FPJ Exclusive: Shagun Sodhi: 'If I Did Not Sing, How Could I Feel That He Is Around Me?'

Music is ingrained in Shagun Sodhi, being the daughter of the late composer, arranger and musician Surender Sodhi. In her own words, she has taken up singing as a passionate profession primarily so that she can feel her father’s presence next to her—a unique motivation indeed. She has sung three songs in Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great for protagonist Shubhangi. The floodgates have opened…

Shagun is a mix of nervousness, excitement and ardency and is apprehensive about being misquoted because it is, she informs me, her first-ever interview. Reassuring her that this one’s not for the gossip columns, we proceed.

Excerpts from the interview:

A lookback at your beginnings?

I have been singing since I can remember. I was in Standard V when I sang Piyu bole (Parineeta) along with a friend in school and decided I was really liking it. Dad took me to Pt. Hariprasad Chauradia’s Gurukul for group classes. But I also wanted to study, and in 2018, I graduated in Mass Media. But in the same year, dad passed away, and things became difficult, so I began working. But after a year, I thought I should go back to music. Because if I did not sing, how could I feel that he is around me?

You never recorded anything with him?

I was about 16 when we did one song, but it did not come out.

Didn’t you try to work with other composers here?

Frankly, dad’s diary had a lot of phone numbers, but I lacked the confidence to approach them.

So how did the M.M. Kirvani chapter begin?

As it happened, Shital Bhatia-sir of Friday FilmWorks is the husband of my mom’s best friend. And Kreem-sir was coming down for working on their film. This was in November 2022, before he won the Oscar, and both she and mom thought there would be no harm in meeting him.

Kreem-sir liked my voice and enquired in detail about my background and ambitions. He actually asked, “What do you want from me?” I told him that I just wanted to be in music and needed his guidance. He suggested that I can be a part of his team of 10-15 singers in Hyderabad. Mom agreed, but then sir disappeared for a few months as he was away abroad! In January 2023, he won the Oscar. I thought that he had forgotten me, and my Australia-based maternal uncle suggested that I go get a higher education and settle down there. We were about to finalize things when sir called me! Mom pushed me then, stating that as long as I was happy, I could stay on in music, even if I earned less than what I would make abroad. I sang every kind of scratch recording in Telugu and Tamil, including for Rajamouli-sir’s new film. Kreem-sir made me realize that there was no distinction between main and chorus singers. I also sang in his concerts.

Did you record for any South film before Tanvi The Great?

I did sing for Vishwambhara, but the song was removed from the film. But I was a part of Kreem-sir’s entire music-making process for many films. Sir would compose in front of us, even with directors, producers and lyricists around, just like I heard they would do in earlier times. I have seen the songs of Tanvi… grow literally from seed!

Did Anupam Kher approve your voice because of Kreem-sir?

Kreem-sir made him hear our scratches, but Kher-sir thought that fresh voices like Gomathi Iyer’s and mine would be perfect for a new face like Shubhangi.

For you, is the artiste on screen more important, or the mood of the song?

I would say both! I actually imagined Shubhangi while singing my songs, as I was also shown Shubangi’s videos and her audition clips.

How does your mother feel now?

She is very happy, very proud.

And will you now approach music composers here?

Yes, Kreem-sir has given me the confidence.