Shreya Ghoshal's B'day on 12th March

Happy Birthday Shreya Ghoshal

Shreya Ghoshal, the queen of melody, turns 32 today. Mentored by the legendary Kalyanji Shah, Ghosal entered the music industry through her immense popularity in Sa Re Ga Ma. Her first big break in Bollywood was with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas and recorded songs like Silsila Ye Chahat Ka, Bairi Piya, and Dola Re Dola for the film.

 Deepika Padukone reveals how Mughal-e-Azam was responsible for Deewani Mastani

Having spent more than 14 years in the industry, Ghoshal still continues to be one of the leading singers of Bollywood. Ever since her debut as a female vocalist in the music industry, there was no looking back. Her latest track, Deewani Mastani from the 2015 film Bajirao Mastani, was a sensation in itself and is one of the favourite tracks for many.

On her 32nd birthday, here's a look at Shreya Ghoshal's top ten songs.

Deewani Mastani (Bajirao Mastani)

Chikni Chameli (Agneepath)

Sun Raha Hai Na Tu ( Aashiqui 2)

Saans (Jab Tak Hai Jaan)

Radha (Student Of The Year)

Nagada Sang Dhol (Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-leela)

Piyu Bole (Parineeta)

Dola Re Dola (Devdas)

Teri Meri Prem Kahani (Bodyguard)

Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

Shreya Ghoshal Biography

Shreya Ghoshal (born 12 March 1984) is an Indian playback singer. She has received four National Film Awards, six Filmfare Awards, five for Best Female Playback and one for RD Burman Award for New Music Talent in 2003 and eight Filmfare Awards South (one for Telugu, two for Kannada, two for Tamil and three for Malayalam) till date. She has recorded songs for film music in various Indian languages, and has established herself as a leading playback singer of Indian cinema.
Ghoshal aspired to become a playback singer from a young age. At the age of four, she started learning music. At the age of sixteen, she was noticed by film-maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali when she participated and won the television singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Following that, she made her Bollywood playback singing debut with Bhansali's romantic drama Devdas (2002) for which she received a National Award and a Filmfare Award.

Apart from playback singing, Ghoshal has also been appearing on several television reality show's, serving as a judge. She has also been honored from the U.S. state of Ohio, where governor Ted Strickland declared 26 June as "Shreya Ghoshal Day". She has also featured three times in Forbes’ list of the top 100 celebrities of India. In February 2015, Ghoshal married her childhood friend Shiladitya Mukhopadhyaya.

Shreya Ghoshal's Early life

Ghoshal was born on 12 March 1984 to a Bengali Hindu family in Baharampur, Murshidabad district, West Bengal. She grew up in Rawatbhata, a small town near Kota in Rajasthan Her father, Bishwajit Ghoshal is an electrical engineer and works for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, and her mother, Sarmistha Ghoshal, is a literature post-graduate. She has a younger brother, Soumyadeep Ghoshal. At the age of four, she started learning music.

Ghoshal completed her schooling up to eighth grade at the Atomic Energy Central School in Rawatbhata. In 1997, when her father was transferred to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, she was relocated to Mumbai, with her family and studied at the Atomic Energy Central School in Anushakti Nagar. She joined the Atomic Energy Junior College to study science. She withdrew from the junior college and enrolled at the SIES College of Arts, Science, and Commerce in Mumbai, where she took up arts with English as her major.

Her mother used to help her in her rehearsals and she accompanied her on the harmonium and started practicing mostly Bengali songs. Her first stage performance was made at a club's annual function. When she turned six, she started her lessons in Hindustani classical music. In 2000, at the age of sixteen, she participated and won the television music reality show Sa Re Ga Ma (now Sa Re Ga Ma Pa) on the channel Zee TV, which was hosted by Sonu Nigam.

Ghoshal has acknowledged Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, K S Chithra, Geeta Dutt, as her inspirations.

