I wish at least a mention of her singing in JA was there. I think it's a huge break for her that ARR selected her.
--- In [email protected], Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > http://www.screenindia.com/apr14/music1.htm > > Pls check the above link to see Singer Bala Shende and the news abt her is > as follows > > * *s video of the title song of her debut album Kaisa Yeh Jadoo depicts her > as a modern-day Cinderella. In real-life too, hers is indeed a > Cinderella-like story, except that while Cinderella dreamt of meeting her > Prince Charming, Bela had dreamt of making a career in playback singing. > Well, she's already on the way towards fulfiling her dream, having made a > beginning by winning the Sa Re Ga Ma mega-finals, which resulted in her > landing a contract with Magnasound, which in turn recently released her > debut album Kaisa Yeh Jadoo. "Yeah, its just like the Cinderella story. My > dream of becoming a singer has come true," gushes the young singer, > "Actually, winning the Sa Re Ga Ma mega-finals was a dream come true, which > led to this debut album of mine." > > It was at the mega-finals of the musical programme that Shashi Gopal of > Magnasound, who was one of the chief guests on the show, realised Bela's > potential and offered her a contract alongwith the other winner, Mohammed > Vakil. "Since Magnasound is a leading music company, I knew it would give me > a good exposure, and I signed a two-year contract with it," says Bela. > Magnasound and Bela then decided that her professional debut would be with a > pop album. Surprising, since it was her knowledge of classical singing that > had impressed the judges and the audiences at the Sa Re Ga Ma mega- finals. > "I am a trained classical singer, but I never intended to make a career in > classical singing. That was necessary for a solid base for my singing. I was > always keen to make a career in light music, namely playback and pop > singing," Bela clarifies. > > The young singer says that a lot of thinking and planning went behind her > debut album Kaisa Yeh Jadoo. "The debut album sets your image and > establishes you. So it is important that you are launched well, and you make > an impact. The theme we selected, of a the romantic dreams of a young girl, > suited me fine," opines Bela. > > The album has music by another debutant, Saurav Bhatt, son of Pt. Vishwa > Mohan Bhatt, the renowned mohan-veena player. Says Bela, "Since we both are > young and we both were making our debuts, there was this good rapport > between us. And we both were equally enthusiastic about our album. While > recording the songs, Saurav was always open to any suggestions I had, and it > was fun. All the eight songs are melodious, but I am specially fond of title > track and another number, Dekha tujhe to mera dil." > > The video of the album, which is shot on Bela herself, draws one's attention > to the complete change in the outwardly appearance of Bela. One saw her as a > demure, salwar-kameez clad girl, in a tight plait and gajra in Sa Re Ga Ma, > cutting a very traditional picture. And in the video, she is shown as a hip > girl, in jeans, pinafores, and sports-shirts, her hair styled trendily. In > real life too, Bela now dresses up like in the video, and it looks like the > make-over given to her by Magnasound is here to stay. "I liked the new look > and adopted it," smiles Bela, "I enjoyed acting in the video. I wasn't > nervous or camera-shy at all. It was so easy actually, maybe because I was > playing myself, a college-going girl." > > Coming from a family of classical musicians (her grandmother Kusum Shende, > her father Dr. Sanjiv Shende and her sister Sawni are all deeply into > classical music and give regular performances), Bela says that she is the > only one who will be diverging towards playback singing. "I have already > been approached by leading film music directors, but I haven't said yes to > anybody. My contract with Magnasound doesn't allow me to sing for films," > she says, "After my contract expires, I will step full-fledged into > playback." Meantime, Bela is busy with concerts. "Recently I performed in > Dubai during the shopping festival there. I sang my album numbers and the > Indians there responded quite well," she says happily. > > In the end, we can't help but ask her as to why the ads for her album boldly > declare "Sonu Nigam and Magnasound present Bela." How is Sonu Nigam involved > in her album? Is he promoting her? "Sonu Nigam hasn't contributed at all to > the album. The only thing is that, like me, he too is associated with Sa Re > Ga Ma, and the other fact is, we both are Magnasound artists. That's it. > There's nothing more," she clarifies. > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE >
