Love & Longing

It’s a genre that has few names to begin with,and among the few known voices,one that strikes a soulful note every time is city’s Arjun Jaipuri. The versatile artist has added yet another feather to his cap is his latest album ‘Mohabbat’ which was released at the the Pracheen Kala Kendra,Sector 71,Mohali by R.N Prashar,Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary,Irrigation Government of Haryana. “This is the first. There are three more in the pipeline,” tells Jaipuri,after his concert at the Kendra in Sector 71.

For Jaipuri,it was love and passion for music that has brought him success. “It was not an easy sail. I had to face many hardships. My grandfather used to play the tambura in temples and I used to sing along. Our family has always been dedicated to music be it my grandfather or my children now,” tells Jaipuri. Originally from Guwaradi,a place near Jaipur,Arjun has represented India internationally and held concerts in ghazals,geet and bhajan all over. “When I was 15,I used to listen to songs of Mohhamad Rafi and ghazals by Mehndi Hasan. They were a great inspiration,and I remember picking their songs for school level competitions. This served as my base,” says Jaipuri adding how he’d always aspired to become a playback singer. “Sukhwinder ‘Jai Ho’ Singh and I used to sing together on the same stage. We used to perform at all concerts and I am happy to see that he has reached great heights,” he recalls old memories.

A disciple of Pandit Chiranji Lal Tomar,Ustad Monuddin Khan and Ustad Barkat Sidhu,Jaipuri is a widely traveled artist and has won critical acclaim. He’s given music in regional films such as Jaatni,Bahu Batwa Si and TV serials like Dayre and Kalyani. He has also cut cassettes of bhajans (Devon Ke Mahadev,Jyot Jale Din Raat) and ghazals (Yeh Haseen Chehre).

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His wife,Jyoti Jaipuri,too is a renowned singer while his daughter,Kanupriya Jaipuri has started contributing to music albums in Japan. “I feel proud when I see that my children are following music. My younger son Mayank had cleared the Indian Idol auditions but due exams,couldn’t go. I’m sure he will make it next the finals next year,” Jaipuri’s positive. On ghazals,Arjun says,”Times keep changing and nowadays people are again rushing towards soft and peaceful music.” To more soulful gayaki.

Meanwhile,the concert saw a spellbound audience as Jaipuri weaved magic with his soulful renditions. Articulating rhythm on the tabla was Avirbhav Verma along with Ajay Mitha on the keyboard,Goldy and Lakshman Mitha on the Guitar and the octopad respectively.