Hans Raj Hans

Hans Raj Hans

Hans Raj Hans with younger son Yuvraj Hans
Background information
Born 9 April 1964
Origin Shafipur, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Years active 1983–present
Website www.hansrajhans.org

Hans Raj Hans is a Punjabi singer from Punjab, India and politician. He is famous for his long golden curly hair and his classical variations in singing. He has been singing folk songs for many years but recently sang a number of Gurbani shabads and dharmic geets (religious songs).

Born into a Sikh peasant family at a village called Shafipur near Jalandhar he sings Punjabi folk and Sufi music, has also sung in movies and has also released his own 'Indipop' albums. He has worked alongside other renowned artists such as the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, as seen in the movie Kachche Dhaage.[1]

Hans Raj Hans sons Navraj Hans and Yuvraj Hans revealed on their Facebook pages the news/ rumour of their father converting to Islam in February 2014 is bogus, also humbly requested everyone to stop spreading such information [2] [3]

Early life

Hans was born in a village Shafipur very close to Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He is the second son of Sardar Rashpal Singh and Mata Sirjan Kaur. Hans had no musical history in his family, yet he began singing at a young age. He started his career by performing at youth festivals and first became known by winning musical competitions.

Hans Raj Hans was born with singing talent. Though he was influenced by a street singer named Sitara Singh, who used to come near his house every day and sing Punjabi devotional songs. He would listen to him every day. Hans was a devotee of Ustad Puran Shahkoti Sahib, from whom he had learned to sing since his teenage years. Ustad Puran Shahkoti Sahib is a Sufi singer and it was because of him that Hans learned to sing in Sufiana style. His guru(teacher) gave him the surname 'Hans'(swan) due to his fair impressive look and his sweet singing voice like a 'Hans'.

Career

Musical career

He is a gem of Punjabi music industry. In his young age Hans Raj Hans learned from renowned music director Charanjit Ahuja. Then he started singing Punjabi folk, devotional and Sufi music[4] He also sang in movies and released his own Indipop albums. He worked with renowned artists such as the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, in the movie Kachche Dhaage[5]

He was awarded an honorary music professor at Washington DC University and San Jose State University.[6]

During Hans's student days at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar he won the top University singing award in Punjabi folk singing for three years in a row. Hans was also awarded Punjab State Singer Award by Punjab Government. Recently, Hans received the fourth highest civilian award of India Padma Shri Award for arts.

His popularity started touching the sky when he sang 'Ni Vanjaaran Kuriey'. It was a culturally rich classical item and basically gave the taste of real Punjabi music to all Punjabis around the globe. A song written by famous Punjabi writer Mr. Jasvir Cheema 'Mera Dil, Mera Dil...' was also a unique song and Hans refined it with his classical touch of ....'ray ray saa saa ray ray saa saa....' first time in Punjabi folk songs' history. His first album was 'jogian de kanna vich kach diyan mundra'. Hans worked very hard to prove himself and raised himself to this level of a deserving singer. Nothing could divert his focus from singing even during tough times. He never gave up. There was no stopping for Hans after this and every single album was hit. He is a Sufi singer of his times and has lived to his title by introducing his album 'Tera Ishq'.

Hans Raj Hans at a Relgious event

Political career

On 16 May 2009, he unsuccessfully competed for a Lok Sabha seat in the Jalandhar, Punjab constituency in Indian Punjab on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket.[7]

Discography

Albums

Bollywood

Religious

Filmography

Jaadu

This album will be releasing in June 2014.

Music: DJ Sanj

Lyrics: Satwinder Birdi, Veet Baljit, Pirti Silon & Hans Raj Hans

Tracks: 11

Featuring: Deep Cold & Roach Killa

Label: Kamlee Records & Speed Records

References

  1. ↑ "Patiala House". The Times Of India.
  2. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/navraj.hans.1?fref=ts
  3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/iamYuvrajHans/posts/475028412602140:0
  4. ↑ If one thing falls in place.... Hindustan Times (21 January 2011). Retrieved on 19 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Symphony Hall, Birmingham:Press Office". Retrieved 5 October 2006.
  6. ↑ "Melody is out, noise is in, says Hans Raj Hans". The Times Of India.
  7. ↑ "Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans in LS battle from Jalandhar". business-standard.com. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

External links