Jagjit Singh (singer)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Jagjit Singh

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Img_capt = Jagjit Singh
Img_size = 150
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1941|2|8 flagicon|India Ganganagar, Rajputana, British India
Died =
Instrument =
Genre = Ghazal, playback singing
Occupation = Singer, composer
Years_active = 1981–present
spouse = Chitra Singh
URL =

Jagjit Singh((Punjabi: ਜਗਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ,Hindi:जगजीत सिंह, Urdu: جگجیت سنگھ) (born February 8, 1941) is a famous ghazal singer from India. He sings in the Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Bangla and Gujarati languages.

Biography

Early years

Jagjit Singh (or Jagjeet Singh) was born in Ganganagar, then in Rajputana in British India. His father Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman, employed by the Government of India, was a native of the village of Dalla in what is now Ropar district in Punjab and his mother Bachchan Kaur came from a deeply religious Sikh family from Ottallan village near Samrala. His siblings include four sisters and two brothers and he is known as Jeet by his family. Although his late father wanted him to join the Indian Administrative Service, he was later reported to be happy with his son's achievements in the world of music.

Singh went to Khalsa High School in Ganganagar. He then studied science after matriculation at Government College,Ganganagar and went onto DAV College, Jalandhar in to graduate in arts. He also achieved a post-graduate degree in history from Kurukshetra University, Haryana.

Career

Early career

Jagjit Singh's association with music goes back to his childhood. He learnt music under Pandit Chaganlal Sharma for two years in Ganganagar, and later devoted six years to learning Khayal, Thumri and Dhrupad forms of Indian Classical Music from Ustad Jamaal Khan of the Sainia Gharana school. In 1964 Jagjit Singh and my guru ji Ustad Gurmeet singh ji used to practice in Jagraon district, Ludhiana.The Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University and Kurukshetra University, Late Professor Suraj Bhan encouraged his interest in music. He arrived in Mumbai in 1965 in search of better opportunities as a career musician and singer. His early struggle in the music industry, though not too harsh by his own account, still had its share of trials and tribulations. He lived as a paying guest and his earlier assignments were singing advertisement jingles or performing at weddings and parties.

Rise to fame

During 1970s, the art of ghazal singing was dominated by well-established names like Noor Jehan, Malika Pukhraj, Begum Akhtar,Talat Mahmood and Mehdi Hassan. However, Jagjit was still able to make his mark and carve out a niche for himself. In 1976, his album "The Unforgettables" (On HMV LP Records) hit the music stores. Essentially a ghazal album, it's emphasis on melody and Jagjit's fresh voice was a departure from the prevalent style of ghazal rendition, which was heavily based on classical and semi-classical Indian music. Skeptics had their own reservations, purists scorned it but it was widely successful among listeners and the album set new sales records.

In 1967 he met Chitra, also a singer, while doing jingles. After a two year long courtship they got married in 1969. They epitomize the first successful husband-wife singing team. Jagjit Singh, with Chitra, has contributed immensely towards changing the course of this genre of music known as 'Ghazal' making it more ear friendly, melodic and enjoyable by a wider audience.

Later successful releases of the duo include "Ecstasies", "A Sound Affair" and "Passions". While these albums were breezy, "Beyond Time" released in the opening years of 1990s was an experimentation with sounds and conveyed a feeling that was beyond space and time. Around this time the duo was struck by grief as their only son, Vivek, who was twenty-one, met an untimely death in a road accident. Not only Jagjit and Chitra, it was a big shock to his numerous fans also. The album is a tour to the soul, ethereal, conscientious and introspective. The ghazals have a moving quality to them since they express the personal loss of Jagjit and Chitra. 'Someone Somewhere' was the last album containing ghazals sung by both. After that, Chitra quit singing, around the time of his first grandson, Armaan Chowdhury's birth.

Jagjit Singh's later albums, including "Hope", "In Search", "Insight", "Mirage", "Visions", "Kahkashan" (meaning "Galaxy"), "Love Is Blind", "Chirag" (meaning "Lamp"/"Flame") also achieved success. "Sajda" (an Urdu word meaning "offering"), which has ghazals sung by Jagjit and Lata Mangeshkar was another brilliant release and made its mark as a classic Ghazal album. The combined successes of his many albums made him arguably the number one ghazal singer in India. The audience wanted more and Jagjit Singh obliged with his Punjabi albums. Ebullient, effervescent and bubbly, his Punjabi songs are pleasant as well as joyous. Their enchanting ghazals use the choicest poetry by renowned poets including Mirza Ghalib, Qateel Shifai, Ameer Meenai, Kafeel Aazer, Sudarshan Faakir and Nida Fazli, and contemporary writers like Zaka Siddiqi, Nazir Bakri, Faiz Ratlami and Rajesh Reddy.

