Ananya, Suresh Wadkar’s Daughter, Says Singing For Vishal Bhardwaj Was A Dream

MUMBAI- Ananya Wadkar, daughter of Padma Shri awardee Suresh Wadkar, has made her singing debut with the song ‘Vaada Hai’ from the Shahid Kapoor-starrer ‘O’ Romeo’. She said she grew up listening to Vishal Bhardwaj’s music and that getting the opportunity to sing for him feels like a dream come true.

Ananya, a singer and sitarist trained in Hindustani classical music, spoke about her experience of working with Vishal Bhardwaj.

“I have grown up listening to Vishal sir’s music, and getting the opportunity to sing for him truly feels like a dream come true,” she said. “He is incredibly specific about the nuances and embellishments in a composition, yet he gives you immense freedom to explore and find yourself within the song.”

“To be able to emote and express in my own style while performing his music is a deeply liberating experience,” she added.

‘Vaada Hai’, her debut playback song, has begun receiving appreciation for its purity, emotional depth and classical influence. Ananya has also lent her voice to the reprise version of ‘Vaada Hai’ and recorded another song, ‘Hum Toh Tere Hi Liye’, for the film. The latter track has not been featured on the official album.

Apart from playback singing, Ananya is also a key member of The Gen Next Collective, a band of young artists seeking to establish their own musical identities while acknowledging their lineage.

“We are all incredibly proud of where we come from,” she said.

She added: “But we also want the world to see who we are, our sound, our emotions, and the stories we wish to tell through our music.” (IANS)