Shreya Ghoshal on 'Bairi Piya': Independent music lets me explore beyond playback
Synopsis
One of Hindi cinema's most recognised voices is stepping further into independent music — and 'Bairi Piya' explains why. Shreya Ghoshal says the format gives her freedom no playback brief ever could, blending contemporary pop with Indian classical touches and crossing languages from Hindi to Malayalam. It is a quiet but deliberate reimagining of what a superstar singer's career can be in the streaming era.
Key Takeaways
Shreya Ghoshal has released a new independent track titled 'Bairi Piya' , blending contemporary pop production with subtle Indian classical elements.
Ghoshal described independent music as giving her 'the freedom to explore songs and sounds outside the usual spaces' of playback music.
The track features warm synths , clean beats , and a gentle rhythmic pulse , designed to highlight a softer, more intimate side of her voice.
Her recent collaboration 'Kalyani (Remix)' saw her work with artists ARJN , KDS , and FIFTY4 on a reimagined Malayalam independent track by MVR .
Ghoshal's independent releases span multiple languages, genres, and collaborations, running parallel to her film playback career.
Celebrated playback singer Shreya Ghoshal has opened up about her evolving relationship with independent music, describing it as a creative space that grants her the freedom to venture beyond the boundaries of film playback. The remarks came alongside the release of her new independent track, 'Bairi Piya', which blends contemporary pop production with subtle Indian classical sensibilities.
What 'Bairi Piya' Represents
The new song places Ghoshal in a contemporary pop setting, drawing out a softer and more intimate dimension of her vocal range. The track layers warm synths, clean beats, and a gentle rhythmic pulse over understated Indian classical touches — a sonic combination that feels modern yet retains a distinctly Indian character. It marks another deliberate step in her independent catalogue, where each project is shaped by artistic curiosity rather than commercial brief.
In Her Own Words
'Independent music has been an important part of my journey for a long time because it gives me the freedom to explore songs and sounds outside the usual spaces I get to experience through playback music,' Ghoshal said. 'Every independent project has brought something different for me, whether it was experimenting with a sound, collaborating with another artist or simply approaching a song differently.'
On the appeal of 'Bairi Piya' specifically, she added: 'I was drawn to the melody and the simplicity of the song, and I enjoyed exploring this softer, contemporary space. I think this is what I enjoy most about independent music — the freedom to keep discovering different sides of myself through it.'
A Growing Independent Footprint
Over the years, Ghoshal has steadily built an independent discography that runs parallel to her prolific film music career. Her recent collaboration on 'Kalyani (Remix)' saw her join artists ARJN, KDS, and FIFTY4 in reimagining MVR's already successful Malayalam independent track — a project that underscored her willingness to cross languages, genres, and generations. What continues to evolve, notably, is the sheer range of artists and sonic territories she chooses to inhabit.
Why This Matters Beyond the Song
Ghoshal's embrace of independent music reflects a broader shift in the Indian music industry, where streaming platforms have lowered the barrier for established artists to release work outside the film-music pipeline. For an artist of her stature — one whose voice has defined the sound of Hindi cinema for over two decades — choosing independent releases is both a creative statement and a signal to younger artists that the format carries genuine artistic weight. This is not a pivot away from playback; it is an expansion of what a playback singer's career can look like in the streaming era.
Point of View
Her voice was largely mediated through directors and music composers; independent releases let her own the creative brief entirely. The more interesting question is whether her choices will accelerate a trend where A-list playback singers treat film music as one revenue stream among several, rather than the defining one. If they do, the economics of the Hindi film music industry — where a star voice is a marketing asset for the film — could quietly but meaningfully change.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shreya Ghoshal's new song 'Bairi Piya'?
'Bairi Piya' is Shreya Ghoshal's latest independent music release, set in a contemporary pop format that incorporates subtle Indian classical touches. The track features warm synths, clean beats, and a gentle rhythmic pulse, and is designed to showcase a softer, more intimate side of her vocal style.
Why does Shreya Ghoshal pursue independent music alongside playback singing?
Ghoshal has said that independent music gives her the freedom to explore sounds and songs outside the constraints of film playback work. She described each independent project as bringing something different — whether through sonic experimentation, new collaborations, or a fresh approach to a song.
What was Shreya Ghoshal's 'Kalyani (Remix)' collaboration?
'Kalyani (Remix)' was a recent independent project in which Ghoshal joined artists ARJN, KDS, and FIFTY4 to reimagine MVR's successful Malayalam independent track. It is one of several cross-language, cross-genre collaborations that have marked her expanding independent catalogue.
How does 'Bairi Piya' differ from Shreya Ghoshal's film music?
Unlike her playback work, which is shaped by a film's narrative and a director's brief, 'Bairi Piya' was driven by Ghoshal's own attraction to the melody and the simplicity of the composition. The contemporary pop setting and intimate vocal tone represent a creative space she says she cannot access through film music alone.
What does Shreya Ghoshal's independent music career look like overall?
Over the years, Ghoshal has built a parallel independent discography spanning multiple languages, genres, and artist collaborations. Her work in this space has grown in range and ambition, reflecting the broader shift in the Indian music industry driven by streaming platforms.
