In an interview with acclaimed singer Shalmali Kholgade shares her experience of collaborating with the legendary composer Pritam Chakraborty, providing insights into their creative process. She discusses whether maintaining her signature style during performances and studio sessions comes naturally or requires conscious effort. Shalmali also offers valuable advice on how artists can stay committed to Riyaz (practice) despite the challenges of a hectic and demanding lifestyle.
#ShalmaliKholgade #Singer #PritamChakraborty #Trending #2025 #BollywoodCountry #BollywoodNews #BollywoodGossips #BollywoodUpdates #BollywoodNews #Bollywood #Bollywoodcelebrity #BollywoodHindiNews #ians
#ShalmaliKholgade #Singer #PritamChakraborty #Trending #2025 #BollywoodCountry #BollywoodNews #BollywoodGossips #BollywoodUpdates #BollywoodNews #Bollywood #Bollywoodcelebrity #BollywoodHindiNews #ians
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Working with Preetam Da, you never know what you're going to sing when you get into the booth.
00:09With most composers, you just have a certain idea of the kind of music they make.
00:14So you know what to expect when they call you.
00:17With Preetam Da, it's literally anything.
00:19It is anything where you'll be, sometimes you'll be singing something really dainty and sweet,
00:26sometimes you're singing some jazz, jazzy stuff.
00:28Like I did Dil Ki Mase for him for Merry Christmas.
00:31It's like a very jazzy thing.
00:32Lat Lag Gaye was a belty song.
00:34And Balam Pichka Re Itna Maasa, which got like falsetto in it.
00:39So it's been, it's one like that.
00:42You never know, one, what you're going to, the kind of song you're going to sing.
00:46Two, you don't know what film you're singing for.
00:49And there is no point in asking him, what film am I singing for?
00:53Who is, don't go there.
00:55Just go and do your job and leave is what I've realized.
00:58And just welcome the opportunity.
01:02Like I feel like at least this is how I approach any session that I go to.
01:08And it works for me.
01:09Although a lot of people have very different ideas about what they ought to get when they step into a studio.
01:17I feel like if I'm getting the opportunity to work with someone and show them that this is what I have to offer.
01:23Then it's an audition.
01:25For me, every time stepping into a studio is an audition.
01:29To be or not to be on that song.
01:31And with Preetam Da, I get to audition many songs.
01:35I get to learn two new things about what my vocal capabilities are.
01:38So working with him is just a thrill for me.
01:41It's like, Dada ka phone aaya.
01:43It's not like, bade picture mein gaana milega.
01:46It's like, kuch toh sahi gaane milega.
01:48I love that about working with Preetam Da.
01:51I find that he has this very unique ability to hear things which most composers actually have.
01:58But especially Preetam Da has this thing where,
02:02Shalmali agar yeh karegi toh wo aise lagega aur is track mein.
02:06He must be making those kind of calculations because when he calls me in to sing.
02:10And sometimes when he knows that the engineer may not be able to communicate this, what he wants to me.
02:18He'll just walk in and be like, acha sunna yeh part mein tu apne andaas se karna.
02:23Baaki sab just melody intact.
02:25Samna na?
02:29He knows what he wants.
02:31And he also knows that,
02:33I have heard it in my head and I believe you'll be able to do it.
02:36This is what I want.
02:38So, it's just a thrill.
02:41It's a thrill to try, sometimes make it, sometimes not make it.
02:45And he's just able to keep you on edge.
02:48It's incredible.
02:54I think it is always helpful to know a little bit around what your primary role in music is.
03:02Like if I sing, for the most part.
03:06To know other facets of music and by that I mean, like musicianship.
03:12How does one communicate with the musician?
03:14You need to speak the language they speak.
03:16You need to probably know at least the basic of what chords they're playing.
03:20What keys they're playing and what tempo the song is at.
03:22So, these kind of things are really helpful for you to understand what you're doing.
03:26And do it better and improvise within that.
03:28To communicate with your musicians.
03:30And to also earn their respect, right?
03:32They don't then feel like this is just a person whose show it is.
03:36And who's going to come in and just sing and leave.
03:38I think I enjoy the fact that my band looks to me for, should we do it like this?
03:42Or should we try this?
