Young playback singer Nihira Joshi (Zee's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge' finalist) is ecstatic.
She was invited to perform along with classical and fusion luminaries including Trilok Gurtu and Pandit Ajay Pohankar at the ongoing 'Maghi' cultural festival at the Siddhivinayak temple, Prabhadevi.
Along with classical and devotional songs she even sang her 'Mera Dil' number from the film 'Salaam-E-Ishq', which releases tomorrow.
But why has Nihira kept a low-profile, although she has also sung the remix of the late Geeta Dutt number, 'Babuji dheere chalna' for the film.
"Not really, I did perform live with composer Shankar Mahadevan at the film's music release. I let my work speak for itself. For reasons best known to them, the production house has not shown the 'Babuji' track in the promos as yet. But since it's there in the audio I've no issue," she says.
Nihira continues, "I made every effort not to imitate Geetaji but to sing in my own style.
I don't even want to be compared to the icon. It's my modest salaam to someone who has inspired me so much," says Nihira who has been groomed by Kalyanji,-Anandji and classical exponent Vidya Jayl.
Nihira Joshi