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]]>Pankaj Udhas was born in Jetpur, Gujarat, on May 17, 1951. In 1980, he made his music debut with the ghazal album Aahat. That was only the start of a long string of hits to come. His best-selling albums were Mukarar (1981), Tarrannum (1982), Mehfil (1983), Nayaab (1985), and Aafreen (1986). He additionally gave a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1984. Following his fame as a ghazal singer, he tried his hand at playback vocals with the Mahesh Bhatt movie Naam.
Ahista
Composed by Khayyam and written by Bashar Nawaz, this soulful song is taken from the album The Legend Forever – Pankaj Udhas – Vol. 1. The song tells the story of a loving relationship, and Udhas’s calming voice gives the moving lyrics more nuance and feeling. This is one of Pankaj Udhas’ greatest songs because it was among the first ghazals we all heard when we were young.
Na Kajre Ki Dhar
This Bollywood musical of our dreams features a duet between Pankaj Udhas and Sadhana Sargam. The song, which was composed by Viju Shah, exquisitely captures the charm and beauty of the beloved’s eyes. The lyrics of Indeevar, a romantic ballad that translates to “The Line of Kohl,” and Pankaj Udhas’ voice have kept the song alive in Indian hearts for decades.
Chandi Jaisa Rang
Bollywood loves to combine its love songs with precious metals like gold and silver, speaking of a lover’s beauty and tranquilly. To capture the spirit, though, requires soulful lyrics, a well-crafted song, and—above all—a talented vocalist. One of Pankaj Udhas’ greatest songs, it describes the ethereal nature of love and a lover.
Thodi Thodi Karo Piya
Thodi Thodi is a wonderful interpretation of melancholy and longing and is an underappreciated gem in Pankaj Udhas’ repertoire. This song, which has been passed down through the centuries, is especially nostalgic because of its ageless interpretation of love and understanding. This song features the singer’s voice as rich and complex as ever.
Ek Taraf Uska Ghar
This song, which is among Pankaj Udhas’ greatest, is about longing and unrequited love. The song “On One Side is Her Home,” written by Qateel Shifai and composed by Anu Malik, expresses the longing and suffering of a lover who is parted from their beloved. Udhas’s performance of longing was unparalleled and added a totally unique touch to every song.
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]]>Text credit: Charishma Thankappan
Touted India’s Rihanna, Renee Kujur from India’s Chhattisgarh is making headlines as a look-alike of popular music sensation Rihanna. A model now, Renee is already killing it with her Instagram account called ‘badgalrene’ which is also incidentally a near copy of the singer’s account named ‘badgalriri’.
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But while Renee is courting fame now, it wasn’t an easy journey for her so far. She has been a constant victim of ridicule owing to her complexion. In a country that is obsessed with fair skin, Renee recounts facing humiliation at a tender age when she appeared for a school performance in the guise of a fairy, and she was laughed at by the audience pointing at her and calling her “kaali pari” (black fairy).
It is only thanks to the changing circumstances in the Indian fashion industry over the past few years, where dark skinned women have been begun to be accepted, that Renee’s got a chance to get into modelling. However, that too was met with skepticism, where she was told that dusky girls couldn’t go as far as their fairer counterparts, and that she would have to compromise her principles and dignity to make it to the top. “They told me all models are into prostitution. I won’t become a model unless I pleased clients. Being dark had already killed my chances,” said Renee to a leading Indian daily. She also related more horrific incidents where photographers would ask makeup artists to make her three-four shades lighter. In one instance, one of the makeup artists is known to state with pride that anyone can do makeup on a pretty girl, but being able to make a dark girl look good was a challenge.
It was a friend of hers who first noticed the similarity between her and the American R&B singer. Soon the likeness was perceived by others. And just so, Renee started earning respect and admiration for her comparison.
But while Renee can be thankful to Rihanna for helping dark skin be accepted and respected, I think Renee should stop cloning herself as the singer. From aping her Instagram account name to even some of her makeup looks and photoshoots, Renee seems to be duplicating her appearance to match the star’s. The question then arises as to is it only when someone walks in the shadow of a bigger star, can one catch the attention and hope to make a name for oneself? I just hope that it is short-lived and for the sake of garnering the deserved attention she requires, and with time she moves on to project her own identity and becomes a successful supermodel in her own right. After all, she is another example of how one can grow big even from a small town.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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]]>Text: Shilpa Ann Stanley Interview: Suhas KM Images: Renuka Arun
After listening to the song Seetha Kalyanam, from Bejoy Nambiar’s Malayalam-Tamil bilingual anthology Solo, Renuka Arun’s immaculate voice just captures you in all the right spots. A Kochi-based software engineer, she tells us how she manages music, work life and still have it all.
