The calmness that surrounds him resonates in his soulful voice that has touched millions of hearts across the globe. Be it devotional masterpieces like Main Nahi Makhan Khayo and Aisi Laagi Lagan or even everlasting ghazals like Ghungroo Toot Gaye, he carries the power to mesmerise his listeners. Known as the bhajan samraat of music industry, Anup Jalota was in the city when Dikhya Tiwari caught up with him for a tete-a-tete
A long journey
To be honest, I was a student then and I am a student even today. In fact, I want to be a student forever because music is such a deep ocean that you can never conclude that you have achieved everything. There is something to learn every day. And, I am happy people still appreciate my music.
Bhajan today
Well, I honestly feel that Munni and Sheila are very important for our films as it is only because of such songs that films run today. And when a film makes 100 crores, more than 200 families are benefitted. As far as bhajans are concerned, I don’t think they can ever die because we have many religious festivals like
Janmashtami, Rath Yatra or Shiv Ratri which will always keep the trend of devotional songs alive. Yes, ghazals are facing a threat, mostly because of the language, Urdu. The young generation has no interest in these numbers. I feel in every family, parents should play some ghazals from time to time so that the children at least listen to them.
Importance of awards
Very much, I would say. I was very happy when I got the call from the President House informing me about the Padma Shri. My father had got one five years back. I still remember I was in Mumbai Airport when the call came and the first person I informed was my mother. She affectionately told me, ab thoda theek se gaana. (smiles)
Getting into acting
Well, I have acted before too but in minor roles. For Satya Sai Baba, I was initially only giving the music for a few songs. The producer had thought about Makarand Deshpande to play the role of Baba. But I told him that he wouldn’t look the part as he had a lean body. Then, I asked him to look at me carefully and he immediately realised what I was hinting at. I have a striking resemblance with Baba. In fact, main unka bada bhakt hun and he used to call me chote baba. I never understood why but today I do. As far as Sardar Happy Singh is concerned, it just came my way and I liked the role so I took it. And, yes this is a new phase and I am enjoying it.
Film production
Well, our film Boys to Boys Hai was released recently. Two more are in the pipeline, Hum Baaja Baja Denge and Maqsad.
Visit to Odisha
When I came out of the airport, I thought I was visiting some art exhibition. Bhubaneswar is a very clean and beautiful city and Odisha is a state which is known all over for its art and culture and I appreciate it.