Shreya Ghoshal: singers must nurture inner composer to do songs justice
Synopsis
Shreya Ghoshal reveals that the line between singing and composing is not a boundary but a spectrum. Every vocalist, she argues, is part-composer — constantly adding colour, emotion, and creative choices to songs. While time and self-doubt have kept her from full-time composition, she hints that this chapter may not be closed.
Key Takeaways
Shreya Ghoshal , a National Award-winning playback singer, says singers must cultivate a composer's mindset to do songs justice.
She has released independent singles that she composed, often collaborating with her younger brother.
According to Ghoshal , singers are constantly engaged in creative composition — adding colour, emotion, and soul to material at the microphone.
Time constraints and film industry rigidity have prevented her from pursuing full-time composition work.
She expressed deep respect for legendary composers and singers, noting their craft far exceeds her own compositional abilities, but left open the possibility of future composition projects.
Shreya Ghoshal, the National Award-winning playback singer, says that every vocalist harbours a composer within and must actively cultivate that creative sensibility to fully honour a composition. Speaking during a tour for international concert dates, Ghoshal reflected on the creative duality that defines her craft and the constant tension between singing and composition.
The composer within every singer
When asked whether resisting the urge to turn composer is a struggle, Ghoshal acknowledged the ongoing pull. "The fight is hard because I keep doing it," she said, noting that she has released several singles she has composed, often collaborating with her younger brother. She emphasised that singing and composition cannot be treated as entirely separate disciplines.
The blurred line between interpretation and creation
According to Ghoshal, the boundary between interpreting a song and composing within it is fluid and unavoidable. "When a singer is given a song, not all composers ask them to follow it completely," she explained. Once at the microphone, a vocalist is perpetually engaging in creative acts — adding colour, enhancing emotional depth, infusing personal soul into the material. "You are constantly being creative. Adding to the colour of the song. To enhance it in some way. Or adding your soul to it. And in that process, you end up adding some compositions, and some ideas," she said.
Why she hasn't fully stepped into composition
Ghoshal cited time constraints as the primary barrier to a full-time shift into music composition. Independent music projects offer greater creative freedom, she noted, whereas film scoring often operates within rigid structural parameters. "If you are doing independent music, it gives you a much more free hand to do that. For films, sometimes it is very rigid. But, I save myself a lot from that temptation because there is a lack of time," she said with a laugh, adding that she questions her own capabilities as a composer relative to industry masters.
Respect for the craft and future possibilities
Ghoshal expressed profound respect for legendary composers and singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Parekh, whose mastery she said dwarfs her own compositional ambitions. "The people who I really look up to, like I idolise Lata Ji as a singer. Asha Ji as a singer. Like that I have a lot of respect for the composers. So with such people. If you compare yourself, you will feel they're so far above in their craft," she noted. Yet she left the door open for future composition work, saying, "I might spring into composing. You will hear me."
Point of View
Not a mechanical reproduction. Her reluctance to formally step into composition — despite clear creative instincts — reflects a broader Indian music industry pattern where singers and composers remain siloed. Yet her hint at future composition work suggests that the next chapter of her career may blur those lines entirely, much like it has for peers who have bridged both crafts.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shreya Ghoshal mean by saying singers must nurture the composer within them?
Ghoshal argues that every singer carries a composer's sensibility and must actively cultivate it to do justice to songs. When performing, singers are constantly making creative choices — adding emotional colour, enhancing the song, and infusing it with personal interpretation. This creative act is a form of composition in itself.
Has Shreya Ghoshal composed any songs?
Yes, Ghoshal has released several independent singles that she has composed, often collaborating with her younger brother. However, she has not pursued full-time composition work due to time constraints and self-doubt about her compositional abilities relative to industry masters.
Why hasn't Shreya Ghoshal pursued composition as a full-time career?
Ghoshal cited three reasons: lack of time, the rigid structure of film music composition compared to independent music, and her own self-assessment that she is not as skilled as legendary composers she admires, such as those who worked with singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Parekh.
Does Shreya Ghoshal plan to compose more music in the future?
While she has not committed to a full-time shift, Ghoshal hinted at future composition work, saying, 'I might spring into composing. You will hear me.' She remains open to the possibility despite current constraints.