The song ‘Seetha Kalyanam’ is one of the top songs right now. How did you get the opportunity to sing this song?
I went to a studio in Panampally Nagar for some work, where I had the privilege to meet Sooraj S Kurup. He mentioned that he has listened to a few records of mine. The very next week I got a call from Sooraj saying there was a project called Solo. He asked me whether I could do this song Seetha kalyanam. I never knew that this movie was such a big project. I am not a movie person, so I didn’t know much about Bejoy Nambiar. Finally, after singing Seetha Kalyanam I knew how fabulous this project and the team are.
Your first Telugu song was Entharo Maha…. under Gopi Sundar’s music direction, which was a big hit and won you an award. How was the experience for you?
Gopi Sundar was looking for a Carnatic singer for this song. Guitarist Sumesh Parameshwar suggested my name to him. Unfortunately, I was hospitalised at that time with a fractured leg after I had met with an accident. But that didn’t stop me from working on my dream debut. My parents weren’t interested to leave me because of my health issues. But nothing could stop me from singing. This song was a breakthrough in my profession; it was a huge hit which led to a lot of awards and appreciation for this song. And the best part is that I still get messages and appreciation for this song daily.
You are quite involved in Carnatic western-fusion. Both are contrasting. How is it possible for you to handle both Carnatic music and Western fusion evenly?
I am essentially a Carnatic musician. But I never neglect the other genres of music. I think that’s why I didn’t find any difficulties in performing western-fusion. See, performing fusion, should have its own essence. Or else it will be a gaffe. And mainly I don’t want to be earmarked as a classical musician because I work on all styles of music.
Nowadays many singers are altering their career into music direction. Do you have any plan like that?
I don’t feel that I have the ability to be a music director. Even though I compose Keerthanam, I really don’t know the technical side of it. I prefer singing. I need to enhance my talent in singing.
I have seen this trend in the music industry where a few singers appear and then they make a great breakthrough by singing one song and afterwards, they just disappear. Why so?
See, singing one song which is a big hit doesn’t mean that you have made it in the industry. Or it doesn’t mean that you have chances to get more offers. Music industry is a really competitive world. We have to put a lot of efforts in it.
When did you develop your passion for music?
I started learning music when I was four years old. My father was also involved in music. Both my grandmothers have also learnt music.
How do you successfully manage to balance your work life and music?
I have great love towards both the fields. I wanted to take both, my work life and music life justly. My family is a great support. Many people advised me to discontinue my job when my first song was out. But still, I managed to handle both. Even now, I go for music classes weekly. I myself am completely occupied with music and work now.
Who is your favourite contemporary Malayalam musician?
A.R Rahman is my all time favourite musician. Taking the older generation, I strongly prefer Johnson sir’s music. And R D Burman sir. I regularly listen to their music. Among the current generation, I like Prasanth Pillai’s music. He has an unconventional path towards his music in each and every movie. I also like M. Jayachandran, Gopi Sunder, who is an excellent music technician.
Featured image source: cinemania.co.in
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]]>The post Motivate your Monday with these soulful renderings appeared first on FWD Life | The Premium Lifestyle Magazine |.
]]>Text: Roshan D Photos: Various sources
On a Monday morning, struggling to wake up, your bed side coffee turning cold and with your mobile phone constantly beeping with work emails, all you look forward to is a source of motivation. A source of motivation that pushes you to get things done and to have the motivation flowing down throughout the week. And how to achieve it has been to question that was answered by many. But what is the source of motivation you looking forward to?
Music has been a source of inspiration to many, including you and me and there are songs that are written and composed just to keep your day going and get things done effectively. Listen to them and make your Monday morning soulful, soothing, inspirational and motivational.
Zion Train by Bob Marley
Bob Marley is known for his inspirational and song writing and this song has done justice to it. Featured in his 1981 album ‘Upspring’, every note of this tune inspires you. Using the simplest words like ‘Oh, where there’s a will / there is a way’, which makes much sense to the common people like us, his songs are a complete go-to when it comes to source of motivation and inspiration.
[youtube video=https://youtu.be/1vaEjIFDACc]
Let’s Go Crazy by Prince
Much known for his soulful renderings, he was one of the successful musician of his times. With renderings being recognised at various platforms, his song ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ is something that one would need on a Monday morning. With lyrics like ‘Let’s go crazy, let’s go nuts, let’s look for the purple banana, till they put us in the truck’, your Monday is sorted as you now know how to perceiver.
