Shilpa Rao: Music heals, its like band-aid for the mind and soul

Popular Bollywood singer Shilpa Rao is all set to perform at a special charity concert tonight at Mumbai’s Shanmukhananda Hall. Talking about it to Bombay Times she says, “This charity concert is a special one for the musicians, by the musicians. In this industry there are many who work day and night and have had to face very difficult times in the past three years and so, we musicians are trying to be there for each other. I know that we are in the same professional storm but everyone has a different situation and we are just trying to be there for some musicians. Who else would do this if not us. We are, kind of, being there for each other through this charity concert.”

Shilpa feels that we all have been in a very difficult phase during the pandemic and now slowly things are coming back to normal but it will take time. “We are all coming out of the very tough part of the pandemic and our economy is still trying to revive itself. So obviously, we are all chasing challenges - right from the top to the bottom in the industry, everyone is going through challenges. Things are not the same as it was before the pandemic.”

The singer who has given us chartbusters like Ghungroo, Subhanallah, Meherbaan, Bulleya, Malang, Ishq Shava and many others believes music can heal. “We want things to get better for all. And music always comes as a healer, like a Band-Aid for the mind and soul. And if it will also give some relief, some help to people financially, then why not. This concert is for a very very good cause.”

Shilpa is a powerful performer on stage and her passion, sincerity and honesty shine through her voice when she is holding the mic. We ask her what really inspires her and she says, “I think the connection with people is what really inspires me when I go up on stage. When we are up on stage we are in different cities and different times of our life and there are many new people that come and watch a concert. But, when you perform for them, they don’t feel new. It feels as if we are all connected through music - they know our music, they know all the songs, they sing with us and you end up becoming friends after the concert. I think that is what a concert does for all musicians.”

Shilpa adds, “Today evening, I will be performing at the eighth edition of the Rehmatein concert with Shankar Mahadevan ji and Hariharan Ji. They are both my gurus and mentors and it is a huge honour for me to be on the same stage and share that stage with them. I feel that the concert will be full of harmonious energies and we all will be standing together and supporting musicians. I think that is the beauty of the concert.”