‘Live shows are thrilling, recording is fine art’: Priyanka NegiJan 28 (AZINS) Priyanka Negi’s film song Tum Bepanah (72 Hours — Martyr Who Never Died), a duet with Mohit Chauhan, released recently. Before this, she sang Tu Zindagi Ka Chehra (Khamiyaza) with Kunal Ganjawala. “It feels great to sing with artistes I’ve admired since I was young,” she says. 

How it began

The crooner debuted as a Bollywood vocalist last year with Titri in Phamous but has been an entertainer for almost a decade. She reached the final 10 of Indian Idol 4 in 2009 after trying her luck in the show the previous year. “I wasn’t a trained vocalist but reached top 40. When I was eliminated, I learnt singing formally and returned for the next edition,” she recalls. After that, she got a degree in Commerce because education was important to her. “I didn’t want to give it up just because I got a platform to showcase my talent,” she explains.

Live and studio

Priyanka then came to Mumbai and started performing live. “I got busy travelling for shows, and playback singing took a backseat,” she says about the delay in her Bollywood debut. “For the last couple of years, I’ve been focuss-ing on singing for films. Now, I’ve a lot of stuff in the pipeline,” she states. Priyanka looks forward to the release of four songs, of which two are in Dahisar Check Naka (one a duet with Mohit again). Concentrating on films does not mean she will compromise on shows. “Performing live is a thrill — getting the audiences to sing with you and seeing them excited. Recording in a studio is fine art and every minute detail is paid attention to,” she explains.

More songs

Priyanka says that she recorded for big projects like Judwaa 2 but her versions didn’t release. “It becomes difficult because record labels choose artistes who are signed up with them. But, you’ve got to keep trying,” says she. While it was disappointing for her initially, she has learnt to take it in her stride. “My first song Titri was also dubbed in Rekha Bharadwaj’s voice. I was so sure mine wouldn’t be selected, but it was. That was the ray of hope,” she says about staying motivated.