Common playback singer Shreya Ghoshal made her Bollywood singing debut with Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, on the age of 16. She sang 5 songs, and it turned a breakthrough for her, and she or he has since sung in a number of languages. However did the singer ever flip down a tune as a result of the lyrics have been sleazy in an merchandise quantity?
What Shreya mentioned
In an interplay with The Male Feminist Podcast, Shreya opened up about how the difficulty is far more than simply the lyrics, and she or he has seen the way it has modified over time. In the course of the chat, when Shreya was requested about saying no to songs which had inappropriate lyrics, she mentioned, “The lyrics are one factor. There’s additionally a composition and singing model. There have been some fashionable songs which did very nicely, however I mentioned no. Fortunately, now, these songs have change into fairly much less. After some extent, the songs in movies turned such that solely these varieties of songs got to feminine singers. The remainder are male songs, and there are some romantic duets.”
‘I really feel it is rather male-heavy’
“So now we have to see the place it’s stemming from. The issue is for singers and actresses and everybody who’s a part of this trade. It’s a barely patriarchal, gender-based factor. However the good factor is now, due to unbiased music, it’s altering. However nonetheless, I really feel it is rather male-heavy. I’ve spoken very strongly about it earlier, and I do not thoughts whether it is taken in a great way or a nasty manner,” she mentioned.
Extra particulars
Throughout a chat with Lilly Singh in 2025, Shreya admitted she had sung some raunchy songs in her profession, together with Chikni Chameli, which she wouldn’t sing right this moment. She mentioned, “There’s a very positive line between being sensual, attractive, and being outright objectified, or objectifying girls normally. The rationale I’ve change into extra aware over time is that I see little ladies singing these songs with out understanding their which means. They’re simply dancing to them, they usually come to me saying, ‘Oh, we love your tune! Can we sing it for you?’ and I really feel very embarrassed. A bit of lady, simply 5 or 6 years outdated, singing these lyrics, it doesn’t sound correct.”
Shreya has sung many songs over time, similar to Ye Ishq Hai (Jab We Met), Manwa Laage (Glad New Yr), Sunn Raha Hai (Aashiqui 2), Saathiyaa (Singham), Agar Tum Mil Jao (Zeher), Deewani Mastani (Bajirao Mastani) and Chikni Chameli (Agneepath). Shreya additionally lent her voice to Teri Ore (Singh Is Kinng), Barso Re (Guru), Dola Re Dola (Devdas), Angaaron (Pushpa 2: The Rule), Tum Kya Mile, Ve Kamleya (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani), and Maatrubhumi (Battle of Galwan), amongst many others. She has to this point earned many accolades, together with 5 Nationwide Movie Awards.