Music world pays tribute to Jagjit Singh

From Shankar Mahadevan, Lesle Lewis to Bhajan singer Anup Jalota, the pioneers of Indian music industry came together to pay a musical tribute to late singer Jagjit Singh on his first death anniversary Wednesday.

Jagjit Singh passed away last year following a brain haemorrhage.

Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan remembered how Jagjit Singh would praise his work and the mutual respect they had for each other.

“Nobody has a voice like him in this whole country. His voice will always be with us, we will celebrate life listening to his songs and ghazals. He was very close to me, we had a very close relationship and I loved him and he loved me,” the 45-year-old said here Wednesday at the event organised by Jagjit Singh’s wife and singer Chitra.

“We respected each other as musicians, as people. A lot of my albums were launched by him and he used to say such nice words to me, I really miss him,” Mahadevan added.

Singer-composer Lesle recalled how Jagjit Singh’s valuable inputs resulted in one of his most loved song.

“Long time back I was recording a song and Jagjit Singh’s recording was lined up after me. When I was mixing the song, Jagjit Singh came inside and said the guitar is quite soft, make it loud. I did not want to make it loud but he said that is the fun of the song. That song was Pari Hoon Main,” Lesle said.

Bhajan singer Anup Jalota was quite happy to see people turn out to pay their respects to the ghazal maestro.

“I am happy that so many are remembering him and love him that it does not feel like he is not here, you can’t feel his absence,” the 59-year-old said.

“I had a lot of fun with him and before he left this world we had spent two days in Dehradun. So I can never forget him, I had his blessings and support,” he added.

Jagjit Singh came into prominence with his soulful compositions for the 1982-film Arth. He sang all the songs of the film, including Jhuki jhuki si nazar, Tum itna jo, Koi ye kaise bataye and Teri khushboo mein base khat.

His songs Yeh tera ghar yeh mera ghar and Tumko dekha toh yeh khayaal in the 1982-film Saath Saath are loved till date.

His other prominent songs include Kaagaz ki kashti, Hosh walon ko khabar kya, Koi fariyaad, Chitthi na koi sandesh among others.