ghoshal and Atif Aslam coincidentally celebrate their birthdays on the same day. They have collaborated on several beautiful duets in the past for movies such as “Ramaiyya Vastvaya” (including songs like ‘Jeene Laga Hoon,’ ‘Rang Jo Lagyo,’ and ‘Bairiya’, ‘Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya’ (‘Piya Oh Re Piya’), and ‘Prince’ (‘Tere Liye’). It would be an extraordinary cultural occasion, extending beyond the boundaries of film music, to witness their reunion for another song.
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