I Learnt Urdu For One Year Before Singing For Jaidev,” Says Hariharan

Velvet-voiced veteran  singer  Hariharan  remembers  legendary  music composer Jaidev on his birth anniversary on 3 August.

Says Hariharan, “Jaidevji was  my friend philosopher  and guide. I’ve spent many a memorable  days watching him record songs with some of  the greatest singers  we have had. Jaidevji’s music composition was like a canvas painting .The flow of notes, its juxtaposition with the rhythm gave a visual movement to the songs .The most intricate of lyrics simply said in the most beautiful of musical phrases …that was Jaidev .He was like a sadhu,fakir his religion was music .”

Hariharan sang his first Hindi song for Jaidev. “It was the  Ghazal Ajeeb saneha mujhpar  ghuzar gaya yaaron/Maine apne saaye se kal raat darr gaya yaaron  for  Muzaffar Ali’s  film Gaman.The Urdu lyrics  by  Shahryar  were  complex.Jaidevji made me  learn  Urdu for one  full year.  My Urdu coach’s name  was Chand Bala. It was that year of coaching which made a  professional Ghazal singer.”

  Recalling  his experience  of singing Ajeeb saneha  Hariharan says, “It was my first Hindi film song .Jaidevji gave me the first break .I had met him a few months before at the  SUR SINGAR SAMSAD function.He was one of the judges and he had spotted me there .Muzaffar Ali was making Gaman .Jaidevji wanted to use all-new voices .He asked me to sung Ajeeb Sani ha .Luckily the producer Vilas Sawant  and lyricst Shahriyar also liked my voice.”

Everything  fell into place for Hariharan  during that  momentous recording. “With Gods grace the song was recorded in the first take .I still remember Jaidevji’s happiness when done.The  music of Gaman was very special. It was an amazing album ! Great songs and all new singers .bagged two National awards ! Only Jaidev ji could do it !”

Hariharan remembers  spending many unforgettable  afternoons in Jaidev’s company.  “I used to be his  in-house singer ,picking up his compositions .I’ve  been a firsthand witness to the rehearsals which Jaidevji used to have with the greatest  singers .I  was at the recordings listening, learning, imbibing .He gave me so much love and I did learn a lot from him about composition ,how we should approach lyrics with a view to tuning it  in order  to get  the essence of its feel and meaning .Singing for him was always  an examination for  all his singers.I always had to release  rigorously  for Jaidevji’s recordings. He was a perfectionist.”