Caption: Mr Amitabh Bachchan launches Destiny Album by Pankaj Udhas Anup Jalota Talat Aziz and Sumeet Tappoo Standing with the MD of Saregama Mr Surya M.
MUMBAI: Recognised as the biggest album of 2013, DESTINY was launched by none other than the superstar of Indian Cinema, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan at a grand function in Mumbai.
Destiny, proudly produced by Saregama, is an album featuring three legends Pankaj Udhas, Anup Jalota, Talat Aziz as well as the young & talented Sumeet Tappoo.
DESTINY – What else can you call it when three of the most renowned artistes in the Ghazal world come together for the first time ever for a momentous album! And can it be anything less than destiny that an upcoming youngster, Sumeet Tappoo, joins the terrific trio in that album.
Attended by who’s who of Mumbai as well as a record number of media representing television, radio, newspapers, magazine, online, etc, the function had all the glamour and hype of a Bollywood movie release.
The evening commenced with welcome speeches by Saregama Managing Director Mr. Surya Mantha & Vice President Mr. Adarsh Gupta. Both said that Saregama was very proud to present this prestigious album and were deeply honoured that Mr. Bachchan released the album. Mr. Gupta was delighted with the album and spoke highly of the three legends and Sumeet, who he said was heading in that direction too. He also expressed delight that it was a Saregama album that brought the three legends together for the first time ever.
Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas & Talat Aziz then spoke about the album and were happy that the they had come together for the first time in this album, despite their 35 year association. All three legends paid homage with Urdu “Shayari’s” to Mr. Bachchan and offered their sincere gratitude for his presence on the night. They also acknowledged Sumeet’s outstanding contribution to the album as a talented young artist.
The last to speak, Sumeet spoke about his journey from Fiji to India resulting from his childhood passion for music and his dream to one day sing with the three legends. He offered his heartfelt gratitude to them and Saregama for having him as part of this prestigious album.
Addressing Mr. Bachchan, Sumeet sincerely thanked him for accepting his invitation and gave a fitting tribute to his childhood hero as “the icon of all icons, the pride of India, and a legend for not only my generation, but the one before, the one after and for many generations to come”.
There was thunderous applause in the Novotel Ballroom when Sumeet asked everyone to stand and welcome “the one, the only, Mr Amitabh Bachchan”.
Sumeet then touched the heart of Mr Bachchan by singing “Neela Aasmaan”, a song originally sung by him in the movie “Silsila”. Requesting his permission to sing this as a tribute to the legend, Sumeet said that Mr. Bachchan’s brilliant rendition of this song had left professional singers envious ever since!
Sumeet’s stunning rendition mesmerized the audience. “You sang this song very beautifully” commented Mr. Bachchan.
The legend paid tribute the three senior singers and their contribution towards music over the last three decades. He said that the “Ram Charitra Manas” sung by Anup Jalota was played in his house every morning. He also talked about the close family bond with Pankaj Udhas and his family and that he has been deeply appreciating the Ghazals of Talat Aziz for many years now.
Mr. Bachchan said he had the privilege of listening to “Destiny” prior to its launch. He said he loved the album and encouraged everyone to listen to it, especially when one was alone and at peace late at night.
He then officially launched the album along with the four artists and Saregama heads.
The formal proceedings then ended with a barrage of camera flashes and photographs as Mr. Bachchan posed with artists and their families.
All in all, a night of glitterati and music for all to remember.
About DESTINY
For three decades, the three stalwarts Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas & Talat Aziz have been ruling the music world with their albums and performances. Their own respective fan bases are in the millions not only in India but worldwide. For each one of their fans, this album will be a treat to be cherished.
But add to this, a youngster, Sumeet Tappoo, fast making a name for himself in the Indian music industry. Hailing from the Fiji Islands, Sumeet lends a youthful perspective and a fresh new voice to the album so as to attract the next gen throughout the Indian diaspora. His multiple album releases, his ever growing international fan base and his successful live concerts and performances around the world is testimony to his increasing popularity.
Each artist brings their own unique individual style, to create a masterpiece album and a collector’s item for both lovers of Ghazal and music all over the world.
Penned by (Late) Sri Ram Prakash Goel “Soz”, the Ghazals have been exquisitely composed by Anup Jalota and complete with a soulful musical score by Bhavdeep Jaipurwale.
The four singers have given the Ghazals their heart and soul with brilliant renditioning of their two individual solos each. Perhaps the highlight of Destiny is the “quartet performance” where Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas, Talat Aziz and Sumeet Tappoo come together in a rare treat for music lovers. One must see the music video to see the fun and joy the four portray when singing this Ghazal together.
Destiny is available worldwide as well as on iTunes and all music sites globally.
About Saregama India Ltd:
Listed on the NSE and BSE, Saregama India Limited, is India’s largest and best-known music recording company.
Formerly known as The Gramophone Company of India Ltd, Saregama owns the largest music archives in India, one of the biggest in the world. The ownership of nearly 50 per cent of all the music ever recorded in India also makes Saregama the most authoritative repository of the country’s musical heritage. Saregama has now expanded into other branches of entertainment – it is involved in publishing, television software and digital content. It also runs studio facilities in Dum Dum, Kolkata making it one of the best end-to-end entertainment houses in the country.
For Further details contact:
Seema Mukherjee
9930274902
seema.mukherjee@rp-sg.in
ARTIST PROFILES
PADMASHRI ANUP JALOTA
Padmashri Anup Jalota, known for his versatility, renders both Ghazals and Bhajans with equal grace and finesse. His mellifluous and powerful voice has an incredible range but one which soothes the soul. His live concerts leave audiences spellbound in admiration. He has created world records by achieving Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum awards for over a hundred of his releases. The ever-smiling and ever-obliging legend continues to perform the world-over adding to his thousands of performances already.
PADMASHRI PANKAJ UDHAS
Padmashri Pankaj Udhas has been credited for taking Ghazals to the realms of popular music. His silk soothing voice has attracted millions of fans around the world. The breadth of his success spans across various platforms of albums, playback singing as well as his flawless live performances across the globe. Thirty-three years and fifty albums since his first release, Pankaj Udhas continues to be one of the most successful Ghazal singers of our time. The multi-award winning singer is also a well-respected philanthropist the world over.
TALAT AZIZ
Talat Aziz, one of the most celebrated disciples of Ghazal great Ustad Mehdi Hassan, came on to the music scene thirty four years ago with his first album “Jagjit Singh Presents Talat Aziz” which became an instant hit with Ghazal fans. Three decades on, multitudes of albums and concerts later, the dashing Commerce Graduate from Hyderabad has become a favourite for many around the world for his versatility in singing both Ghazals & Sufi and his soul-stirring renditions for Ghazals in Hindi Films.
SUMEET TAPPOO
Born in Fiji Islands, Sumeet Tappoo, an Australia MBA graduate, has moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in music as a playback singer. His multiple album releases, his ever growing international fan base and his successful live concerts and performances around the world is testimony to his increasing popularity. Sumeet has also sung alongside industry legends such as Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan, Suresh Wadkar, Shaan, Sadhna Sargam and others and has established him as a respectable talent. His obvious progression into playback singing has seen him record a few romantic film songs set for release in movies in 2014.
More information available on www.sumeettappoo.com
PRESS RELEASE