Anup Jalota

Anup Jalota is popularly known as the "Bhajan Samraat" (Emperor of Bhajans) of India and has spearheaded a mini-cultural renaissance in India by repopularizing the infinite beauty of spiritual music in the form of Bhajans. Anup Jalota, a household name in India, had a monumental 160 plus releases until 1998, and achieved 58 gold, platinum and multi platinum discs for his bhajans and ghazals. He surpassed Presley’s 45 gold and platinum discs between 1980-85, which was the credit of the former in the fifties and sixties. Analysts say that there is no record company in India that did not release his cassette or disc. Anup Jalota is credited with singing more than 500 bhajans and 120 ghazals. He is also known for his recitals in other languages like Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Sanskrit and Urdu, in addition to Hindi

Anup Jalota was born on July 26, 1953 at Nainital and studied at Lucknow. He started learning bhajans at the age of five from his father, Purushottam Das Jalota, a renowned bhajan singer of North India. Now his father teaches 300 students free of cost. He learnt classical music from Bhatkhande University of Music in Lucknow, and completed the courses of Prayag Sangeet Samiti. He does his riyaaz (music practice) only when he feels like it. He is a Sangeet Prabhakar and stood first in Sangeet Madhyama. His spiritual guru is Swami Lokeshanandji.He recorded his first song when he was only seven years old. Anup continued to perform right through his college days and completed his graduation in 1973 in Sanskrit and Political Science. He began his career as a chorus singer in the Lucknow All India Radio, where he received a meager payment of Rs. 250 per month. While working there he mastered the systems of English chords, writing the notations, and the art of composing and arranging. .

Anup always dreamt to be a semi-classical singer and never wanted to enter the silver screen, but when producer-director Manoj Kumar and composer Pandurang Dixit personally asked him to work with them for `Shirdi Ke Sai Baba`, it was an offer he just couldn`t refuse. The film released in 1977 and proved to be a major success. Besides lending his voice, Anup also composed some of the songs in the film, and his link with devotional songs was firmly established. Anup Jalota is now a household name when it comes to bhajans. Known for his versatility, the smiling and ever obliging artiste from Lucknow renders bhajans, ghazals, geets and film songs with equal grace and finesse.

Anup Jalota has performed all over the world, holding audiences spellbound in admiration. He has extensively toured countries like USA, Canada, Europe, West Indies, Africa, Mauritius and many other countries in the Far East. He has also performed in the UK on many occasions at several prestigious events. Out of all the albums he has released, his most famous one is his rendition of the 20-cassette album of `Sampoorna Ramayan`. on Venus.Anup is extremely happy at the success of all his albums, but is even more enamoured by the applause he gets while performing live. He dreams of singing all the 700 shlokas of the Bhagvad Geeta! Anup has lent his voice in many films like `Ek Duje Ke Liye`, `Asli Naqli`, `Dekha Pyar Tumhara`, `Qatl`, `Dard Ka Rishta`, `Dadagiri` and `Nastik` besides a few more. His Bhajan Sandhya, which sold five lakh copies that his super hit bhajan ‘Aisi Laagi Lagan, Meera Ho Gai Magan’.
The popular ghazals for which he is credited the most are given below

1. 'Chaand Angdaiyaan Le Raha Hai'
2. 'Tumhare Shahar Ka Mausam'
3. 'Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon'
4. 'Rukh Se Parda Hata De'
5. 'La Pila De Saqiya'
6. 'Mere Kabr Par Pate Huye'
7. 'Tum Kya Samjho Tum Kya Jano'
8. 'Kategi Ye Zindagi Ab Rote Rote'
9. 'Laga Chunari Mein Daag'
 
The fourth estate has overwhelmingly stated it many a times that his voice is not only sweet and evocative, but it has a wide range. He sings geet, ghazal, bhajan and film songs with equal grace and finesse. Wherever he goes, his easy charm and mellifluous voice hold his audience spellbound in admiration. 


Source: http://rdu.cryamerica.org