Jagjit also sang (as playback singer) for various songs in Bollywood films including "Arth", "Saath Saath" and "Premgeet" (all from 1980s). The scores remain popular even today. In fact, all the songs of film "Premgeet" were composed by Jagjit. His compositions for the TV serial "Mirza Ghalib" (based on the life of the poet Mirza Ghalib), remain extremely popular among ghazal aficionados. The exclusive element of Ghalib's poetry was sensitively and wonderfully brought out in the soulful compositions of Ghalib's ghazals by Jagjit Singh. The album could veritably be called a magnum opus.

Compared to his earlier ghazals (sung during 70s and 80s) his later ghazals have acquired a more soulful and poignant demeanour, as in albums such as "Marasim", "Face To Face", "Aaeena", "Cry For Cry". But all through this, romance never took a backseat! The journey to the soul is punctuated by romantic pauses like "Dil Kahin Hosh Kahin". A testimony to his popularity is his ghazals in recent Bollywood flicks like "Dushman", "Sarfarosh", "Tum Bin" and "Tarkeeb".

Most of the earlier albums of Jagjit Singh had English titles. Later, these had Urdu names like "Sahar" (meaning "Dawn"/"Morning"), "Muntazir" (meaning "In waiting"), "Marasim" (meaning "Relation"/"Relationship"/"Affinity" ) "Soz" (Pathos) etc.. The switchover may not be deliberate but marks a milestone in his singing. These new albums show a far better selection of lyrics and yes, even the singing has scaled new peaks.

Besides ghazals, Jagjit Singh has also sung Bhajans and Gurbani (Hindu and Sikh devotional hymns respectively). Albums such as "Maa", "Hare Krishna", "Hey Ram...Hey Ram", "Ichhabal" and also "Man Jeetai Jagjeet" in Punjabi, put him in the league of Bhajan singers such as Mukesh, Hari Om Sharan, Yesudas, Anup Jalota and Purushottam Das Jalota. The soothing effect that Jagjit's voice has on frayed nerves has prompted psychiatrists in metros (as large cities in India are called) to prescribe them as stress relievers. Contact Number....

Influence

Jagjit Singh is accredited with bringing the ghazal genre, which was previously restricted to the elite classes, to the masses. His music direction can be seen to be pioneering in changing the sound layout by adding more Western instruments while mostly retaining the traditional orchestra (which includes a tablaa, and harmonium, and a couple of string instruments] . Jagjit Singh is also nicknamed Gazaljit Singh.

Jagjit Singh is accredited with finding one of the foremost playback singers in Bollywood in modern times, Kumar Sanu. As he played a big part in Sanu's initial career, in an interview Sanu said that Singh took him to meet the legendary music composers Kalyanji Anandji after hearing his voice, from there on Sanu has become a legend in Bollywood for his range and singing as he went to win five male playback Filmfare Awards in a row. A record that still stands.

Jagjit Singh voiced his opinion against artists from Pakistan being allowed to sing in India, when Pakistan refuses to reciprocate the gesture.

In addition to cultivating his own successful career, Jagjit Singh has been involved in guiding many new, talented singers such as Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Talat Aziz, Ghanshyam Vaswani, Ashok Khosla, Siza Roy and Vinod Sehgal. He also lends active support to several philanthropic endeavors such as the Library at St. Mary's (Mumbai), Bombay Hospital, CRY, and ALMA (an organization that adopts under-privileged students for further education and development).

Personal life

Jagjit Singh married the popular singer Chitra Singh in 1969. They live in Cumballa Hills, Mumbai. They had a son, Vivek, who died in a road accident.

In October 2007, Jagjit Singh was hospitalized following low blood circulation to the brain. Now he is doing fine.

