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The maestro's magic, yet again

Jagjit Singh speaks on the new crop of singers, his old ghazals and more

SOULFUL FOREVER Jagjit Singh says his best is yet to come photo: K. RAMESH BABU

Twelve years is a long time but the incident that took place during an India-Sri Lanka One day international match is still vivid. On a wintry night in Jalandhar, some of us, including a few Indian cricketers, were invited to an evening with Jagjit Singh. We enjoyed vantage position, and among the audience in the front row was Sachin Tendulkar.

Now Tendulkar knew little about ghazal, and nothing of Urdu. But he sat engrossed like the rest at the venue. Jagjit was warming up for the evening and the elite gathering was in a trance. At the end of a ghazal, a few clapped. Jagjit did not appreciate it and announced, "I will stop singing if anyone claps or whistles again."

The rest of the evening, the only voice we heard was of the magical Jagjit. And on the way back, that of Tendulkar, who was humming one of the numbers. Jagjit had a new and illustrious addition to his ever-growing fan club.

When Gulzar, eminent lyricist, says, "his voice caresses the words", you know Jagjit is an extraordinary singer. Of course, Jagjit does not need to prove his credentials to anyone, anymore, for he is a universally acknowledged ghazal maestro. His latest offering, Jazbah is yet another tribute to soulful performance at a time when nasal cacophony rules. The album does not contain any new ghazals but is a collection of some of his most captivating numbers.

Launched by the Universal Music India, Jazbah is a must for every Jagjit fan. "The company has picked the numbers and I have had no say in it. It is not possible to include all the good numbers in one album," says Jagjit.

Would there not be one special ghazal? Jagjit is non-committal. "Look, they are all close to my heart but honestly, I can't say which is the best or which is my favourite. In fact, my best is yet to come."

The best is yet to come, no doubt, but this is one album that stands out for the simple reason that at no point does it compel the listener to look for the fast forward option. Beginning with "Tumko dekha to ye khayal aaya" from Saath Saath, the album traces an eventful journey that Jagjit set out on in 1976 with the Unforgettables. The next selection is "Tum itna jo muskura rahi ho", followed by an all-time favourite "Baat niklegi to dur talak jayegi". It has other memorable numbers such as "Muskurake mila karo humse", "Yeh daulat bhi le lo" and "Tera chehraa". The album aptly includes "Shaam se aankh mein nami si hai", a wonderful piece with Jagjit and Gulzar in tandem that raises the overall quality of Jazbah.

Jagjit is touchy when he talks of the newcomers in the field of ghazals. "They seek the short cut from the bathroom to the studios," he sounds angry. And rightly too! When you listen to "Hothon se chhoo lo tum" from Prem Geet, you realise the significance of his statement. Two more ghazals, "Raat khamosh hai" and "Na mohabbat na dosti," make Jazbah a treasure for not just Jagjit fans.

Jagjit gives us an honest insight into his views on modern singers. "There is a lot of talk about new talent. But sadly, not many singers appeal to me. The lack of hard work is pretty evident because there is no proper training and no respect for the language." The company has also come out with a video of Jazbah, shot in Austria. Jagjit is not averse to music videos or remixes. "There is nothing wrong because it encourages revival of old songs and the singer gets some royalty out of it. Visuals can also be creative and lend greater value to your voice."

Jagjit's next is an album that will contain eight gems. Penned by Gulzar and sung by Jagjit, one can't imagine a greater combination. One is sure Tendulkar would be among the crowd of early buyers.

VIJAY LOKAPALLY

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