Music career of Shreya Ghoshal

Her first studio album was Bendhechhi Beena, which was released on 1 January 1998, with 14 tracks. Some of her earlier albums include O Tota Pakhi Re, Ekti Katha (1999), and Mukhor Porag (2000). Ghoshal recorded devotional songs in albums like Banomali Re (2002), and later, Krishna Bina Ache Ke (2007).

Devdas and entry into Bollywood (2002–2004) of Shreya Ghoshal

Ghoshal caught the attention of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali when she participated in the 75th children's special episode of Sa Re Ga Ma. Bhansali's mother was watching the show and during Ghoshal's performance, she called him to watch her performance, after which he decided to give her a chance in his next film. According to Bhansali, Ghoshal's voice had the innocence needed for the character of Paro in Devdas (2002).

In 2000, Bhansali and music director Ismail Darbar offered her the opportunity to be the voice of Paro, the lead female character of Devdas, who was portrayed by Aishwarya Rai. Ghoshal sang five songs in the film, namely, "Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka", "Bairi Piya", "Chalak Chalak", "Morey Piya", and "Dola Re Dola", with established singers such as Udit Narayan, Vinod Rathod, Kavita Krishnamurthy, KK, and Jaspinder Narula. She was sixteen when she recorded the first song for the film, "Bairi Piya" with Udit Narayan. Her Higher Secondary Examinations were nearing that time and she would take her books and notebooks to the studio in order to study during downtime. "Bairi Piya" was an instant success and topped the charts. The film garnered her Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Dola Re", a National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Bairi Piya". Her performance also won her the RD Burman Award for New Music Talent.

“	I remember I was asked to rehearse the song once before finally recording it. I simply closed my eyes and sang without a break. When I opened my eyes, I noticed a lot of excitement and chaos outside the recording room. Then Sanjayji told me I had sung the song so well that they had recorded it at one go.	”
— Ghoshal sharing her experience of recording "Bairi Piya"

She was an immediate success and was called by various regional film industries for recording songs in her voice. Ghoshal performed as a playback singer numerous times in 2003 for films like Saaya, Jism, Tujhe Meri Kasam, Armaan, Inteha, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., and LOC Kargil. Her song "Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai" from Jism won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. In 2004, Ghoshal lent her voice to various composers for films like Plan, Khakee, Shikaar, Muskaan, Krishna Cottage, Main Hoon Na, Aan: Men at Work, Girlfriend, Garv, Dhoom, Phir Milenge, Tumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story, Musafir, and Dil Maange More. In 2003, she has made an on-screen appearance in the song "Har Taraf" from the film Saaya.

Into the limelight (2005–2007) of of Shreya Ghoshal

Ghoshal started 2005 with songs from Elaan, Blackmail, Jurm and Classic Dance of Love. She recorded the song "Agar Tum Mil Jao" for Roop Kumar Rathod, which was featured in the album Zeher (2005). Her voice also became a part for films such as Main Aisa Hi Hoon, Yakeen and "Piya Bole" for Parineeta. She also worked with Ilaiyaraaja for Mumbai Xpress. In 2005, Ghoshal received her second National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Dhire Jalna" from Paheli, a composition by M. M. Keeravani. Further on in 2005, Ghoshal also rendered songs for films like Fareb, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Shaadi No. 1, and Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!. Ghoshal later sang in films like Malamaal Weekly, Chup Chup Ke, Krrish, The Killer, Omkara, Anthony Kaun Hai? and Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

In 2007 Ghoshal sang "Barso Re" for Mani Ratnam's Guru, a composition by A.R. Rahman. A Review from Oneindia.in praised Ghoshal's rendition of the song and opined that it was a different incarnation of her in comparison to her previous records. The song won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. The same year, she came up with the song ""Yeh Ishq Haaye" from Jab We Met, which was successful in earning her a third National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

2008–present

Ghoshal at her concert in 2015

After singing for films such as U Me Aur Hum, Sirf, Ghatothkach, Dashavatar, Mere Baap Pehle Aap, De Taali, Haal-e-Dil, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Kismat Konnection, Ghoshal recorded another hit song for Singh Is Kinng (2008), titled "Teri Ore", composed by Pritam Chakraborty. It received mixed reviews from music critics. The song earned her a fourth Filmfare Award. After that, she lent for voice for films like Bachna Ae Haseeno, God Tussi Great Ho, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Kidnap, Karzzzz, Ek Vivaah... Aisa Bhi, Dostana, Yuvvraaj and others. She won her consecutive fourth and fifth National award for singing "Pherari Mon" for the Bengali film Antaheen (2008), and "Jeev Rangla" for the Marathi film Jogwa (2008).