Music career

Ghazals

* Apne hothon par sajaana chaahta hoon
* Kaise kaise haadse sehte rahe
* Wo jo hum mein tumme qaraar tha tumHe yaad ho ke na yaad ho
* Patta-patta boota-boota haal hamaara jaane hai
* Apne haathon kee lakiron meiN basa le mujhko
* Sadma to hai mujhe bhi ke tujhse juda hoon main
* Apani aankho ke samundar mein utar jaane de
* Meri zindagi kisi aur ki, mere naam ka koi aur hai
* Aadmi aadmi ko kya degaa
* Apni marzi se kahan apni safar ke hum hain
* Ik baramhahn ne kaha hai ke ye saal achhaa hai
* Main na hindoo na musalmaan mujhe jeene do
* Garaj baras pyaasi dharthi par phir paani de maula
* Chak jigar ke see lete hain
* Main bhool jaaoon tumhe, ab yahi munaasib hai
* Jaate jaate wo mujhe achchhi nishaani de gaya
* Shaam se aankh mein namin si hai
* Tere baare mein jab socha nahin thaa
* Tere aane ki jab khabar mehke
* Tamanna fir machal jaaye agar tum milne aa jaao
* Ab main ration ki kataron mein nazar aata hoon
* Tujhse milne ki saza denge tere shehar ke log
* Patthar ke khuda, patthar ke sanam
* Huzoor aapka bhi ahtraam karta chaloon
* Din aa gaye sabaab ke aanchal sambhaaliye
* Gulshan ki faqat phoolon se nahin kaaton se bhi zeenat hoti hai
* Baat saaqi ki na taali jaayegi
* Chupke chupke raat din aansoon bahana yaad hai
* Roshan jamal-e-yaar se hai anjuman tamaam
* Tera chehra kitna suhaana lagta hai
* Tum nahin, gham nahin sharaab nahin
* Sarakti jaaye hain rukh se naqaab aahistaa-aahista
* Ae khuda ret ke sehra ko samandar kar de
* Yeh daulat bhi le lo, yeh shohrat bhi le lo
* Hoshwalo ko khabar
* Honthon se chhoo lo tum
* Koi yeh kaise bataye
* Tere khat
* Bahut khoobsurat hai
* Kiska Chehera
* Kal chodvi ki raat thi
* Baat niklegi to
* Der laagi ane mein tumko
* Main nashe mein hoon
* Pyar mujhse jo kiya tumne
* Tera chehera hai aaeene jaisa
* Chitthi na koi sandesh
* Tum itna jo muskura rahe ho
* Jab se kareeb ho kay chale zindagi se hum
* Koi fariyaad
* Kahin duur jab din
* Kehta hai baabul
* Jhuki jhuki si nazar
* Tumko dekha to yeh khayal
* Sehma sehma
* Yaad kiya dil ne kaha ho tum
* Aap ko dekh kar
* Jab samne tum
* Hazaron khwaishe hai aisitammana phir machal jayemujhko yakin hai such kehti thi

Awards

* In 2003, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours, from the Government of India. [http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/apr/04abhi.htm]
* In 2006, Teacher's Achievement Awards [http://blog.jagjitsingh.co.in/labels/jagjit.html]

Discography

ong for films

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Music composed for films

# Leela (2002)
# Sarfarosh (1999)
# Khudai (1994)
# Billoo Badshah (1989)
# Kaanoon Ki Awaaz (1989)
# Mirza Ghalib (1988) (TV Serial directed by Gulzar)
# Rahi (1987)
# Long Da Lishkara (1986)
# Ravan (1984)
# Arth (1982)
# Sitam (1982) (as Jagjit-Chitra)
# Prem Geet (1981)
# Adaa

Ghazal albums

*The Unforgettables (1976)
*A Milestone (1980)
*Main aur Meri Tanhaayee (1981)
*The Latest (1982)
*Ecstasies (1984)
*A Sound Affair (1985)
*Echoes (1985–86)
*Beyond Time (1987)
*Mirza Ghalib (Two Volumes) (1988), TV Serial Directed by Gulzar
*Passion / Black Magic (1988)
*Ghazals from Films (1989)
*Emotions
*Man Jite Jagjit (1990)
*Memorable Ghazals of Jagjit and Chitra (1990)
*Someone Somewhere (1990)
*H O P E (1991)
*Sajda (Two Volumes with Lata Ji) (1991)
*Kahkashan (Two Volumes) (1991–92), TV Serial Directed by Jalal Agaa
*Visions (Two Volumes) (1992)
*In Search (1992)
*Rare Gems (1992)
*Face to face (1993)
*Your Choice (1993)
*Chiraag (1993)
*Desires (1994)
*Insight (1994)
*Cry for Cry (1995)
*Mirage (1995)
*Unique (1996)
*Come Alive in a Concert (1998 (CD))
*Live at the Wembley
*Love is Blind (1998)
*Silsilay (1998) (Lyrics by Javed Akhtar)
*Marasim (1999) (Lyrics by Gulzar)
*Saher (2000)
*Samvedna 2002 (Atal Behari Vajpayee's poetry))
*Soz (2002) (Lyrics by Javed Akhtar)
*Forget Me Not (2002)
*Jaam Utha
*Muntazir (2004)
*Tum To Nahin Ho (Lyrics by Bashir Badr) (2005)
*Life Story (2006)
*Best of Jagjit & Chitra Singh (includes Mere Darwaaze Se Ab Chand Ko Ruksat Kar do by Ali Sardar Jaffrey)
*Koi Baat Chale (Lyrics by Gulzar)
*Jazbaat(2008)

TRIVIA

*The album 'Beyond Time' is the first digitally recorded album of India.It was recorded in the studio 'Western outdoor' by sound recordists duo 'Daman Sood and Avinash Oak.

References

External links

* [http://jagjitchitrasingh.com/ Jagjit Singh's Official website ]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032736/ IMDB entry]
* [http://www.asianlite.co.uk/detail.asp?iPro=468&iType=1 Article on the Genius of Jagjit Singh in Asian Lite Magazine]
* [http://aligarians.com/category/singers/jagjit-singh/ Jagjit Singh Lyrics and Translations]
* [http://jagjitsingh.imess.net/ Jagjit Singh Albums and Lyrics]