Want to show my versatility to audience: Ginni Mahi

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 21

Decked up in a navy blue fusion suit, golden trouser and long, kundan earrings, Gurkanwal Bharti, alias Ginni Mahi (professional name) was a crowd-puller at the HMV College fete held recently. Instead of her trademark devotional songs, she goes in for ‘Jugni’, given the ambience.

Having shot into fame in her teens, Ginni (18) chooses to remain very down to earth at the campus where she is pursuing her BA (I). She strikes a perfect balance being a disciplined student and maintaining her celebrity status. As she walks into her department after her performance, girls at the fete ask her, “Are you the singer Ginni Mahi?” She smiles back giving a short nod. The next demand is “a selfie with you, please”. She obliges all.

‘Next album not religious’

So far, being more popular for singing religious songs related to the Ravidassia community or Dr BR Ambedkar, Ginni now intends to show her versatility to her audience. “I am really looking forward to my new commercial album. I hope that it would be through by next month. Like my other albums, this one too is a home production with all finances managed by my family,” she shares.

‘Had many offers to sing for political parties’

Ginni revealed that she had got many offers from political parties for singing at their rallies. “Me and my family are completely against supporting any political forum. They all play dirty games, of which I do not want to be a part. I am a diehard Ambedkarite. Like Dr Ambedkar, I will not side any party.”

Like any other teenager, this budding singer too has big hopes. “I did my first album when I was in Class VIII at Kendriya Vidyalaya. My first album was ‘Mein dar jana kanshi wale de’. I still laugh at my performance in that video for I now believe that I was too immature at that time.

“I had not even seen Delhi till Class XI, but a sudden popularity that came after my albums ‘Fan Baba Saheb di’ and ‘Danger 2’ made me tour all across the northern India. I then had offer for foreign shows too, but my parents wanted me to concentrate on my board exams. With that stage now over and the college staff fully cooperating with me, now I nurture a desire for a world tour”.

‘PhD in mind, study always priority’

Half of her day goes in college. Ginni has taken all related subjects in her BA, “I have vocal music, instrumental music and dance as my subjects. They are all related to my profession. I enjoy attending practical classes of classical nritya as dance movements makes me more perfect in taal. I also enjoy playing sitar. After BA, I intend to go for MA in music and then PhD too.” he teenage sensation says, “Normally, I keep my shows for Saturdays and Sundays so that my studies do not get disturbed.”