Jasraj

Pandit Jasraj
Pandit Jasraj at Govind Dev Ji Temple, Jaipur 2011
Background information
Born	(1930-01-28) 28 January 1930
Origin	Hisar, Haryana, India
Genres	Hindustani classical music
Occupations	singer
Years active	1945–present
Website	Official site

Pandit Jasraj (Hindi: पण्डित जसराज; born 28 January 1930) is an Indian classical vocalist. He belongs to the Mewati gharana of Hindustani classical music.^[1]

Early life

Jasraj was born in Hisar, Mewat region, Haryana in an orthodox Brahmin family to Motiram, a classical singer.^{[citation needed]} His family performed the Mewati gharana style. Motiram died when Jasraj was four, on the day he was to be appointed as the state musician in the court of Osman Ali Khan.^[2][3]

Jasraj was initiated into vocal music by his father. He received training from his elder brother, Maniram, and later from Maharaja Jaywant Singh Waghela and Ustad Gulam Kadar Khan of Mewat Gharana. In addition, he trained under Swami Vallabhdas of the Agra Gharana. In 1960, when Jasraj went to visit Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in hospital, Khan asked him to become his disciple, but Jasraj declined saying that he could not accept Khan's tutelage since he was already Maniram's disciple.^{[citation needed]}

As a means of livelihood, Maniram took Jasraj as an accompanying tabla player. However, at the time, like sarangi players, tabla players were considered minor artists. At the age of 14, unhappy with his treatment as an accompanying artist, Jasraj left and vowed not to cut his hair until he learned to sing. He finally cut his hair after garnering his first AIR Radio performance, where he sang Raga Kaunsi Kanada (a combination of Malkauns and Darbari Kanada).^{[citation needed]}

Performing career

Jasraj at the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh, Hyderabad, in 2007

Jasraj's vocal range extends three-and-a-half octaves and uses precise diction, a trademark of the Mewati gharana's style of khayal. He has also done extensive research in Haveli Sangeet under Baba Shyam Manohar Goswami Maharaj to create numerous innovative bandish (composition).^[2]

Jasraj created a novel form of jugalbandi called Jasrangi that is styled on the ancient system of moorchhana, between a male and a female vocalist, who each sing different ragas at the same time.^[2] He is also known for presenting a wide variety of Rare Raags including Gyankali, Abiri Todi, Dhanashree, Patdeepki, Purba, Bhavsakh, Devsakh, Gunji Kanada and Charju Ki Malhar.^{[citation needed]}

Jasraj has many students, including Rattan Mohan Sharma, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Ramesh Narayan, Suman Ghosh, Tripti Mukherjee, Pritam Bhattacharjee, Kala Ramnath and Sadhana Sargam.

In memory of his father, Jasraj organises a musical festival every year called the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh in Hyderabad, India.^[2][3] It ran for 36 years as of 2008. Jasraj participated at the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival.

Personal life

Pandit Jasraj with his wife Madhura

In 1962, Jasraj married Madhura, the daughter of film director V. Shantaram, who he had first met in 1955 during the filming of Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje. After their marriage the couple lived in Kolkata for some time.^[4] They have a son, Shaarangdev Pandit, and a daughter, Durga Jasraj, a television anchor and presenter. Madhura has directed documentaries and children's plays, and directed and produced ballets, Geeta-Govinda, Kaan Kahaani and Surdas, and the TV series, Faster Phene.Madhura made a film, Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj in 2009^[5] and directed her first Marathi film, Aai Tuzha Aashirwad, in 2010, in which her husband and Lata Mangeshkar sang in Marathi.^[6]

Music composers Jatin-Lalit are Jasraj's nephews, and Sulakshana Pandit is his niece.

Awards

• Padma Vibhushan, (art-classical music-vocal) in 2000
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987
• Sangeet Kala Ratna
• Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award
• Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar
• Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar
• Surer Guru
• Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram in 2008
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship^[7] (2010)
• Marwar Sangeet Ratna Award
• Bharat Muni Samman (2010) ^[8][9]
• Samagana Matanga 2012 award

Discography

• Raga Symphony (2009)
• Anuraag (2000)
• Devotionally Yours
• The Glory of Dawn - Morning Raagas (2005)
• Invocation (1993)
• Kanha
• Khazana (2008)
• In Concert Vancouver Vols. 1 & 2(1997)
• Malhar - A Downpour of Music (2005)
• The Meditative Music of Pandit Jasraj
• Parampara - The Mewati Tradition
• Pride of India (2002)
• Multaani & Din-ki-Purya
• Shri Krishna Anuraag (2000)
• Songs of Krishna Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (2000)
• The Spiritual Journey (2005)
• Baiju Bawra Vols. 1 & 2(2008)
• Upasana (2007)
• Miyan Tansen Vol 1 & Vol 2(2006)
• Tapasya Vol. 1 (2005)
• Darbar (2003)
• Maheshwara Mantra (2002)
• Soul Food (2005)
• Haveli Sangeet (2001)
• Inspiration (2000)
• Ragas Triveni and Multani Live
• Ragas Bihada and Gaud Giri Malhar
• Worship By Music/Live Stuggart '88
• Ornamental Voice

Filmography

• Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966, music by Vasant Desai)
• Birbal My Brother (1973, music by Shyam Prabhakar)
• 1920 (2008, music by Adnan Sami)
• Life of Pi (2012, directed by Ang Lee)

Gallery

References

External links

• Official Site
• Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, New York