Bengaluru girl Anjana Padmanabhan is taking her voice to one of the most iconic stages in the world — Times Square, New York City. As part of the 10th-anniversary celebrations of Diwali in NYC, Anjana will perform alongside other Indian artistes, in cluding Raja Kumari, representing India on a global platform. “It feels unreal. Performing at Times Square is something every artist dreams of. I’ve been preparing for almost two months — selecting songs, rehearsing daily, and planning every detail of my set. It’s been exhausting, but also fulfilling,” says Anjana. The multilingual singer talks about her creative process, her love for languages and why music is more than a viral moment:‘MUSIC IS THE EASIEST WAY TO DEPICT ONE’S CULTURE’For her 30-minute set, Anjana will collaborate with Rishi Singh, a music reality show winner, on a brand-new original. “It’s an original composition we both created,” she shares. She will also sing in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. “I want to show the world how rich and diverse Indian music is. When singers perform in different Indi an languages, they bring peo ple closer. Music is the easiest way to depict one’s culture,” says Anjana, adding, “For me, everything makes sense through music. Being able to represent India through my songs is truly special.”
Music is the easiest way to depict culture. It carries your story, your roots, your identity For me, everything makes sense through music. Being able to represent India through music feels special
Anjana P
‘A MULTILINGUAL CHILDHOOD SHAPED MY MUSIC’Anjana, who sings in over 14 languages, credits her multilingual upbringing for her versatility. “I was born and raised in Bengaluru, where people speak so many languages. At home, we speak Tamil. My dad is from West Bengal, so I grew up listening to Bengali songs. My mom introduced me to Carnatic music. And since I lived in Karnataka, Kannada was al ways part of my world,” she says. “I now live in Mumbai and sing Marathi songs too. Telugu and Malayalam came naturally because I watched films in those languages as a child. Each language connects me to someone’s heart — that’s why I love exploring them,” she explains. When asked which languages she feels most comfortable singing in, she smiles, “Tamil, Kannada, English, and Hindi feel most natural. But I want to try something foreign next — maybe French. I already know a few songs in Spanish and Italian, but French feels like a beautiful challenge.”
For me, music is not about knowing many languages; it’s about how deeply you feel each song
Anjana P
‘REALITY SHOWS WERE A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS A SINGER’Anjana, who won a musical reality show as a junior and later returned as a finalist in the senior edition, reflects on her journey. “During the junior show, I didn’t even know English!” she laughs. “I used to memorise lyrics without understanding them — just singing from my heart. Everyone on set helped me so much; it was pure fun and learning,” she recalls. “The biggest takeaway was realising that I could make music my career. People had a fixed perception of me from when I was a kid. Coming back for the senior show gave me the chance to show who I’ve become. I experimented every week with new arrangements and sound scapes. It was about artistic growth, not just competition,” she says.
‘SHREYA GHOSHAL TAUGHT ME THAT EMOTIONS MATTER MORE THAN PERFECTION’Some of Anjana’s fondest memories come from learning under Shreya Ghoshal. “During the junior show, I almost lost my voice for a week. Shreya ma’am came to me with home remedies and vocal exercises. But what stayed with me most was what she said — that music isn’t about hitting perfect notes, it’s about making your listener feel what you feel. That’s what makes her timeless. Every time she sings, you can feel the emotion behind every note. That’s the standard I try to reach,” says Anjana.
‘MUSIC IS MORE THAN A 30-SECOND VIRAL CLIP’Having been in the spotlight since childhood, Anjana says she doesn’t feel pressured by the pace of social media. “I’ve been performing since I was a kid, so I don’t feel the need to ‘go viral’. I post what I genuinely connect to — songs I love, moments I want to share,” she says. While she acknowledges that social media has helped independent artistes reach new audiences, she believes there’s a line between content and music. She tells us, “Music isn’t just 15 seconds long — it’s emotion, connection, and storytelling. That’s what I want people to remember.
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