Singer Richa Sharma , known for singing super hit songs like 'Sajda,'' Billo Rani,'' Jugni' among others, was in the city some time back for the promotion of the ongoing television reality show ' Sa Re Ga Ma Pa ,' where she is one of the judges. The singer was accompanied by contestant Tanmay Chaturvedi and Gurbinder Singh. Richa, who is frequent to the city, says that there is no place other than Lucknow which is her favourite destination for shopping. "I have been to Lucknow so many times and jitni shopping maine kari hai Lucknow mein, utni shayad hi kisi ne ki ho. I love chikankari work as I am fond of Indian wear." Adding, she said, "I can’t tell you how much I am in love with the city, its people and specially the way they talk. I remember performing in Lucknow Mahotsav year before last, and the response that I received from the audience was amazing. Yahan ki audience kitna saath deti hai and in fact, I remember coming for another show last year when Saina Nehwal was also present. The audience here is very supportive and people of Lucknow have great sense in music as well."Richa Sharma (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)The singer is very strict when it comes to judging a reality show and for her, it’s the singing style of the contestants which matters. "Mere liye singing se zyada kuchh nahi hai. Personally, when one participates in any reality show, I focus on several things like their way of singing, their presence of mind, and their interaction with the public because the contestant is not just a singer, he is a performer also," she shared. Adding, she said, "Main kabhi bhi kisi contestant ke liye sympathy nahi rakhti. For me it’s only their singing which matters and judgement mein main wahi khaungi which I feel is right. If ever I will have sympathy for any contestant, I will take him home and personally teach him music."The singer says she is very choosy when it comes to singing and believes that she does not fit into the current scenario of compositions. Elaborating further, she said, "I think I am nobody to comment on it but yes if I feel that I cannot do justice to the song then main bahut pyaar se mana kar deti hoon director ko. Because I don’t want somebody’s hard work to get affected by my singing. Isliye it’s better I say a no before only and leave the studio. I have worked for the past 23 years in the industry and maine aise aise gaane sirf isliye chhode because I felt that I am not the right person for such songs. If I feel my voice is not right for a song, I will not sing it. This is the reason that my songs have always been very limited and when they get released then people appreciate them a lot."The singer blames the lyrics written these days which she feels is not up to the mark. "I love party songs because main khud dance karti hoon but lyrics I feel are not good these days. Even if the music composers or the lyricist are recreating the music then they should try to keep the essence of the old songs. Of course the composers can play with some words but keeping the essence and charm in mind," remarks she.We asked the singer about old melodies being recreated, and showing her concern over it, Richa said, "You know I also feel this bad, ki kya ho gaya hai, log kyon nahi bana rahe nayi music. I also feel that today every single song that comes in the market is recreated. Even I have this same question that why are people not coming up with new songs? This is not just the fault of the music composers, various producers ask to recreate those old songs. And aisa bhi nahi hai that they are trying to recreate songs of the 50-60s sung by KL Sehgal or Lata Mangeshkar , they are trying to recreate the songs which are not even older than a decade. People already know those songs, so what are they trying to sell? It’s not a good practice at all."— Prachi Arya

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