Natania Lalwani Meets Rihanna At ‘Smurfs’ Premiere

LOS ANGELES, CA (IANS)- Singer and songwriter Natania Lalwani attended the Los Angeles premiere screening of the new “Smurfs” movie, posing alongside global sensation Rihanna.

Natania contributed to several highly anticipated tracks on the film’s soundtrack. At the event, held at the Paramount Theater, she was photographed with Rihanna, Subhi, and other members of the “Smurfs” musical team.

Natania worked on nine out of the fourteen tracks for “The Smurfs,” collaborating with international artists such as Rihanna, Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Tyla, Shenseea, and James Corden.

Her song, “Higher Love,” particularly stands out for its seamless blend of Punjabi and South Asian musical elements with mainstream pop and hip-hop. The track features Natania performing the English verses and Subhi singing the Punjabi chorus. Cardi B and DJ Khaled also lend their talents to what is the first Punjabi song in a Hollywood animated film.

Natania shared, “To see my name on a soundtrack alongside artists I grew up listening to and then to walk the blue carpet for it? My heart’s still catching up.”

She added, “It was such a beautiful day celebrating such a joyful project and watching the music come to life in the movie, especially hearing Punjabi lyrics and dhols play in the theatre.” Natania also mentioned getting goosebumps while chatting with Rihanna about music, calling it “truly a dream, a very bluetiful one!”

In “The Smurfs,” Rihanna lends her voice to Smurfette, Nick Offerman to Ken, JP Karliak to Razamel/Gargamel, Dan Levy to Joel, Amy Sedaris to Jaunty, Natasha Lyonne to Mama Poot, and Octavia Spencer to Asmodius.

“The Smurfs” premiered in India on July 18 in both English and Hindi.