Like every year, Kolkata-born and Mumbai-based crooner Nikhita Gandhi is back with her festive number. This time, however, she is going all independent. She has not collaborated with any singer or music label this time and will be dropping Maharani on her YouTube channel on September 26. Maharani is not a typical Puja song though, points out Nikhita who was in the city for her Tollywood projects. In an exclusive chat she spills out details of her first independent Puja song. Excerpts.
Every year you gift us a song to hum and dance during Puja. How is Maharani different?
It’s not a typical pujor gaan. It is related to Puja definitely; it is a women-centric-song that celebrates womanhood stating that we all have queens and goddesses in our lives and we all are in our own way queens to the people around us. We represent great strength. Being a Kolkata girl who has grown up enjoying the biggest festival of the state, I wanted to release this song before Puja as I wanted to embrace the essence of the festival. I am mostly a pop and commercial singer but I am also rooted to my culture that I have been brought up with. It’s a song that sends a message without sending a message. It’s not preachy at all. It does not tell you how you should be or give messages like upliftment of women. You know, it’s always better when the message comes in a subtle way instead of being on your face. It’s a fun pop song and people will love it, I am sure.
Maharani is not being released on any big label...
Yes. Every year I have some sort of collaboration with a label or a composer. Like last year I teamed up with Jeet da (Gannguli). But this will be my first proper Puja single. It’s my song; it’s my music video. I am the front person and there are two other artistes who I have written songs with, and I will be releasing it on my YouTube channel.
What are your memories of the Durga Puja in Kolkata?
There are tons of memories and that could be a separate interview or even a podcast since I have grown up in Kolkata and enjoyed the festival each year. However, I would like to cite one memory at the moment and its significance lies in the date. Puja is always around Sept-October and my birthday is on October 1. So, I remember once when Puja started with my birthday on Shasthi. I must have been about 10 or 11 years old and I felt very special. Every year I would sing and dance and do natok as I was very culturally involved in Durga Puja.
You dropped a three-track EP two months back. What’s next?
I am working on an album which I plan to drop next year. This year will be all about more singles like Maharani. There might be another Puja track as well.
Your last Tollywood project was Kishmish. Is there any new project in your kitty?
I am sure people are still in Kishmish fever but since I am almost always there in Dev- Rukmini films, you can find a song of mine in their films.