'MUSIC IS FOR THE SOUL'

FOR OVER 60 YEARS, ANUP JALOTA HAS MESMERISED AUDIENCES WITH HIS DEVOTIONAL SONGS AND FILM NUMBERS. AFTER AN ENERGISING PERFORMANCE IN THE CITY, THE VETERAN MUSICIAN GIVES CE SOME MELODIOUS INSIGHTS

- NITIKA KRISHNA

IS effortlessly beautiful bhajans and movie songs have soothed the senses of multiple generations. Indeed, there is something magical about Anup Jalota's god-gifted voice — whether you hear his Aisi Lagi Lagan, in praise of Lord Krishna, or Solah Baras Ki Baali Umar from the movie Ek Duuje Ke Liye (starring Kamal Haasan), you feel an unparalleled sense of calm. The veteran musician performed at Season 6 of Jhankar at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bashirbagh. Organised by Abhijeeth Bhattacharjee, the chairman of Sangitanjaly Foundation, Hyderabad, the event was absolutely mesmerising. Anup Jalota spoke to CE about his journey, his stint on Bigg Boss 12, and more.

Excerpts

What are your thoughts on the Hyderabadi audience?

Oh, a very classy audience! With their knowledge of Urdu, they enjoy my ghazals. At the same time, they also love my bhajans, like Aisi Lagi Lagan. They also groove to evergreen film songs...so really, the taste of the audience here is very good.

Everyone calls you Bhajan Samraat — usually, those who sing bhajans rarely dabble in film songs or reality TV shows like Bigg Boss. What makes you so versatile?