Shruti Pathak

Music room

“I’ve had a special association with Priyanka Chopra in my career graph. ” - Shruti Pathak

Her soulful Bollywood debut ‘Mar Jaawaan’ is still remembered for its heart-wrenching connect. Meet the super talented Shruti Pathak who tells Sumita Chakraborty how she entered Bollywood, her pet project Guzzler and more...

How has your musical journey been so far?

I have music in my life because of my father. He was an avid listener and a music lover. It wouldn’t have been the same for me if it wasn’t for him. I started learning Hindustani classical music at the age of 10 from my guruji Shri Divyang Thakore in Ahmedabad and then later from Shri Sunil Bargaonkar after moving to Mumbai. Music defines me and has made me the person I am today. I can proudly say that is the most beautiful part of my life.

How did you come to Mumbai and adjust to the vibe of this super busy city?

I hail from Ahmedabad, which absolutely has a different vibe, different culture... Initially when I moved alone to Mumbai there were struggles but along with difficulties, this city also comes in with a lot of learnings. Mumbai is home now... It welcomed and embraced me with so much love and experiences that changed my life. This city has carved me as a musician and a human.

Tell us about your first break in Bollywood and how it all happened?

I happened to meet Salim Merchant through a college friend of mine. And Salim is the one who not just recognized my singing talent but also discovered the lower octave texture I was not even aware of. He is someone I have learned a lot from and will forever be grateful to him for giving me my tailormade debut song ‘Mar Jaawaan’ from the film Fashion starring Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut. My life changed overnight and the feeling is indescribable.

‘Mar Jaawaan’ got you a lot of accolades and awards too, how did you get this break?

I happened to meet Salim and he decided to try my voice out on a Gujarati track for Vaibhavi Merchant’s musical. While recording that song, he discovered my voice texture in the lower octave which he absolutely loved and then when he was composing the songs for Fashion, he called me and said - I have the perfect song for you. Which initially was put on hold as I was an absolute newcomer. But Salim-Sulaiman really believed in me and bent backwards to get me to do the song.

How is your rapport with the other singers in the industry?

All my friends are from the music industry. Beit singers, composers or writers. And of course, some of them are my best friends. In an industry which is so competitive and so fast paced, it’s difficult to have such connections on a personal level. But I think I am blessed. I might not have made billions but I have earned real friends, genuine relations that will last a lifetime, people I surely know will always have my back.

“Any artist who is born in India and who sings professionally, would love an opportunity to work with A.R. Rahman sir.”

Have there been times when you didn’t connect to a song you sang?

Not really. From the very beginning I was clear I wanted to focus on quality and not quantity. I still try and follow that. When I moved to Mumbai, I had made a list of people I wanted to work with. I think I’ve almost achieved that... And that matters more to me as an artist.

What do you think about the digital platform? Do you wish to work on the digital platform any time soon?

When I started my career, there was no social me- dia or digital platform but now there is ... Which is wonderful... I recently started my Youtube channel where I put up a mashup or a cover song every month. Its a series I call ‘Shruti Pathak discovers’. It’s fun connecting with new audience and catering to them. While the old ways had its own charm, the new platforms do help artists showcase their passion projects without being dependent on anyone. And I think that’s amazing. As they say, change is the only constant.. And if it is a good change, one must embrace it and grow with it.

How do you define Indian music? What do you think platforms like Coke Studio bring to Indian music?

I think Indian music is something you cannot define... It’s vast. There are so many genres... There’s so much to learn, to listen to... Music I believe should just be felt ... Whatever genre whatever language ... Indian music has so many layers, it will take a lifetime to explore. So why define? Just get on the ride and enjoy.. Properties like MTV Coke Studio or MTV Unplugged are amazing platforms to showcase music that can reach out to the music lovers without any backing of a film, purely on the basis of its musicality. I’ve been a part of three seasons of Coke Studio India and that’s been one of the finest experiences work- ing with and collaborating with some extremely talent- ed musicians like Shafqat Amanat Ali, Karsh Kale, Hans Raj Hans, Hitesh Sonik...

Actors from the Bollywood in- dustry you would want to playback for:

Honestly, a piece of good music or a beautiful song is what an artist craves for ... It doesnt matter who is acting in it ... Of course, you expect it to be en- hanced and you always have your favou- rites you would like to sing for. But at the end of the day, a good song makes it all worthwhile

“My debut song from Fashion or my songs like ‘Tujhe Bhula Diya’ and ‘Aas Paas Khuda’ were a part of Priyanka Chopra starrer film Anjaana Anjaani.”

