There is a recognisable humbleness in the way that she talks, owed perhaps to the eternal love she harbours for singing. Parul Mishra, is a professional singer who has happily devoted all her life to music. It was only a few months back that the song from TVF’s Aspirants, Mohbhang, to which Parul has lent her beautiful vocals, was making rounds and receiving a lot of admiration all over. With a lot of valuable experiences and insight following her stead, she has walked a long way to be where she is now. And the more I talked to her the more I realised that her intense respect and dedication for her profession is only going to take her to more brilliant heights! 

Belonging from a small town in Uttar Pradesh, Parul was just a child when she began her training in the field. Although no one in her family has a background in music, the immediate recognition of her talent in her early years garnered a lot of support from her family. Under training till the end of her schooling, on the advice of her Guru, she participated in many competitions held at the state and national levels. While she had the backing of her family throughout, it was after she moved to Delhi that she found the responsibility of carving her own path that would later lead her to Mumbai.

It was while she was pursuing her graduation in music in Delhi that a chance happening led her to audition for a music contest, the winner of which was to share a stage with A.R. Rahman. She tells me how she had auditioned for it without giving much thought. It was only after she made it to the top ten that she gave the whole scene some serious thought. And after making the top five contestants, the unexpected greeted her when she was chosen by Rahman himself as the winner after singing at his studio in Chennai. That was 17th November 2008 for Parul, a date special to her for all the good things it brought forth. It is a memory she will cherish forever, she goes on to add gleefully. 

Parul performed with Rahman later in Delhi, and also shared the stage with many singers she had always been a fan of. All of it was nothing short of a dream coming true. However, none of it had she expected to happen. Her talent only brilliantly flowed with and responded to things as they went on to happen. Next in 2009, Parul received her first break when she was asked to sing the title track of A.R. Rahman’s album for a 2010 film ‘Ada- A Way of Life’. 

Perhaps this is where Parul’s attraction to be a part of Bollywood and work as a playback singer began. She still had a long way to go with her studies, especially since her parents hoped she would continue with them to later find a government job. But living in Delhi, Parul’s heart was stuck in the city of Mumbai. And before she lost all her courage to chase her dream, she decided to move in 2013. Having previously made many visits to the city, owing to her being part of many reality shows like Sa re ga ma pa, she had not just made friends with Bombay but also earned the confidence that she could survive living there alone. And so she did, throughout the years finding many opportunities to work on different projects.

Since she is trained in classical music, Parul had wanted to find a way of making the genre more accessible to a newer audience. It was with this thought that she released her own album last year, a fruitful and lovely endeavour called the ‘Streets of Banaras’. The album is an interesting work of melodies, a fusion of classical ragas and traditional music with modern acoustics and rock.

Following this piece of work, Parul says she aims to create and serve her audience with the best of things, to give back for all the love she receives. About her song Mohbhang, which certainly brought her a lot of recognition and appreciation, she reveals how it wasn’t even in her cards initially. Getting a call just a day before the episode’s release, the song was recorded in the evening and released the very next day. Surpassing her expectations, it became a hit overnight and has truly given Parul’s talent its due.

When I ask her if while working the ins and outs of this field she has ever felt demotivated to carry on with the profession, she simply says she hasn’t. It is not because Parul has an overflowing jug of optimism in her hands, but because she doesn’t have the time for it. She says when she didn’t have as much engagement, opportunities, and recognition as she does now, her whole being was focused on creating something that people would love and appreciate. Now with many such creations in her store, her focus is on maintaining the responsibility that has increased and keeping her audience happy. And her doses of motivation rest in navigating through these milestones. 

As she has understood from her own work ethics, Parul’s advice to musicians starting or steering their career is this alone, that is, to be honest for your profession. Your love and hard work should be honest. And it may be that it’ll take time for you to achieve what you want. But that you get nothing out of the whole journey will never be true. Because even with attempts that do not always lead to the desired results, you still have experiences to take away, and in the long run, that remains invaluable. And it applies to her too, for it is her bagful of experiences that has made the journey of Parul, as an artist, so interesting!

Neetho, Ulaa, Vandhane, Shukriya and Vaarkadal are the titles of the five songs arranged by the band The Non Violinist Project, that capture the essence of the word gratitude in different Indian languages, in a series that is equal parts awesome, moving, and awe-inspiring. Get ready to be taken down a road of aesthetics, as you listen to an eclectic blend of melodies in the multilingual versions of a lovely song. 

The song rendered in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi makes an ode to gratitude, that essential aspect of living. By depicting a story of a young woman’s journey, who walks back to the same lanes of her past that have led her to where she is, the song travels down nostalgia to give meaning to the experiences that make us. The woman is shown to visit her quaint, beautiful hometown, leaving the rush of the city to meet the people and places of her early life. 

The song’s melodies and vocals stand at par with the cinematography and visuals on video, and all of it comes together in an immensely aesthetic creation that is a joy to behold. The location, frames, colours, and shots are as well done as the music, vocals, lyrics, and composition. Directed by Prashanth Monty, the video features Saathvika Raj as the lead. The Tamil version, titled Ulaa is sung by Sathyaprakash Darmar. Neetho, the Telugu version is performed by Gowtham Bharadwaj. Vandhan is the Kannada version voiced by Nakul Abhyankar. Vaarkadal is the Malayalam version by KS Harisankar and Abhay Jodhpurkar sings Shukriya, the Hindi version. 

