A Versatile Personality
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| Dahlia Sen Oberoi |
How does it feel to be named after a flower? Be a doting papa's darling daughter? Achieve success pretty early in life and travel around the world many times over? Well, Dahlia Sen Oberoi certainly seems to have done all these and more. This 34 year old lawyer runs a legal firm along with her husband also a lawyer (and a classmate from her Law School days). She is also the proud mother of two little boys and owns a picturesque home -cum-office in a posh south Delhi locality.
It is indeed a quirk of fate that having been born into a family of doctors ( her parents, brother, paternal uncle and grandfather have all been doctors) Dahlia opted for the legal profession. This good looking and vivacious young lady has, of late, turned to penning lyrics. She has composed lyrics for the noted vocalist Shubha Mudgal. How does she juggle with so many activities without giving in to despair? We at National Network of Education (NNE) decided to find out......
A slice of her life, in her own words......
In a family of doctors why did you choose to become a lawyer?(Laughs) That's because I could not get through the medical entrance tests. For me law was the next choice. My mother always wanted me to be a lawyer, because my maternal grandfather was a judge by profession.
Why did you opt for Trademark and Copyright laws?Well, after I graduated from the Law School in 1992, I worked with a law firm which specialised in Intellectual Property Rights. And I loved my work. I specialised in Trademark and Copyright laws because I was not interested in the common rut of civil or criminal laws etc. I had already seen the plight of these lawyers. My work in this specialised field would bring me in contact with the corporate world. I could also be in touch with a good number of artists, since copyright intricately involves art, music, dance, drama and fiction. But it has proved to be a good choice because it is very paying.
How did you turn to writing lyrics?Well, I have been writing poetry in Hindi since my school days. A lot of my serious work is in Hindi. Now way back in 1992 when dada ( brother Palash Sen who is the lead vocalist of the hindrock group Euphoria. He also stars in the Bollywood movie Filhaal) was looking around for a break. He was trying hard, but the record companies were rejecting him. About that time he composed a tune and asked me to write the words for it. The song was Sha...Naa.. Naa...(included in his debut album Pichuk dhum dhum )........We taped the tune and set the words to it. It was an instant success. ( Laughs) So you could say I was instrumental in getting him selected. Thereafter, I kept on writing for my brother. Gradually I began to get offers for jingles, offers from here and there..... I met Shubha ji in 1994. Infact, I had taken up a copyright case for her. So when recently some music composers came to me with the offer of writing lyrics for Shubha ji 's album , I seized the offer gladly. That's because I share a personal rapport with her. I have written about 6-8 songs for her new album.
How can one be a lyricist?In order to be a lyricist one needs to have a certain amount of talent. Otherwise, it is not possible for someone to start writing lyrics, one fine morning. In order to be a lyricist, you need to have a passion for music, enjoy music in the real sense of the term and be serious about lyrics. But the talent has to be there. You can only cultivate it, but cannot create it. The creative urge has to be within and you have to build on it.
How does it feel to be successful at such a young age?First of all, I am not so young any more. I am 34. Secondly, I do not feel I have done anything great. Yes it is true I found success quite early. Other people take a longer time. But that could possibly be because I chose a different line. I am serious about my profession. I am committed to my work and enjoy everything I do to the hilt.
Do you enjoy sharing the limelight with your brother? Absolutely. I am so proud of my brother. He has always been my hero. I have always looked upto him. He is extremely talented and I am happy to be known as his sister, first and foremost.
Has there ever been any sibling rivalry between you and Palash?Never . Actually it has helped that he is older and of a different sex. Had he been a sister there could have arisen a possibility of rivalry. We have always been the best of friends.
The happiest moment of your life? When my first child was born.
What do your lyrics do for you? They afford me release from tensions, which I experience as a mother and a family person. They give me the much needed rest. When I am involved in writing songs, what I experience is a beautiful feeling. Moreover, I felt extremely proud when my songs were sung by Shubha Mudgal and Dada on various occasions. It felt really good.
Your idea of a perfect holiday? Spending time with my family. I do not like the idea of going out alone. I love to go out of the city of Delhi, along with my family.
Do you travel a lot? Your favourite destinations?I travel on work. We go to USA every year for conferences. I enjoyed travelling in Europe. Normally I love to travel in the hills of Northern India.
Your favourite pastime?I am very fond of reading fiction .I enjoy reading Indian writers......
How do you juggle between a fulltime career, home life and writing lyrics? Let me tell you it is very very difficult. I am trying hard. I cannot say if I am successful. Nevertheless I keep on trying. Fortunately for me my husband Sameer is extremely supportive. He helps me in all my work without ever differentiating about our respective chores. I have never felt the need to seek his approval. He always approves of whatever I do. He shares my burden of work which makes everything so simple.
What are the personal qualities which have helped you to succeed?I am a very good dreamer. I have always dared to dream and somehow these dreams are coming true. I also have this constant ability to go on, in spite of everything, which has helped me a lot.
What role has fate or destiny played in your life?I could say in my case it has been 80 per cent luck. I believe, if God is against you, no matter how talented or intelligent you are you cannot achieve anything. If God is by your side, you succeed without much efforts. If he is not, you are sunk.......
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