Swati Sharma happens to be the latest singing sensation on the Bollywoodian musical arena. As her latest chartbursting number “Banno“ a typical Punjabi folk number from an upcoming film ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’, in which she has ended up giving playback for one of the Bollywoodian Diva namely Kangana Ranaut, has already become a hot favorite of music lovers. Incidentally speaking it has also garnered innumerable hits on YouTube even before the film or its promo has gone on air. Swati had made her humble crooning debut with her own single debut romantic album named ‘Kyun Kho Gaye’. In her recent interactive session with Nashman’s (website) Entertaiment Editor Shaheen Raaj, Swati Swarma talks about her crooning musical journey in Bollywood. Tune in.

You seem to have struck a goldmine with your latest crooning number “Banno” from ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’. How do you feel?

I feel like I am on Cloud 9. I feel great, I just can’t believe it that finally I have entered the big league. In fact I am not only excited with the stupendous success of my latest foot tapping & peppy number, “Banno” from ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’ which took the listeners with a storm, but with the success of this number I am also proud to say that I have garnered tons & tons of appreciation as well as I have undisputedly reached the horizon of the Bollywood musical domain. Now I have to achieve my ultimate goal further on. Oh! By the way people have also started showering on me the best of compliments. Some have even gone to the extent of calling me a singing star who has become a sensation overnight. I am so happy that people are enjoying the “Banno” number.

How did you bag this “Banno” number’?

You see a débutante crooner has no choice but to sing scratch songs which is supposed to be just a rough cut. So that the main singer can come in and dub the song later on. So needless to add that even I have ended up singing innumerable scratch songs and one of them was this “Banno” number. This was almost 2 months ago and then just out of the blue I got a call that my so called scratch song “Banno” has been finalized and I have to dub it. And my joy knew no bounds when I was informed that the “Banno” number would be picturized on Bollywood diva Kangana Ranaut for her upcoming movie ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’.

How difficult was it to dub your own scratch song?

No doubt It wasn’t a cake walk to be able to pitch the exact note for the final track. It needed the high tone for this sexy peppy & foot tapping number which had also to match the Haryanvi character played by none other than Kangana. And for this I also want to thank director Aanand L Rai for giving me a big break with this song. The rage of “Banno” has proved one thing again that the songs which bring in the true feelings and the real depth of our Indian Culture surely allure the listeners’ ears.

So after “Banno” it seems that now you are here to stay and carve a niche for yourself with your folk – lore sort of a sexy peppy vocals. Right?

In a way you are right Shaheen Sir but I still beg to differ having been trained from a tender age, I can bet my last penny and proudly say that, I have sung a few romantic numbers too and have bagged a few more, which I can disclose only after everything gets finalized. Undeniably, I am not conceited about my vocals but yes! I credit myself for being able to complete my daily riyaz religiously. I have traveled all the way to Mumbai. Moreover my parents have extended their support in every manner whatsoever. Keeping this in mind and also my ambition to achieve success in the musical industry I conduct myself accordingly. I know my painstaking efforts will bear fruits sooner or later this is just the beginning.

Going slightly into a flashback mode would you like to reveal your background in a nutshell.

Basically I hail from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, I first got recognition amongst the youth brigade when my single song “Kyu Kho Gaye”, which was composed by Raeth the popular Pakistani Band, crossed a million views on Zee Music Company’s channel on you tube. That apart I would also like to state I have learnt music from Sangeet Visharad from Chandigarh University namely Pracheen Kala Kendra. Besides I also took training from my Guru Pankaj Maharaj. Undoubtedly, the intense & the devoted training from my Guru has enabled me to be able to rise to this position within a short span of my musical struggle. Already I have got the feed back that I am considered as a musical persona to be reckoned with in the Marathi musical domain too merely with the success of having lent my voice for 1 song in the film titled, ‘Yudh’, I think after all this, hereafter there’s no looking back for me at all with a few more songs in my kitty namely in films like ‘Ek Tera Saath”, ‘Direct Ishq’ & ‘Flame’ and many many more.

One last question would you also be interested in attempting the remix versions as well as the cover versions?

Of course why not! I am interested in attempting anything that is even remotely connected with music, but I will refrain from composing my own music at least not for a couple of years more. And lastly it is a strict no no to acting either on the small screen or on the big screen but of course I would not mind or rather I have to don the grease paint and face the arc lights for my own music videos. Period!