Tarana in Raga Saraswati By Bibi Ashupreet Kaur From Jalandhar.mp4

Know Your Artiste
The blessed trinity
Ashupreet and Party
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 11
"The house has been rendered pure," these were the words of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit after she congratulated them for the recital they delivered at her house in January.

They have been part of gurmat sangeet recitals where the rest of the performers have been biggies like Bhai Nirmal Singh, Bhai Gurnam Singh and Bhai Balbir Singh.

Among those who understand and respect Sikhism, the Gurbani and the language of music, real sisters and vocalists who specialise in gurmat sangeet, Ashupreet Kaur, Poojapreet Kaur and Anupreet Kaur, have earned for themselves a reputation which is unparalleled.

The youngest female performers of gurmat sangeet, the fact that they were born into a Hindu family leaves the listeners all the more perplexed and awed, given their soulful rendition of gurmat sangeet and the impeccable pronunciation through which their immense faith in the gurbani shows through.

Born and brought up in Jalandhar, the sisters were exposed to a musical environment right from their childhood.

"Most of our family members are musicians," says Anupreet, the eldest.

Besides their constant support and inspiration, father Tilak Raj, an eminent tabla player, they also closely listened to elder uncle, tabla maestro Shri Kale Ram, cousins Vanita and Jaidev, eminent musicians with expertise in the sitar and tabla, respectively.

Practising classical vocal music in their early period, they learnt music from Ustad Om Prakash Thapar.

They gradually started performing in music festivals. With Anupreet once getting the second position at the Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan and Ashupreet still holds the distinction of being the youngest (6) artiste to perform at the Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan.

Their father was interested in gurbani and Sikh history for a long time. With their grandmother also a keen listener of shabad kirtan, their inclination slowly started taking a shift towards gurmat sangeet.

Occasionally delivering recitals at gurdwaras, three small, humble girls rendering shabads with the dignity and ease of a seasoned and mature musician, they commanded respect from the "sangat" wherever they performed.

Approached by a company which asked them to sing folk songs, their father took the stand and decided his daughters would stick to gurbani. Why?

"I felt it was a test. But faith is stronger than all else," quips Tilak Raj.

In 1998, the trio released its first cassette "Sada Sach Samaal Jeo".

That very year an article on them in a newspaper caught the attention of late katha vachak Giani Sant Singh Maskeen. The highly impressed Giani finally sent an invitation for them to perform at Alwar.

They hit the right chord and the release of their cassette "Prem Lago Har Teer" (2003) with Plasma records gave them a kind of popularity which made them a household name. A series of others cassettes "Tin Jan Dekha Naini" (2004) and "Tera Kiya Meetha Lage" (2005) were also huge hits.

Who composes your shabads?

Mostly it's us. Pooja specialises in compositions of mishrit rags.

Did you ever face problems?

There were times we were kept waiting for so long that we ended up crying. But the love we have got has triumphed over the odds.

Best compliment

People sometimes are teary-eyed after our performance. Elderly people touch our feet. A moved sangat which feels the word of god through us is the best compliment.

Great Performance by Bibi Ashupreet Kaur and her Sisters at Alam Sangeet Sammelan Jalandhar

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Indian Classical
• Raaga

[pramodthakar]

Very good



[Haryanvijaat1]

@5oldier5ingh My friend......YES!

[sukhjitsukhi]

amazingggggggggggggggggggg, no words for this,,,,,,,,,,,,

[5oldier5ingh]

are those picture of ustad Abba Ji (allah rakha khan) and Ustad Bahadur Singh Ji.

[jabasong]

Wah, what a wonderful rendition of raga Saraswati... Once more!!!

[chefshai]

very very good performance and something rare that we dont find nowadays.

very soulful raag, one of my favourite!

Good job girls!

[ganjeshaidan]

it is really an outstanding performance.