[youtube video=https://youtu.be/CEyULqkT0ZY]
Heal The World by Michael Jackson
A world that is filled with love is everyone’s dream and this wonderfully soothing song by Michael Jackson is everyone should take notes from. Focusing on the theme of making the world a better place, one is inspired and motivated to do something good that is beyond their limits, which they once thought is impossible. It’s time to rise and conquer the world and make it a better place – ‘you and for me, for our future children and their children.’
[youtube video=https://youtu.be/BWf-eARnf6U]
Imagine by John Lennon
A music that provokes you is one that actually motivates you to so something and ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon is one such song. Talking about the good things that the world can offer us and asking us to imagine about the possibilities that could make the world a better place. ‘You call me a dreamer, but am not the only one. I hope you someday will join us and the world will live as one.’
[youtube video=https://youtu.be/DVg2EJvvlF8]
Rehab by Amy Winehouse
There are always a few things that we think we can’t do it, that we think aren’t capable of doing it and if you are in that situation, listen to Rehab by Amy Winehouse. You don’t need anyone, but yourself to make that change that you want to see within and thus, happiness follows it. With a constant source of self-motivation, impossible can be possible.
[youtube video=https://youtu.be/KUmZp8pR1uc]
Now that you are all inspired, motivated and pumped to start your day, we have something small to make you happy. Enjoy!
[youtube video=https://youtu.be/sFukyIIM1XI]
Featured image source
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]]>Nicki Minaj recently made news with her act of generosity through Twitter where she pledged to pay off tuition fees for students with straight A’s but can’t afford to pay. Initially, Minaj sent a tweet inviting her 20 million followers to create a video with any new song of hers, but when one person replied saying she’d rather have help with her tuition fee, Nicki agreed.
“Show me straight A’s that I can verify with your school and I’ll pay it. Who wants to join THAT contest?!?! Dead serious,” she tweeted. Minaj soon had made promises in response to more than 30 tweets seeking help paying university tuition, which can be notoriously expensive in the United States, or to cover student loans or textbooks.
Here are a few screen grabs from her Twitter handle:
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]]>Words by Rheanna Mathews Photographs from Rasheed Themes
Sreya Raghav is an up-and-coming singer with successful songs like “Nilamanalil” from Kismath, to her credit, and in an interview with FWD Life, she spoke about her singing, what drives her and the kind of musician she aspires to be. Music is in her blood, says Sreya, the daughter of a music teacher, Palayad Yashoda. She accompanied her mother, who was also a performer and successful playback artist, to events. With an uncle who is a singer and aunt who is a dubbing artist -although she received no formal training in it- Sreya grew up learning to use her voice, with songs and their notes woven into every aspect of her life.
A Nightingale’s Dream
However, she became fully committed to this dream of becoming a singer only once she reached adulthood. Until then, it had been solely her mother’s dream. Sreya says that it has always been her mother who inspired her to sing. In fact, she woke up every day listening to her mother’s singing. So it was a blow when just years into her career, her mother passed away. She took a break from music then and stayed with her sister at Dubai, before she recovered enough to pursue her dream again. Even now, perhaps especially now, it is the thought of her mother that inspires and anchors her.
A native of Thalassery, Sreya moved to Kochi and made it her home in pursuit of this musical dream. Her aunt took matters into her own hands and sent Sreya’s demo to musician and composer Gopi Sunder, which got her her first break, singing the song ‘Ekantham’ to Amal Neerad’s 2013 movie, ‘5 Sundarikal’. It had been a struggle until then, getting to sing only background scores for films and for advertisements. It was a similar, yet more bitter struggle when she came back to the field again. She had already tasted the sweetness of success, but had failed to capitalise on it as she had to take a break in order to nurse her ailing mother.
Music is Life
Now that Sreya has gained the public’s renewed attention and her stardom seems to be on the rise again, she’s begun formal training in Carnatic music. She hopes to branch out to other genres of music too, as she doesn’t believe in limiting herself. It is evident that she relishes taking on any challenge and found it quite difficult when she realised she had to turn down an offer since her lack of experience singing in the ghazal style meant she couldn’t do justice to the song. She hopes to remedy it soon. When asked what advice she would give to an aspiring musician, Sreya’s answer was simple. Be brave. It is never easy, pursuing our dreams and it is important to remember to be brave, to teach ourselves to have confidence in our own abilities. It makes it easier if we have something to hold on to, a talisman, that reminds us why we dream what we dream. In Sreya’s case, it is the memory of the mother who sang throughout her life; even when bedridden. It lends strength to her dream, to her conviction, that she too, is meant to sing.
Songs to Note
- Nilamanaltharikalil (Kismath 2016)
- Loneliness (Kismath 2016)
- Ekaantham (Anju Sundarikal 2014)
- Kanavinum (Arikil Oraal 2013)
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