Copyright India Currents Apr 30, 1988A Work of Passion: New triumph for old ghazal masters
PASSIONS. Jagjit Singh, Chitra Singh. 1987. HMV. Gramophone Company of India, 5 Old Court House Street, Calcutta 700 001, India.
During my recent trip to India, I was saddened to see how badly piracy has crippled the music industry. Copyright laws are not being enforced, and low revenue has forced record companies to depend more and more on the tape market. I walked into a store in Palika Bazar in New Delhi looking for new ghazal releases, determined not to buy pirated material. The shopkeeper gauged my resolve quickly, and played for me Jagjit and Chitra Singh's newest release. Passions. A cliched title, I thought, but after hearing the opening ghazal, I was sure I wanted the tape.
It comes in the wake of Echoes, a live collection of ghazals from concerts all over the world. A phenomenal success in India, it went gold within days of release, and platinum in three months. Passions is their second effort in less than a year and their first studio production since A Sound Affair. It features eight new ghazals by Sudarshan Faakir, Prem Warbartoni, Seemab Akbarabadi, Bekhud Dehlavi, Rana Sahri, and Wajida Tabassum. As always, the music is composed by Jagjit Singh.
Jagjit sings the first ghazal, Sudarshan Faakir's Patthar Ke Khuda, Patthar Ke Sanam. The poet is distraught at the increasing materialism in life, where the hearts of lovers have turned to stone, as unfeeling and unmovable as idols in a temple. Jagjit's rich and resonant voice gives this serious ghazal great depth and pathos. His inimitable style clearly reflects his years of training in classical music.
More remarkable for me is the change in Chitra's voice. Since the first release (The Unforgettables) in which she sounded shrill and high-pitched, Chitra has mellowed and developed in the lower octaves. Her unfolding emotive ability now makes for truly soul-stirring ghazals. Her rendering of Hai Akhtiar Mein Tere, a poem about the pain of separation, brings back some fond memories.
For those who may be unaware, ghazals are highly developed forms of Urdu poetry, usually about love, meant to be sung to music. The lyrics and the music are inseparable elements in conveying the thought and mood of a ghazal.
Jagjit and Chitra are the ones primarily responsible for introducing - or should one say reintroducing - the Indian masses to the lyrical beauty of ghazals. That the ghazals are written in simple, easily understood Urdu explains only part of their appeal. What sets this duo apart is their music. The catchy rhythms, the soulful melodies are a treat for the ears, sometimes serious, sometimes frivolous, always enjoyable. Drawing on the traditional heritage of ragas, Jagjit embellishes his tunes with modern orchestration. As a result, his compositions are marked by a distinctive, delightful blend of the traditional and the modern.
Although I would rather see them live in concert any day, I recommend their recordings, particularly Passions, to anyone who is even remotely interested in light classical music.
I have just one request, though. Please insist on original, unpirated material. Future generations of musicians and music lovers will thank you for it.
My Research