The girl from Maslandapur (in West Bengal) has come a long way. Playback singer Antara Mitra came into the limelight after appearing as a contestant on a popular music TV reality show Indian Idol (Season 2 in 2006) and gained immense recognition after the release of two of her hit numbers Gerua and Janam janam from Dilwale (starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol) in 2015. The singer recently visited Calcutta for the International Kolkata Book Fair 2024 and spoke to t2 about her roots, music, books and more. Excerpts:
How were you approached for your big break?
I have been working with Pritamda for quite a few years. When I sang Gerua, it was just another dummy track that I would sing for every film for a shot or presentation. Not the final version but to my surprise that dummy version became the final. No one had really approached me or anything... it was organic and almost like a miracle.
How was it working with Pritam?
Dada is my mentor. Working with a person of his talent is always a treat. Whatever little I could learn about film music is only because he has been extremely helpful and supportive throughout.
What brief did you get for Gerua and how did you prepare?
I remember after a certain stage the pitch of the song went higher and Arijit (Singh) re-sung the song and I had to sing on a high note to match the pitch. I was scared but I decided to take that risk and recorded my version thinking that someone else would finally sing it but God had a different plan. The scratch I had sent got approved as the final song.
How important is it to return to your roots?
Coming back to your roots is very important and I feel what is more important is holding on to your roots from within, as your core and as your base your basic strength should be where you got your values from. Coming back is easier, but the real challenge is to hold on to your roots.
Do you revisit your hometown now that you live in Mumbai?
Yes, I do as my parents still live in our ancestral home. They did not relocate to Mumbai with me and that’s why I come back home very often.
Apart from music how do you spend time in Mumbai?
I am an absolute homebody. Soialising is not my scene. I watch Netflix, read interesting things, and sometimes I sit idle doing absolutely nothing. I look out of my window and wonder. Zoning out and losing myself in thoughts is my favourite thing to do.
Growing up, how did you get an affinity for music and how did you act on your passion?
My father runs an academy of music. I grew up seeing that. I grew up as the ‘mastermoshai’s daughter’. I saw many kids coming and learning at dad’s classes. Music came very naturally to me and I am glad that it was a regular experience at home. Music never left my side.
Have you been to the Book Fair before?
Baba made sure I grew up reading the right books, he made sure I learned how to choose my own reads, and how to buy books... so that’s why every year as a kid I used to visit Boi Mela with Ma and Baba. It used to be so much fun! And the excitement of new books and finishing them as soon as possible used to be a thing.
How did it feel to return to the Book Fair after so many years?
I relived my childhood but the only difference was that this time I had to pay for my own books. All through my childhood it was Baba who took care of it (smiles).
What’s your favourite book and your favourite place to read?
As a kid, I loved Shibram (Chakraborty). As a teenager, I wanted to only read Budhhadeb Guha and now after all these years, I feel like going back to Suktara (a magazine for kids) and Nonte Fonte (written by Narayan Debnath). My favourite place is my couch where I place myself in a weird position and remain like that until I get done with the chapter.