Executed by The Non Violinist Project, there is nothing that this endeavour falls short on. The instrumentals, violin, bass, keyboard, drums, and guitar all come together to inspire a thrilling, soulful background to the song and its story. Whichever composition you choose to listen to, it will surely leave a smile fixed on your face after you witness the wonderful creation. And the best part? You will have three more versions to listen to and fall for! 

Did you know that the term ‘Cover’ was used back in time to describe the potential rival version of an originally recorded tune? Today, cover songs are nothing such but a great way to express one’s musical flare. Aspiring musicians cover songs from their favorite artists all the time. Covers today aren’t limited to just giving the song a new voice; experimenting by remixing two songs from different genres is also a thing. These covers not only are a great way to show your appreciation towards the original artists or your love towards music, but also a reflection of the doer’s creativity and talent.

To listen to some of our all-time favorite music in a new voice is like greeting them in a new persona while their original luster sticks to it. We bring you three song covers of Hindi classics that are so good, you definitely want them in your playlists!

Saveree Joshipura

In the first feature today, we have Saveree and Swarit Joshipura who covered the Udit Narayan original, ‘Pehla Nasha’, released in 1992. Saveree sings while Swarit gives the keys together which resulted in this beautiful cover. Her honey-smooth vocals compliment the song really well. With not too many instruments to hinder the voice from shining, the cover is simple and mesmerizing to listen to. Check it out here:

Jai Taneja

Further, Jai Taneja from the band AAWAAZ has covered another classic ‘Bin Tere’ and we can’t get enough of it. The cover is acoustic which allows the versatile voice of the singer shows all of its colors. The song is done justice with a voice as versatile as his; with the perfect execution of the highs and lows in the notes, Jai sings beautifully. Check it out here

Roshni Sharon

At last, we have the very talented and beautiful Roshni Sharon who has done a little mashup of ‘O Sanam’ and ‘Kahin To’. The keys are provided by Roshni herself. She sings smoothly with a voice that is the epitome of healing; listening to her feels like the sun shining on the first snow. The cover is a beautiful output in terms of creativity as well as talent. Check out the must-watch here:

The likes of music are subjective; when we are truly pleased by a song, we come to love the entirety of it. The composition, production, lyricism and the voice – we come to know and assimilate the song with these elements remaining fixed. Within the current trend of remakes, a lot of them often lack originality and a lot of the core essence of the old music is somewhere lost in the process of giving it a modern disguise. We bring you some beautiful covers that are executed so well without losing the true essence of the originals!

V Minor

Starting off with a cover which is an absolute treat to the desi BTS fans! V Minor has covered BTS’ English singles ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’ with a desi twist; remixing the two songs with ‘Humma’ (original by A.R. Rahman). The cover is instrumental and starts off with the harmonious sounds of six different instruments including tabla, which adds the chill-bumping desi effect to it. Butter gives the cover an opening then ‘Humma’ follows with a transition smooth like Butter and Dynamite lights it up for the clean finish.

Siddhiraj Shetye

Up next, the talented Siddhiraj Shetye has covered the viral Instagram reel music – AURORA’s ‘Runaway’ and the surge of emotions it brings in you are just euphoric. Vipasha Malhotra did the original translation of the lyrics in her cover. Siddhiraj’s voice flows and hits all the corners like a feather; the translated version received great support and now listening to it in his sugary-sweet voice is bliss.

Janani

Janani has covered the Millenial’s favorite ‘Aankhon me teri’, originally sung by KK. The love anthem of Bollywood; Janani sings the song in her own flow with guitar strums in the back. Her singing is graceful and steals a beat from our heart with how beautiful she looks while doing that; the KK track is done justice to the fullest. The cover overall is a great listen and leaves you wondering how would more about love sound like in her voice.

Jalraj

Lastly, we have the whimsical musical duo – the brothers – JalRaj. The duo is known for their unique kind of musical remakes and remixes in their covers. This time they have done a mashup of ‘Kya mujhe pyaar hai’(original by KK) and ‘Hai dil ye mera’ (original by Arijit Singh). The covers of JalRaj, in general, are very pleasing to listen to as they always bring something new to the table yet maintain the original luster of the songs. This cover too, is a great piece in terms of creativity and the talent, as usual, is oozing out.

Music is an experience of its own, very personal and subjective like any other piece of art. Placed within it are instrumental compositions that offer a beautiful, immersive experience that is bound to move and captivate its audience. So, set the mood, give yourself a break, and let yourself relax and unwind to these beautiful classical instrumentals! 

Na Maanoongi – Mahesh Raghvan & Nandini Shankar

Mahesh Raghvan and Nandini Shankar together render a lovely musical arrangement based on the traditional Thumri, originally in Raga Khamaj, called ‘Na Maanoongi’. Nandini’s classical violin coupled with Mahesh’s skill of the Geoshred makes the piece, with its evolving cadence and rhythms, a synthesis of true charm and harmony! 

Veena Srivani

Veena Srivani’s artistry in playing the Veena finds a perfect resolution in this original composition by her. It is a refreshing piece of instrumental, resonating in its tunes a mesmerising originality. Srivani’s classical composition oozes an elegance that is very pleasing to listen to.

Grandma’s Hands – Jesse Bannister & Nandini Shankar

‘Grandma’s Hands’ is a single from Jesse Bannister’s recent album, In Tune. Inspired by Jesse and Nandini’s Indian heritage, this composition carries forward the idea of the album in glory, providing an immersive listening experience to its audience. With Nandini’s classical violin and Jesse’s re-tuned piano set to the Indian classical raga, this track is a journey in itself. Beautiful and moving, you might find a sense of nostalgia looming in ‘Grandma’s Hands’.