Music in the air

Punjabi television

By 

Randeep Wadehra

Garima Noor, the dulcet voiced lass, arrived with a sheaf of certificates testifying to her talent as singer. However, her debut music album Jazbaat (as solo singer) – which was recently released by the noted poet Sardar Anjum – is proof enough of her talent and potential, displaying her ability to essay different moods in the disc’s eleven songs; there is joy, wistfulness, longing and lighthearted banter. Noor, a young MBA graduate specializing in finance, is the winner of the 2006 Punjab Da Superstar singing competition conducted by ETC Punjabi. Then there are a clutch of first prizes won in different youth festivals she had participated in during her student days. Garima wants to dedicate herself to music in the traditional guru-shishya-parampara spirit. Consequently, she has had two gurus – one the famous Dolly Guleria, under whose tutelage she did a brief stint, and now her mother Savita Jain with whom she had cut a devotional disc Maa beti te kar kirpa some time back. Her two mentors have introduced her to the essentials of classical, light classical and folk music. She has already performed for DD1, DDJ and DD Shimla. Although she has won awards in other fields like Rangoli, dancing and theatre too, and is a professionally trained manager to boot, she says, “Music is my passion and my approach towards it is non-mercenary. I prefer to have education and professional skills in other academic fields so that I may excel in music. Unlike some who jump into the field half-baked I do my riyaaz regularly and would continue to do so because education in music never ends.” Well said.
One was bewitched by a bouquet of folk songs on DDJ’s Sur Punjabi. The rendering of Sufi songs as well as Mirza, was a treat. However, why is DDJ so miserly in highlighting the names of performers? One could catch the name of only one – Gurmit – and that too I am not sure whether I got it right.
Zee Punjabi’s Pindaan Vichon Pind is another very interesting program. It introduces us to various Punjabi singers, writers, poets etc through elaborate interviews held in simple rural surroundings. The idyllic ambience adds great value to the rich content that has immense archival value.
Lastly, but certainly the most important one, is The Masters on PTC Punjabi. Currently Barkat Sidhu is on the show. He and the preceding singer Gurmeet Bawa have been concentrating on Punjabi folk although Sufi too gets due space. One admired the veteran Bawa’s voice control and stamina – she can give any youngster the blushes. Some of the marriage songs, viz., sitthnee, ghodi and suhaag, must have made old timers quite nostalgic. Barkat Sidhu, on the other hand, did sing Sufi songs but reveled in love legends like Heer and Mirza. One little known legend of Sehti and Murad seemed to be his favourite. Sehti was Heer’s sister-in-law. Sidhu’s renderings have the quality of being timeless.
However, there are other legends that have been favourite with the folks since ages and need to be performed on quality TV shows like The Masters; to name just three: Dulla Bhatti, Jagga, and Ballo Mahiya need to be re-composed and presented to today’s’ audiences. Let us hope to see some of the future singers regale us with these.
By the time this column appears in print PTC Punjabi will have announced the date for its music awards function to be held this month. Music wafts in the salubrious March air.
PS:- On 28th February one waited for The Masters till 8.10 PM (scheduled time 7.30 PM) but all one got was mindless repetitions of commercials. Such callous arbitrariness is bound to put off up-market viewership.

THE TRIBUNE