Ek kudi Punjab di

Jasmine Singh

More than a dozen calls a day is the norm for this BA first-year student from Jalandhar. “Hello madam ji,” a pretty sorted voice greets with enthusiasm when we call. “Sorry mere show vich busy si, call back nahi kar sahi,” adds the girl.

Given that this girl has just cleared her class 12 examination with 74 per cent aggregate, you’d wonder what’s the big deal? Well then, you need to know that 17-year-old Ginni Mahi is taking the Punjabi music world by storm. With thousands of fans on YouTube and Facebook, Ginni or Gurkanwal Bharti is unlike any other young singers who normally croon about love, romance, and experiences of growing up. Ginni whose family belongs to the Ravidass faith has her songs pitched totally in the folk tradition, often singing praises of Guru Ravidass and BR Ambedkar.

Oblivious of a great fan-following that she has already garnered, Ginni wants to immediately pullout her laptop to check the same. “I really had no clue about it, since you are saying, I feel good about it.”

Ginni always wanted to be a singer, a passion that is now her profession. “My entire family, and we have a joint family; father, mother, grandmother and two younger brothers, always supported me,” says Ginni, who started singing professionally when she turned 13. “As a kid, I used to sing, but professional singing is a different ball-game all-together.” As any other youngster, Ginni wasn’t too aware of the competitive world outside. She laughs, “I have lived in a protective circle of my family and they are always there for me. In fact, even now whenever a lyricist approaches us with a song, it is rotated within this circle!”

Ginni has taken admission in HMV College, Jalandhar. Studies and music, the balancing act is an old story now. What one wonders about is her professional approach to music and her on-stage presentation. So, no jazz...no rap? She laughs again, “My family has always taught me about being simple in life. Rap and funk is not my style anyway.”

As she is informed about another show in Punjab by her paternal uncle, Ginni throws in a huge smile when called a star. “Thank you ji, I don’t know if I am a star or not, but yes, God definitely has his hand on me,” shares this young girl, whose deep set voice coupled with the right professional attitude has been the talk of the Punjabi music industry. “I want to ultimately go in for Bollywood playback,” says Ginni, who looks up to Lata Mangeshkar and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as inspirations. “I want to be a versatile singer.” Ginni doesn’t forget to play her role in reminding her community about their guru. “Our guru talks about equality; I believe in it too. Music is a tool that can dispense barriers, which are totally man-made. If I am born in a family, part of a community, I would want to promote it because our faith talks about only equality.” Her popular song Fan Baba Sahib Ki, has received thousands of hits on YouTube. As the band of Punjabi men in the song ask Ginni, “Dassi vi Ginni Mahi Babasaheb di bare,” she replies in the song, “Main thi Babasaheb di, jine likheya si samvidhaan.” Music is equal to all, it is simple, brings people together... a thought validated through Ginni Mahi’s singing and her closely knit family.

jasmine@tribunemail.com