Playback music is a backseat job: Shalmali Kholgade

Known for crooning hits like "Pareshaan", "Daaru desi" and "Balam pichkari", versatile singer Shalmali Kholgade, who has created waves with her voice in the Hindi film industry, feels playback music is a "backseat job".

Asked if a playback singer gets overshadowed by the actor lip-syncing the words, Kholgade told IANS: "We are in a much better state now than before. I am grateful that this trend is changing and people do want to know who has sung which song."

"They know that the actors are not really singing those songs. Having said that, yes, it is kind of a backseat job doing playback music," she added.

The "Lat lag gayee" hitmaker says one needs to push themselves to gain recognition in the industry.

"There is so much opportunity to promote oneself and let people know that 'I have sung this song and here is my body of work' ... So it really depends on how much you push yourself to be known for the work you do," she said.

Known for her versatility, the 25-year-old singer has crooned songs as diverse as "Besharmi ki height", "Daru desi", "Shayrana" and "Aga bai".

When did she realise that she could be a multi-faceted singer?

"I realised myself that I am versatile only when I was presented with those kind of opportunities. So, I don't think it was me who realised that I was versatile, but the people who gave me that kind of work," Kholgade said.

"They tapped the fact that I could mould my voice in a certain way and today I can say that each and every person who sings can use their voice in more than just one way," she added.

Kholgade attributed "open-mindedness" to her approach towards doing diverse music.

"It is just the open-mindedness to experiment and trying your hand at different things, while not keeping a boundary where you can explore your potential," she said.

She has been in the music industry for four years and says it is enough time to see the changes in the trends.

"There is a change in the kind of music that people accept and appreciate... I wouldn't say that there is a very big or a drastic change, but any small change is good," Kholgade said.

The "Chingam chabake" hitmaker asserted that the music needs to "evolve" and "keep sounding different".

She said she enjoys electronic music "a lot", but that doesn't mean only dance music.

"I enjoy listening to any kind of electronically produced music as much as I enjoy acoustic music. But I know the future of music is to take it more (in the direction) of electronic," Kholgade added.

(Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in)