Veena Shri at home in Ranchi. The Telegraph picture

Few religious functions in the capital are complete without a performance by Veena Shri Rinku. The 29-year-old is the first woman singer from Jharkhand to have an album released by T-Series.

Recognition from the music company is just a milestone in the career of this singer who has sung with the likes of Kumar Shanu and Sonu Nigam and plans to spread her wings to Mumbai.

Veena Shri was in the news recently when former Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari released her album of Bhojpuri songs. The good news is that over 2,000 cassettes have already been sold in less than two weeks of the release.

What?s the secret behind her unusual name? The singer explains that since she was better known as Rinku, she christened herself Veena Shri Rinku.

Milte hai zindagi mein mohabbat kabhi kabhi is her favourite song. And like the song, Veena Shri?s experience when it came to love was bitter. It was only after her divorce did she decide to give singing a shot as she did not want to be dependent on anyone. And there was no looking back since then.

?Even though I won several prizes in school competitions, I would have remained a bathroom singer had the turn of events in my life not forced me to take up my hobby as a profession. There was a time when I was completely devastated both mentally and physically and music bailed me out. It gave the necessary solace and peace of mind. Sometimes while singing religious songs I feel the presence of a divine power,? says Veena Shri, who has immense faith in God.

Veena Shri attributes her success to her mother, a school teacher in a government school, ?as she was the only one who believed that her daughter could carve a niche in the world of professional singer?.

From the paltry Rs 1,200 for her first stage show in Patna about six years ago, Veena Shri now charges Rs 10,000 per performance.

But Veena Shri does not charge a penny when she performs in temples or for NGOs. Though religious songs is her domain, she also sings Hindi film songs and has also dabbled in classical music.

Her most memorable moment was the day when she shared the stage with Kumar Shanu in a musical programme in Hazaribagh early this year. ?I was extremely nervous. It was the first time I was singing a duet with such a big star. But thankfully Kumar Shanu made me feel comfortable and he also said I have a sweet voice. I sang several duets with him and everyone appreciated the songs,? beams Veena Shri.

She has also sung with Tripti Sinha of Kabhi Ram Banke, Kabhi Shyam Banke fame and popular Bhojpuri singers Manoj Tiwari and Chaila Bihari.

Apart from Jharkhand, Veena Shri has also performed in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and also Kathmandu, where she performed in the Manish Koirala Nite.

But she is yet to get an opportunity to showcase her talent in Bollywood. Veena Shri who has never tried to participated in any singing competitions on television set the stage on fire with her lilting voice in the Prabhat Khabar show. Though she was passionate about music since her childhood. Veena Shri never neglected her studies. After obtaining a honours degree in psychology from Patna?s Magadh Mahila College, she took training in classical music from Joyti Roy of Ranchi.

She makes it a point to practice classical singing whenever she is free and before every show. She also loves listening to music and jots down the lyrics of all her favourite songs. ?You never know what the audience wants to listen. I am always prepared so that my fans are not disappointed,? she said.

Veena Shri usually has a packed schedule during Dusshera and Diwali every year. Her leisure hours are spent watching music channels on TV. She also regularly watches the serial, Sanjeevni.

But this year, since she was busy with the release of her cassette, she could not give dates for too many stage shows during the festive season. ?I recorded my cassette on a 24-sound track from a Patna-based studio. I went to Mumbai with my cassette in August. I met Harish of T-Series on August 24 and after listening to a few songs, he was impressed. T-Series released my cassette on October 1 and I returned home the next day. It was the happiest day of my life,? says Veena Shri.

She is, however, not too sure of the royalty she will get from the company. And she is not too bothered as having an album released by T-Series is a good break, she feels. ?I spent Rs 86,000 to record my cassette and its release by the T-Series has given me fame and recognition. What can be better than this,? she said.

As for now, Veena Shri dreams of making it big in Mumbai one day. ?Music is my life. It means everything for me. It involves a lot of hard work and dedication. There will be moments of despair and struggle, but I am prepared for it. It has a lot of money, but only after you are an established singer. Till then it requires sustained efforts. The field is full of struggle and I will put in my best,? signs off Veena Shri.

Anupam Sheshank