She debuted in the Tamil cinema through the song "Yen Chellam" in Vasanthabalan's film Album (2002), and she received success after singing "Munbe Vaa" from Sillunu Oru Kaadhal under composer A. R. Rahman.She received her first Tamil Nadu State Film Award . She made her Telugu debut for music director Mani Sharma in Okkadu (2003). She made her debut in Kannada cinema with the song "Krishna nee begane baaro" in the movie Paris Pranaya (2003). Ghoshal debuted in Malayalam cinema through a studio album of composer Alphons Joseph and later gave voice to his song "Vida Parayukayano" from Big B (2007). She became a sensation in Malayalam cinema through her song "Chandu Thottille", and received her first Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer. She became the first North Indian Singer to receive this award. In 2010, Ghoshal sang for the English independent film When Harry Tries to Marry.

In 2013, Ghoshal collaborated with singer Kailash Kher for the song "Naina Chaar", under the initiative 'Project Resound' by Sony Music India.

Concerts and other activities of Shreya Ghoshal

Ghoshal at her concert in

Toronto

, 2012

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Ghoshal performs in musical concerts around the world. In 2013, she performed at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in United Arab Emirates.The same year, she paid her respects to the casualties of an excessive rainfall in Mauritius with a concert at the The Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre in Pailles. Along with Hrishikesh Ranade, she also made a stage performance during the 18th annual day celebration of Airports Authority of India. Later in 2013, Ghoshal made a Europe tour as a celebration of 100 years of Indian cinema.

Ghoshal has also been appearing on television reality shows. In 2007, Ghoshal served as the judge for the first season for Amul STAR Voice of India Chhote Ustaad, with singer Kunal Ganjawala and composer Pritam Chakraborty. She was one of the three judges in X Factor India with Sonu Nigam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Ghoshal was a captain on the singing show Music Ka Maha Muqqabla along with Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, Himesh Reshammiya, Mohit Chauhan, and Mika Singh. In 2013, Ghoshal appeared as a judge for the first season of Indian Idol Junior, along with Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani.

In 2011, Ghoshal became the brand ambassador for Joyalukkas jewellery.

Shreya Ghoshal Personal life and popularity

On 5 February 2015, Ghoshal married her childhood friend Shiladitya Mukhopadhyaya in a traditional Bengali ceremony.

Singers Javed Ali, Palak Muchhal and Sonu Nigam have mentioned her as one of their favorites in the industry. Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra has called her "the best singer in the industry". Veteran singers Vani Jairam and Manna Dey has praised her musical abilities. Ghoshal was also honored from the U.S. state of Ohio, where governor Ted Strickland declared 26 June as "Shreya Ghoshal Day". The first Shreya Ghoshal Day (on 26 June 2010) was celebrated among her fans on popular microblogging and social networking sites. In 2012, she appeared in the Forbes Celebrity 100, a list based on income and popularity of India's celebrities. She remained in the top fifty spots for three consecutive years, listed at the forty-two spot in 2012–13 and the twenty-eighth spot in 2014.

Shreya Ghoshal Awards and nominations

Ghoshal has been a recipient of four National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singing: "Bairi Piya" for Devdas (2002), "Dheere Jalna" for Paheli (2005), "Yeh Ishq Haaye" for Jab We Met (2007), and "Pherari Mon" for the Bengali film Antaheen (2008) and "Jeev Rangla" for the Marathi film Jogwa (2008). In addition to these, she has won six Filmfare Awards including the RD Burman Award for New Music Talent.