Counting on success

MUSIC IS pure mathematics. Nothing less. Lots of permutations and combinations to be juggled with, calculations to be made before arriving at the right formula that clicks with the crowds. And caught in this number gridlock is young Ritika Sahni. Numbers which soothe the soul, that is!

Armed with a gold medal from Rabindra Bharathi University and a voice endowed with a rich texture, Ritika hit the Hindi music scene with her debut album `Ritika'. The video `Aur Bhi Hai Husn...' did make people sit up and take cognizance of her and before the Punjabi lass, who picked up the ropes of music in Calcutta, could complete her second album, she is flooded with invitations to perform all over the country.

"The competition is red hot. A singer-performer has to be on the toes all the time," she feels. The artiste who gave nearly 30 performances last year across the country and in the neighbouring countries says cut throat competition coupled with a demanding audience has made the job of performers as quirky as that of mathematicians.

"Our job entails a lot of homework. We have to see that we do not repeat ourselves, be it costumes, songs or expressions. It is a constant quest to feel the pulse of the audience where all possible permutations and combinations have to be tried out," Ritika thinks aloud. After striking the right chord with live audiences, she is all set to release her second album set to the tunes of Lalit Sen.

The singing beauty can act too. She has already done a serial `Naya Zamana' for Zee Television, anchored the popular `Open House' on Sony TV and had been a regular face on the Bengali channels -- acting, anchoring and of course, singing. Ritika has also lent her voice to Shyam Benegal's award winning `Hari Bhari'.

But, there are more equations to be solved and many more steps cleared before striking that perfect symmetry as a performer. "I am moving forward and for the time being intend to keep marching till I meet real and huge success," she says confidently. The indefatigable gal she is, Ritika is definitely on course for a long stay in the limelight.

By T. Lalith Singh

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Section  : Southern States
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