When Shalmali Kholgade’s audio tapes that she had recorded to apply to music schools in the US, were sent to music director Amit Trivedi in 2012, little did the singer know that she would emerge as one of the most promising playback singers in Bollywood. “Being a playback singer was never on my mind,” she says, candidly. Shalmali, the voice behind some of the best dance numbers like Balam Pichkari from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Beech Beech Mein from Jab Harry Met Sejal, wanted to be an independent lyricist, composer and singer.
Though destiny had other plans, Shalmali has today managed to release her first single Spark A Fire, with four other women lyricists, composers and singers — Riya Duggal, Simran Duggal, Neha Tawde and Pratiksha Kale, on YouTube. Her second single a Punjabi number Tumba Wajda Aye by Harpreet has also been released. “Before Bollywood happened, I always wanted to write my own songs and compose music. But since I started playback singing, I had put this on hold,” she offers. Both her new releases are steadily gaining popularity online.
Western magic
Yet, the singer, known for her vicarious voice that inspires, says she has been grateful to the kind of exposure she got, while growing up. She is trained in Hindustani music under her mother Uma Kholgade and Shubada Paradkar. “I owe my strong foundation in music to both these gurus. But I always had an inclination towards non-classical and Western music because of my brother who used to listen English music. I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Bryn Adams, Spice Girls and Aerosmith. These were my influences. So when I started singing for Hindi films, I had an advantage. I sang Bollywood music with a western approach and that worked for me!” she says.
It’s this style of hers that seems to have worked very well for all her dance numbers. Additionally, Shalmali entered the Hindi music industry when music directors were opening up to new voices and styles. Now, the singer wants to take the next step by experimenting with more challenging songs. “It took me nearly six days to get the feel of my Punjabi song right. I had to sound different from my other dance numbers,” she says.
ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
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