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| Pictures by UB Photos |
His heart croons the music of his soul. And when he sets them to tune, audiences across the length and breadth of India listen enthralled. Bollywood music director and singer Ravindra Jain has crossed all the hurdles in life to build a place for himself in the tinsel town hall of fame.
?My visit to Guwahati is not that frequent, but every time I come to the place, I feel like breaking into a song. The city brings me closer to nature and has a great influence on the kind of music I prefer to compose,? speaks Jain like a perfect guest.
?This time I am here to serve the Lord of Mathura, Sri Krishna. I am delighted to be able sing bhajans for my lord on the occasion of Janmasthami,? he says. Ravindra Jain?s recent bhajan programme on the eve of Janmasthami at Fancy Bazaar won rich appreciation from his fans and Krishna devotees.
Born and brought up in the cultural heart of India, Aligarh, Jain?s lessons in music started early, when he was just a kid of four. ?I am blind from birth. My parents introduced me to Indian classical music to help me cope with my handicap. Today when I sing I pay my humble gratitude to them for showing me a path where one can only encounter eternal bliss.?
He sheer strength of his will rings in his every word as he stresses, ?I do not consider myself physically-challenged. I can clearly see with my soul. I have given blindness a tough fight, and I do think I?ve won. Now nothing can deter me from doing what I wish to do.?
?But my only complaint is not having any formal training in academics. Schools then were reluctant to admit a blind child. Generally regular schools have a notion that physically-challenged persons are somehow less competent than the so-called normal children. Unfortunately, that notion persists still this day,? he rues. ?But with the advancement of science and technology and with some support from the general public the stigma attached with a physical handicap can be easily eradicated,? says a confident Jain.
?I believe that the word ?handicap? holds no meaning at all in the present context. Every human being suffers one form of ailments or other, whether physical or mental. So everyone is fighting against odds to emerge triumphant in life. Without challenges life would hold no meaning at all.?
A student of Prag Sangeet Samiti of Aligarh, Jain has scored music for over 200 Hindi and regional films. He has also composed music for many a popular TV serials like Ramayan, Sri Hanuman and other prime time shows.
A singer-composer who scaled such artistic heights, Jain, however, remains firmly rooted to reality. ?At present I am not too prominent in the Hindi film scenario as I am not someone to compromise on the quality of my music.? To that he adds: ?Today the western influence predominates the Hindi film scenario. I am not against change per se, it is only that I am averse to cheap carbon copies of an art form.?
Oozing praise for Assamese folk culture and tradition, Jain says, ?I spent 10 years of my life in Calcutta. It was there that I learnt of the rich musical heritage of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and, of course, Assam.? Music lovers till today hum his melodies like Gori tera gaon bara pyara from Chitchor. ?That song is still a rage among connoisseurs. It is based on Assamese folk and a tribute to this beautiful land of Bihu,? he smiles in reminiscence.
He is visibly proud of his association with the Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar and other legends of the music industry. ?It has been privilege to have worked with master performers like Lata and Ashadi. Also, the iconic Mohammad Rafi.?
Ask him about the present generation and he says: ?Among the current crop of singers Kavita Krishnamurthy and Sandhana Sargam are very talented.?
He goes onto add, ?Assam too has a great pool of talent and I am sure many of them will make a name for themselves in the music scenario.?
Not one to rest on his laurels, Jain is busy translating into Hindi the Sam Veda, other Vedic literatures and the Quran.
?Today I own a music company, D.R. Productions. And my wife plays an instrumental role in most of our Productions.?
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He also coaches students in the nuances of various ragas, surs and taals. ?This generation is very talented. And if they can resist the temptation of quick success, and focus on riyaz they too will go very far,? cautions Jain.
?My greatest award in life is that people have showed immense love and respect for my work. I don?t pine for any other reward,? he says.
A braveheart who has crossed all the hurdles, a winner on all fronts, Jain visualises the world through the prism of thousands eyes of his soul. ?I will keep singing and composing songs till my last breath,? he signs off.
Maitreyee Boruah