Her voice cuts through the crowded canvas with signature ease and panache. Remember the lilting ‘Sun Saathiya’ and the beautiful ‘Bezubaan’ from the dance box office-spinner ABCD2? Playback singer Priya Saraiya’s rich repertoire is bursting with such resounding chartbusters.
“Well, I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to sing ‘Sun Saathiya’ as well as write it, so it holds a special place in my heart. I was completely connected with the song because all the emotions were penned by me. Also, it gave me a lot of recognition as a mainstream playback singer,” she says.
So, did she always want to be a singer? After all, no one in her family sings professionally, though they are all music enthusiasts. “It all started during my school days when I used to participate in singing competitions. That is how I met Padmashree Kalyanji-Anandji and they gave me an opportunity to be part of their famous show, Little Stars. It was never on my mind to become a playback singer. I actually wanted to become a psychologist. But I think I have always been too passionate about music to do anything else in life,” she shares honestly. Priya does her riyaaz for at least an hour every day as a part of her daily routine. “I avoid eating food with artificial essence and colours though whenever I am travelling, I listen to different types of music, which is also a kind of riyaaz in its own way. I feel there is so much to learn and absorb, and that is so exciting. You get to learn new things every time you listen to a new song.”
Of course, Arijit Singh features in her list of favourite voices as well, apart from international names like Alicia Keys, John Mayer and our desi Sunidhi Chauhan. Does being married to popular musician Jigar Saraiya (of the music director duo Sachin-Jigar) work in her favour? “Well, I have never given it a thought,” she points out quickly.
Shilpi Madan for Sunday Herald