Young singers show promise
By Dharam Pal

PREETI UTTAM, daughter of composer Uttam Singh, takes after her father as far as singing is concerned. She has enthralled music buffs with her flawless voice in her debut album Sur, brought out by Times Music. Music is literally in her blood. Her father Uttam Singh is a reno-wned music director. His debut as a music director in Dil To Pagal Hai has made history. Preeti has a firm command over sur, raagas and taals. Her mellifluous voice and tremendous range can steal the show from other singers. Times Music has reason to be proud of its protege.

Even at the age of three Preeti showed promise of her singing abilities. She says: "My grandfather, Sardar B.S. Giany, took me out of kindergarten and set a tough syllabus for me to follow, picking up the basics of classical music and very soon it became the bedrock of my daily existence".

Preeti further says, "classical music is essential for every singer. Without initial training in classical music I could not have achieved anything.

Preeti got a number of opportunities to hone her talent. She learned classical music and light music from Ustad Sultan Khan, Naushad and Sushila Rani Patel and finally she trained under her father. Preeti says with a sense of pride: "The result of my hard work can be seen in my album Sur and it has some of the finest lyrics written by Narayan Aggarwal ‘Narayan’ and each song is a work of excellence". Narayan Aggarwal has already written more than 200 devotional songs for singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishori Amonkar, Shobha Gurtu, Hariharan and Bala Murali Krishna.

Preeti says, "My voice will enrich the listener through all the tracks of Sur starting from Saras Saras to Sur Ke Ghungroo and Tum Ho Mere Man Mein and there is depth, range and maturity in each melody. For any singer a solid classical musical base is an absolute necessity. With that foundation, one day, I want to make it big in the Hindi music industry".

Rajeshwari Sachdev

In keeping with the trend of actors and actresses turning to singing Rajeshwari Sachdev of Margarita fame has decided to try her luck at singing. Dancer, actress, singer par excellence, Rajeshwari Sachdev is a name to reckon with in the music industry. Her debut album Hulle Hullare released by Magnasound is another feather in the cap of this beautiful, graceful and talented artist. Amar Haldipur has provided the music. And though Hulle Hullare is her debut album, her music is bound to enthrall connoisseurs. Her confidence as well as voice control is evident in every number she sings.

Rajeshwari Sachdev says that she started her career with The Indian People’s Theatre Association at Prithvi theatre. "I won the Maharashtra State Award for best actress in my debut Marathi movie Aaytya Gharat Gharoba directed by Sachin. I also got the National Award for the best actress in a supporting role in Shyam Benegal’s Sardari Begum and Screen Videocon award for best actress in the serial Margarita" Rajeshwari’s big break came in the Hollywood epic Little Buddha opposite Keanu Reeves. This film was directed by Bernardo Berto-lucci.

Rajesh-wari got education in music from Mohin-derjit Singh. About her album she says: "It is a bhangra album with a popular touch to it and of course it is a typically Punjabi folk album, since my kind of voice is rightfor it. There are eight songs and the album has its own melody and contains the basic earthy feelings of Punjab".

Being a performing artist it was only natural that she went on to explore new fields. With 13 years of training in Bharat Natyam, the only other field left to explore was singing. And that is exactly what Rajeshwari Sachdev has done with her debut pop album Hulle Hullare.