03:44And then I'll be like, no, let's keep it like this and change this.
03:47They look at me for creative inputs.
03:51And I don't only mean music.
03:55I mean even lights.
03:57Even graphics.
03:59Even stage plot.
04:01And what you wear on stage.
04:03How you walk on stage.
04:05If you're just standing and you don't know what to do.
04:08You're in front of people.
04:10So, I find that there are many things about music that are worth spending time on.
04:14And understanding.
04:16And when you're in that position doing that.
04:18You switch off of everything else and you do that.
04:20That's just something that innately happens.
04:22But having gathered the experience of all these different departments.
04:27Comes in handy in that moment.
04:29You know?
04:31Like if I'm just standing on stage and there's someone else taking a solo.
04:35So, the spot is on him.
04:37You can't assume nobody is looking at you.
04:39And that you're not in focus right now.
04:42You still need to stand like there might be that one person who is looking at you.
04:48You know?
04:50So, to have that presence of mind is something that happens organically.
04:54Because you've been practicing it here, there, here, there.
04:57I have personally also struggled a lot with how to streamline this process.
05:07In which I very very clearly know this.
05:11And one must know that without spending time on your craft.
05:15There is no cheat to it.
05:17There just isn't.
05:19It's just how it is.
05:21As much as you can give to it is what it will give back to you.
05:25So, spending time is essential.
05:27How you do it.
05:29Like I used to wake up until two weeks back when I made this change.
05:33That I wake up and then I sit and knit.
05:37And then I read a book.
05:39And have my coffee.
05:41And then I would do whatever music and this that.
05:43Now I've changed that.
05:45Saying that no.
05:47Knitting and reading is not as important.
05:49As doing Riyaz.
05:51Songwriting.
05:53And dance for me.
05:55Those are three things that I need practice with.
05:59So now I've allotted one hour every morning.
06:01So there's three hours like school.
06:03I go to the studio.
06:05Because I don't do it at home.
06:07At home you feel like oh I'll just sit here for some time.
06:09I'll check my phone.
06:11You have to feel like you have to either go to school or office.
06:13Whatever works for you.
06:15So for me school feels good.
06:17I feel like I'm studying again.
06:19So I go to the studio in the morning at 10 whenever I'm in Mumbai.
06:2110 to 11 is Riyaz.
06:2311 to 12 is songwriting.
06:25And 12 to 1 is dance practice.
06:27Whatever kind of practice you want to do.
06:29You're alone in that room.
06:31So you can either cheat yourself and be on your phone.
06:33Or you can actually do the thing you came for.
06:37But I'm still struggling with that.
06:39I've been following it religiously.
06:41But I'm struggling with it.
06:43And I happened to meet Virdas on a flight yesterday.
06:47And I asked him that when do you write?
06:49Because the man is always travelling.
06:51He's doing shows all over the world.
06:53And then he was doing another one.
06:55When I met him on flight.
06:57When do you write?
06:59And he's like every morning.
07:01I write every morning.
07:03He has a very proper.
07:05He gives me a fixed time.
07:07My wife also knows that don't bother him now.
07:09He has to go and write.
07:11And I just go and write at that time.
07:13So I told him about my 3 hour plan.
07:15That I do this but I'm struggling.
07:17He's like what are you doing first?
07:19So I said I'm doing Riyaz first.
07:21And then?
07:23And then I'm writing music.
07:25And then I'm doing dance.
07:27He's like start writing first.
07:31Then you dance.
07:33And then you sing last.
07:35Do it in that order and see how it feels.
07:37And I think it makes a lot of sense.
07:39Because the mind has to wake up.
07:41And when you start writing something.
07:43Like a paragraph.
07:45Or object writing is something that I do a lot.
07:47And when I do that.
07:49I feel like all my senses wake up.
07:51When my senses are awake.
07:53Then my body needs to wake up.
07:55So a little bit of dancing will help.
07:57And then finally.
07:59My throat has warmed up in the last 2 hours.
08:01So I think I'm going to try that next.
08:03But we need it.
08:05It's a discipline.
08:07And it's a discipline that everyone.
08:09Who wants to do something seriously as a career.
08:11Must allot time to.
08:15Music by Ben Thede