What significance do you think does an item number hold in a Bollywood film?

All kind of songs have its own value addition.. While it works wonders to promote a film, it’s not easy to sing an item number. The energy level, the expressions, the character a singer adds to an item song is real talent and hardwork. We as human beings can easily relate to the emotions like love or heart break, but an item song I think requires a lot more from the singer because it’s not the most natural thing to be able to relate to. You’re becoming that character and delivering the song.... It’s not a cake walk... You’re blessed if you have music in your life, it doesn’t matter what language or what genre.

Is there any actor you think your voice suits best?

I’ve had a special association with Priyanka Chopra in my career graph. My debut song from Fashion or my songs like ‘Tujhe Bhula Diya’ and ‘Aas Paas Khuda’ were all a part of a Priyanka Chopra starrer film Anjaana Anjaani. Plus I have huge respect for her, for her art, for the passion she has for her work and of course, the intelligent brain she is.

Given that there is a rise of actor singers in Bollywood, who would you love to compose for and whose voice do you like the most?

I haven’t really thought about that. It’s nice that actors enjoy singing, but it cannot be compared with a song delivered by a singer. In the times of technology and auto-tune, it isn’t difficult to make anyone sound good. But that’s not the point, right??? How an actor works so hard to hone their craft and give it their all, there is years of riyaaz and practice that goes behind the making of a good singer. I would love to see that kind of efforts put in... Like how in Hollywood so many actors are properly trained in music. It adds so much more value.

When you compose a song, how do you visualize the tunes matching with the films you are composing for?

I’m still to explore that. I’ve been creating a bank of songs during this lockdown. I’m using all my musical knowledge, skill and time into composing songs and exploring different genres and moods, before I kickstart post covid.

Do you think you have got your due in the industry?

As an artist, you never feel satisfied... There’s always more you can do and you want to do... There is no limit to how much you can explore in music... I’m greedy as an artist... I have a long way to go, lots more to do and will always have more to attain, till I physically can...

Which is your favorite genre and why do you prefer that genre?

I don’t limit myself to a genre... Whatever my heart craves at the time... While I absolutely love ghazals and poetry. It totally sails my boat. There’s this crazy connect I feel with poetry in any form ... That’s why at the peak of my career I decided to not limit myself and explore ghazals simultaneously... It’s called Guzzler - the spirit of ghazals - a project by Shruti Pathak... I have performed at many music festivals and concerts with this unique concept, which I personally explain as, ghazals with a twist. I also have a special look for it... The nose accessory which has now become symbolic to Guzzler... I also hosted a radio chat show with Fever FM to promote Guzzler, where I successfully managed to have 24 guest artists like Gulzarsaab, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Rekha Bhardwaj, Richa Sharma, Javed Ali and so many more ... While that did really well, I decided to take Guzzler to the next level with a series called Guzzler Cafe on my Youtube channel.. Looking at the beautiful response for the series of conversations about ghazals and jamming over it, I’m prepping for season 2. Guzzler is one of the best things I’ve done in my musical journey. It’s extremely close to my heart.

“I cannot wait for the lockdown to get over and finish these projects.”

Your all-time favorite songs and your favorite artists:

Its difficult to pick... Every single artist I’ve heard and have learnt from, has influenced me in many ways. I have no qualms in saying I get my inspiration from my fellow singers as well. They all have something unique and special, I try to learn. But if I really have to pick from the music released in 2020, I loved the songs of Chhapaak composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, especially the title track. It was heart-wrenching... Love Aaj Kal 2 had some really great songs like Shayad Kabhi. And my latest connect is the song Friendzone from Sushant Singh Rajput’s film Dil Bechara. The reason is obvious and very emotional.

Any artist with whom you would want to collaborate in the near future?

Any artist who is born in India and who sings professionally would love to have an opportunity to work with A.R.Rahman sir.. Likewise, it would be an honour for me to work with him... Another music director and film maker I highly respect and would die to sing for is Vishal Bhardwaj. I’m a huge fan of his music and movies.

What are your upcoming projects?

This lockdown has given us all a lot of time to do things that we are passionate about. I have set up a home recording studio, been composing songs as I mentioned earlier, working on a lot of original singles, some interesting collaborations with my friends and colleagues from the industry... I cannot wait for the lockdown to get over and finish these projects, so that these songs see the light of the day in the best way possible.