15082026-LSTL-01.qxd 8/15/2026 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b HEADED TO ZURICH Andreas Dresen’s Love, After All and Doris Dorrie’s How Can I Help? are among 11 films set to have their world premieres in the Gala Premieres section of the 22nd Zurich Film Festival. TRIBUNE Life S INGER-SONGWRITER and composer Prateeksha Srivastava isn’t interested in following any formula. Whether it’s the way she approaches songwriting or the choices she’s making in this new phase of her career, authenticity remains the thread running through it all. Her latest single, Sajna Ve, released after signing with Warner Music India, reflects that philosophy while celebrating the exhilarating, slightly chaotic emotions of having a crush. Unlike the familiar Bollywood trope of the man pursuing the woman, Sajna Ve places a young woman at the centre of the romance, unapologetically expressing her feelings. For Prateeksha, this wasn’t just a creative choice but an attempt to revive a perspective she feels has gradually faded from mainstream music. “I genuinely felt it was high time,” she says. “We grew up listening to legendary voices like Lata Mangeshkar ji, Asha Bhosle ji, Geeta Dutt ji, Alka Yagnik ji, Shreya Ghoshal ji and Alisha Chinai, where women’s emotions and perspectives were at the heart of so many iconic songs. Somewhere after 2013, that kind of female narrative started disappearing, and I really missed it. There’s something refreshing and empowering about a girl taking the first step and celebrating the excitement of a crush instead of waiting to be pursued.” That blend of old-school Bollywood romance with contemporary indiepop is what gives Sajna Ve its distinctive character. Prateeksha attributes the balance to her own listening habits. “I consume everything, from Indian film music to global pop, folk, funk and experimental sounds. I love taking the emotional richness of classic Bollywood storytelling and dressing it up with modern Actress Rituparna Sengupta took part in an event titled Our India, Our Pride, organised by the IHA Foundation on the eve of India’s 80th Independence Day, in Kolkata on Friday. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 15 AUGUST 2026 No formula, Gurnaaz My strongest foundation is still the taleem I received from my father and my gurus. Proud moment just feeling Prateeksha Srivastava on staying authentic, embracing creative freedom and capturing the exhilarating chaos of a crush in Sajna Ve production, grooves and textures. The balance happens organically.” For the singer-songwriter, every composition begins not with words but with a melody. “Once I find a melody that makes me feel something, I’ll start humming random words until one phrase suddenly clicks,” she explains. Sajna Ve emerged from a simple guitar loop before the title phrase arrived almost instinctively. “From that moment, I knew what the song wanted to say. It felt like the song already existed and I was simply discovering it.” While audiences know her as the song- c m y b writer and composer behind Sunidhi Chauhan’s Aankh, Prateeksha says creating music for herself remains deeply personal. She recalls instinctively knowing Aankh belonged to Sunidhi’s voice. “Writing for another artiste means stepping into someone else’s world. Writing for myself allows me to be completely vulnerable and honest. I’ll continue doing both, but my own music will always remain my priority.” Years of collaborating with artistes ranging from Salim-Sulaiman and Vishal Mishra to international musician Edward Maya have also shaped her artistic identity. Ironically, she says, the more she experimented, the more she appreciated the value of her classical training. “My strongest foundation is still the taleem I received from my father and my gurus. Today, I feel my identity lies in blending that Indian classical foundation with modern pop, folk and global influences.” Her recent signing with Warner Music India marks another milestone, but one she says she approached cautiously. After years as an independent artiste handling everything from writing and recording to releasing and promoting her music, she wanted a partner that could expand her reach without compromising her creative voice. “I waited a long time before signing because I didn’t want to do it just for the sake of it,” she says. “There comes a point where your vision becomes bigger than what you can achieve alone. Warner came at exactly the right time. I still feel like I’m making the music I believe in, except now I have a team helping me amplify that vision.” In an era where songs are often crafted with viral moments in mind, Prateeksha admits the pressure to think about algorithms is real. Yet she remains determined not to let it dictate her songwriting. “I try to find a middle ground where I respect the way audiences consume music today without compromising on emotional honesty,” she says. “I don’t want to become someone who only writes for an algorithm. At the end of the day, I want people to remember the song long after the trend fades.” Looking back on a journey that began with Zee TV’s Little Champs, continued through the phenomenal success of Naino Ki Baat, and has now entered a new chapter with Sajna Ve, the biggest lesson, she says, has been remarkably simple: “Never chase somebody else’s formula for success. The songs that truly connect with people come from a place of honesty. Believing in your own voice is just as important as listening to everyone else’s.”