Shreya launches first ghazal album

Shreya Ghoshal has turned over a new leaf with the launch of her first non-film ghazal album ‘Humnasheen’. The melodious songstress turned 30 Wednesday.

Shreya is glad that she chose ghazals to make a transit to non-film work. "I have been a fan of ghazals, but I had never thought I would take it up as my first step into the non-film world. But now that I have done it, I am happy that this was the step I took first, doing something which is equivalent to good poetry and soulfulness," Shreya said.

Shreya says ghazals give her a chance to do something she can't do in films. "Urdu poetry has its own charm and impact. I can't do raag-based singing in films and I don't even expect that to happen in films," she further said.

Shreya is a Bengali, but she has worked hard on her Hindi and Urdu diction. She has thanked all those who have helped her. "Diction needs to be very clear. I am a Bengali, but I was brought up in Rajasthan and that's why my Hindi is good. My tilt towards Urdu happened only after I entered the film industry. There are so many talented lyricists and composers from whom I learnt something everyday. I have learnt music from Kalyanji (composer) and he also told me how important diction is.”

"Now, when I hear old songs of Lata-ji (Mangeshkar) and (Mohd.) Rafi saab, I can see how particular they were to ensure that the words were clear and beautifully pronounced," she added.