GLAMOUR WORLD: Pandit Jasraj

Pandit Jasraj is a famous Indian Classical vocalist. He is the foremost exponent of the 'Mewati Gharana' of hindustani classical music. (BCCL)

Pandit Jasraj was born in Hissar, Harayana on January 28, 1930.

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In 2000. Pandit Jasraj won the prestigious 'Padma Vibhushan Award' for his contribution in the field of classical music. (BCCL)

Hindustani vocal maestro Pandit Jasraj recently performed for the New Delhi Municipal Corporation at its weekly open-air cultural programme in Delhi

Pandit Jasraj, the unparalleled doyen of North Indian Classical vocals, has a scholarship instituted by the University of Toronto

Born into a family which has given to Indian music four generations of outstanding musicians, the Mewati maestro, Pandit Jasraj had his initial grooming in music under his father

Jasraj then underwent intensive tutelage under his elder brother and guru, the late Sangeet Mahamahapadhyaya Pandit Maniramji.

Endowed with a rich, soulful and sonorous voice which effortlessly traveses over all three and half octaves, Pandit Jasraj's vocals are characterised by a blend of austere and opulent elements,

In this Jasraj has been guided by his spiritual guru, the late Maharana Shri Jaiwant Singhji of Sanand.

Perfect diction, clarity of sur and command over all aspects of laya are other highlights of Jasraj music

Jasraj pays great attention to the choice of the composition and the words in it.

This sensitivity together with Jasraj pure classical approach have given his music a lyrical quality which is the quintessence of the Mewati style of singing

Jasraj's biggest contribution to Indian music is his concept of a novel jugalbandi based on the ancient system of moorchanas, between male and female vocalists, each singing their respective scales and different ragas at the same time.

Pandit Jasraj has been honoured by the Harvard University Art Museum in the US and has the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation in Vancover and the Pandit Jasraj Academy of Music in New Jersey.

A three-year-old Jasraj, with just the seven notes as his inheritance from his departed father, stepped out into the cold world of harsh realities.

Today, those seven notes make up his rainbow... his bridge to a mystical realm of sound... that lies beyond the applause, the awards, the titles, the trophies, the honours...putting him in touch with the music of the infinite.

Through rigorous training to Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Maniram ensured that this proud legacy would be carried forward through time.

Pandit Jasraj, who has kept it alive to enthrall and exalt our spirits today, is its voice, making sure that the future generations will imbibe its qualities.

Today the number has grown fourfold and Panditji's growing strength of disciples extends across the Indian shores.

Jasraj during photography exhibition at JKK in Jaipur

Bollywood is probably the last thing that one would think of, when classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj's name is mentioned

Director Vikram Bhatt has roped in Maestro Pandit Jasraj for his supernatural thriller, 1920

Jasraj during photography exhibition at JKK in Jaipur.

The song 'Waada Tumshe Hai Waada' has music by Adnan Sami and lyrics by Sameer. The video has been choreographed by Raju Khan.

Pandit Jasraj has sung for a song titled 'Waada Tumshe Hai Waada', for a promotional video of Vikram Bhatt's film '1920'

Indian classical music maestro Pandit Jasraj has rendered his voice for the first time for any Bollywood film

Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sangeet Kala Ratna Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award, Lata Mangeshkar Award

Music composers Jatin-Lalit are his nephews.

In 1962 he married Madhura, the daughter of the legendary film director V. Shantaram. They have a son, Sarang Dev, and a daughter, Durga Jasraj, a television anchor.

In memory of his late father, Jasraj organises a musical concert every year called the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh

Amongst his flag-bearing disciples, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Suman Ghosh, Tripti Mukherjee and Kala Ramnath are well-known exponents of the Mewati Gharana

It is often said that the great artists fail to pass on their craft to the next generation. However, Jasraj has many students and is ensuring longevity of his genre

His greatest contribution to Indian classical music is his conception of a unique and novel jugalbandi, styled on the ancient system of moorchanas between a male and a female vocalist, each singing in their respective scales and different ragas at the same time

Jasraj's vocalizing is in perfect diction and clarity. He also did extensive research in Haveli Sangeet .

Jasraj is blessed with a rich, soul stirring and sonorous voice, traversing effortlessly across three and a half octaves.

Jasraj was also greatly influenced by the voice of the famous ghazal whom he used to listen, skipping school, at a small hotel playing her songs all day.

Jasraj also received training from his elder brother, Pandit Maniramji, and later from Maharaja Jaywant Singhji Waghela

Jasraj was initiated into vocal music by his father, Pandit Motiram.

Pandit Jasraj during a 'Spiritual Morning' event at the Gateway of India as part of the Mumbai Festival being held in association with The Times of India. (Photo/Deepak Salvi)

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Pandit Jasraj's family is well known for singing in Mewati Gharana style. (BCCL Photo)

Honorable former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Pandit Jasraj at the Jamshedji Bhabha Auditorium in Mumbai. (Photo/Kirti Surve)

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