Music career

1998-2002: Career beginnings and early albums In 1998, Ghoshal started recording albums in Indian regional languages, mainly Bengali albums with the label Sagarika.[2] Her first studio album was Bendhechhi Beena, which was released in 1 January 1998, with 14 tracks.[14] Some of her earlier albums include O Tota Pakhi Re, Ekti Katha (1999),[15] Mukhor Porag (2000),[16] and many more, all in the Bengali language. Ghoshal recorded devotional songs in albums like Banomali Re (2002),[17] and later, Krishna Bina Ache Ke (2007),[18] singing bhajans in praise of Lord Krishna. Some of her popular early tracks include "Bendhechi Beena Gaan Shonabo" (Bendhechhi Beena, 1998), "Kon Se Aalor Swapno Niye" (Bendhechhi Beena, 1998), "O Tota Pakhi Re" (O Tota Pakhi Re, 1998), "Beje Jaaye Ki Ragini" (O Tota Pakhi Re, 1998), "Mayabono Biharino Ami Noi" (Mukhor Porag, 2000), "Koiray Amar Gopal Krishna" (Banomali Re, 2002), "Songsarye Keu To Karo Noy" (Banomali Re, 2002), "Projapati E Mon" (Jabo Tepantor, 2003) and many more

2002-04: Devdas and entry into Bollywood

Ghoshal caught the attention of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali when she participated in the 75th Children's Special episode of Sa Re Ga Ma. Bhansali's mother was watching the show and during Shreya's performance, she called him to watch the performance of the "girl". After watching Shreya's performance, Bhansali made up his mind that he would select the girl for his next project. According to him, Shreya's voice had the innocence needed for the character of Paro in Devdas. He faced some difficulty when trying to locate her after the show, as the only thing that he remembered regarding the girl's name was that it started with the Hindi letter 'श'. So, he contacted Gajendra Singh, the creator of the show and told him every details of the girl he knew (thin, black curly hair etc.), to which Singh replied that the girl must be Shreya.[19] In 2000, Bhansali and music director Ismail Darbar offered her the opportunity to be the voice of Paro, the lead female character of Devdas, who was portrayed by Aishwarya Rai. While recollecting the incident when Bhansali called her for the first time, Ghoshal said in an interview, "Sanjayji tried to trace me. I remember that phone call. I could not believe that the director of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was on the line, asking for me. The film was such a hit, yet Sanjayji was so polite and humble. I was speechless."[20] Ghoshal sang five songs in the film, namely, "Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka", "Bairi Piya", "Chalak Chalak", "Morey Piya", and "Dola Re Dola", with established singers like Udit Narayan, Vinod Rathod, Kavita Krishnamurthy, KK, and Jaspinder Narula.[21] "Bairi Piya" was an instant success and topped the charts.[20] “ I remember I was asked to rehearse the song once before finally recording it. I simply closed my eyes and sang without a break. When I opened my eyes, I noticed a lot of excitement and chaos outside the recording room. Then Sanjayji told me I had sung the song so well that they had recorded it at one go. ” —Ghoshal sharing the experience of her first Bollywood recording, "Bairi Piya"[20] She was only 16 when she recorded the first song for the film, "Bairi Piya" with Udit Narayan. According to her, to date she has not rehearsed so much for a film as she did for Devdas. She was a part of the recording for Devdas right from the beginning i.e., when the songs were composed and lyrics were penned, and she used to go to the recording studio everyday. Her Higher Secondary Examinations were nearing that time and she would take her books and notebooks to the studio in order to study during downtime.[19] She added, "I have always admired Aishwarya. I was so excited when I realised I would sing for her. I met her first on the sets of Devdas. She is so humble. I remember between shots, we would sit together, and Sanjayji would ask me to sing Lataji's songs. Aishwarya has a ear for music, so she would join in too. When I sang, I imagined myself to be Paro. Just like Aishwarya, I tried to bring in the Paro's pain, confidence and innocence." Devdas helped Ghoshal achieve national fame with the help of awards such as a Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Dola Re", a National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Bairi Piya", an IIFA Award for Best Female Playback for "Dola Re", a Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer – Female for "Dola Re", etc.[22] Her performance also won her the RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. She was an immediate success and was called by various regional film industries for recording songs in her voice. She was soon offered parts in upcoming projects such as Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Shart: The Challenge, Tujhe Meri Kasam, Julie Ganapathi, Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda Hum, and Desh Devi Maa Ashapura. Ghoshal was a playback singer many times in 2003 for films such as Saaya, Jism, Tujhe Meri Kasam, Armaan, Xcuse Me, Inteha, Out of Control, Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., and LOC Kargil.[24] Her song "Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai" from Jism won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, the IIFA Award for Best Female Playback, and a Screen Award for Best Female Playback in 2004. The song was also nominated in the Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer – Female category. In 2004, Ghoshal lent her voice to various composers for films like Plan, Khakee, Shikaar, Tum – A Dangerous Obsession, Muskaan, Krishna Cottage, Main Hoon Na, Aan: Men at Work, Girlfriend, Garv, Dhoom, Phir Milenge, Tumsa Nahin Dekha – A Love Story, King of Bollywood, Shukriya: Till Death Do Us Apart, Rok Sako To Rok Lo, Musafir, and Dil Maange More. Some of Shreya's favourite songs during this period are "Silsila Ye Chahat Ka from Devdas and "Aye Meri Zindagi" from Saaya