Chennai :
In a recently concluded Music and Literary fest by MGR University, a voice with layers of poetry grabbed the attention of over 300 students in the auditorium. Jyothi Nair Belliappa, a qualified academician and Ghazal singer captivated the audience with her soothing ghazals and Sufiana qawwali.
“Ghazal is a very representative art form and I am lucky to have had a strong connection with it,” shared the singer.
As she began performing with Munna Shaokath Ali and Rajesh Dhavale (tabla), her ghazal Ulfat Ki Nahin received a thunderous applause from the audience with a ‘Vah! Vah!’ (A typical way of acknowledging/appreciating a poetry).
“I was glad that everyone understood the essence of what I sang. This is a type of music where you feel the words,” she said. Her meditative rendition of the Ghazal Aaj Jane Ki Zid na Karo and her projection of Yaar tha Dil were some of the key songs of her performance.
Jyothi began singing as a child and credits her parents for instilling this undying passion in her. “I am from Delhi and my parents were from Pakistan (before the partition). I was always stuck to the Urdu language, it has a different effect on me,” explained the recipient of a National Scholarship for post-graduate studies in English Literature.
Mushairas, poetry and music was always a part of her life and she decided to never let go of her passion. “Initially my parents were my only spectators, then my audience grew. Today, I don’t miss an opportunity to perform and I sing whenever and wherever possible,” shared the preparatory head of KM Music conservatory.
Jyothi not only has a diverse music background, but also has diverse specialisations in education. She studied Psychology, Hindustani classical music and has an MPhil and PhD in English Literature from the University of Madras. “I have been singing in Chennai since 1996. Many people ask me how I’m good at Ghazals. Well if you understand the language everything is easy isn’t it?” she smiles.
“Love, death, beauty, life, immortality and more can be conveyed through it. A painful wail of a deer can be dressed with poetic embellishments to portray the pain aesthetically,” explained Jyothi.
So, what does she think about the present music trends? “I am very open-minded and don’t mind children venturing new paths. They are very well-informed and want to try everything,” she said pointing to the recent fad of fusing different genres of music.
Idolising renowned Ghazal singers Munni Begum and Nayyara Noor, she said, “I want to keep practicing, learn more and keep getting better.” She calls herself a person having her fingers in too many pies. “I do too many things but, I am grateful that I have also been able to strike a balance.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Roshne B / April 07th, 2016