Singer and songwriter Natania Lalwani, who’s been steadily reshaping the sound of homegrown pop, is making waves on the global stage. From Higher Love, the first-ever Punjabi song featured in a Hollywood animated film (Smurfs) to a high-energy track featuring Cardi B, DJ Khaled, and fellow artiste Subhi, she’s carving out a bold and unique space. Now, Natania gears up for her next big project, Freakier Friday, starring Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, which hits theatres in August.
So, how did she land the project? “My A&R at the publishing company sent my song to Disney, and they loved it! I got on a call with director Nisha Ganatra, and we tailored it for the film. I’ve always been a fan of the original Freaky Friday, so this felt like a full-circle moment.”
Describing her track in the film, Natania says, “It’s actually a funny story. I wrote the song with Jason Evigan, one of my favourite musicians. It was our first session, and I was going through a breakup. The song just poured out, it’s about wanting to stay on happy days. Funnily enough, there was a scene in the movie that matched perfectly. It was fate!”
Natania is one musician who has been blending her Indian roots with a global sound. With Higher Love on the Smurfs soundtrack, she brought Punjabi-infused pop to an international audience. “It’s been such a heart-expanding journey,” she says. “Bringing my culture into mainstream pop is like finding my own frequency. I grew up in Mumbai watching movies like Smurfs, it felt so far removed. Now, being part of projects like this, it’s surreal. It proves that our stories and sounds can travel globally and still feel deeply personal.”
Natania recently walked the blue carpet at the Smurfs 2 premiere, a moment she’ll never forget. “It was a total pinch-me moment. Hearing Higher Love play, meeting Rihanna, there was such joy and pride in that space. Representing India and our sound on that scale felt magical.”
Adding to the list of dream moments is her recent meeting with Isai Puyal AR Rahman. Is something in the works? “That was another surreal experience. Being in the studio with him was electrifying. I’m really excited about what’s to come.”
Having worked with global heavyweights like Nick Jonas and Cardi B, does she notice a difference between creative cultures? “Not really! At the core, it’s always about the music, tapping into real emotion, creating something that moves people. The styles or languages might shift, but the heart of it, be it storytelling or connection, is universal.”
With music becoming more global by the day, does she feel cultural boundaries are fading? “Absolutely! Music is one of the most powerful bridges. A Hindi song can go viral in Brazil, a Tamil beat can headline a global pop hit. Audiences are curious and open. It’s exciting to create in a space where sound matters more than labels.”
And how does she see South Asian artistes being received on the international stage? “There’s definitely a growing respect. Brown artistes are being seen and heard. Artistes like Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Aujla, and Hanumankind, they’re not just representing, they’re leading. The doors are finally opening wider, and we’re walking through them with our full selves.”
Ask Natania if she could collaborate with any Indian celebrity, who would it be, and pat comes the reply. “Shah Rukh Khan, and I don’t think I need to explain why (laughs)!”
Finally, what’s next for the global hitmaker? “I’ve got so much new music on the way this year that I’m super excited about. But for now, I can’t wait for everyone to hear the Smurfs tracks, and of course, the new song in Freakier Friday dropping on August 8!”
sangeetha.p@newindianexpress.com
X-@psangeetha2112
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