Hans Raj Hans, the undisputed leader of the Punjabi singing fraternity, is as resplendent and unspoilt as when he emerged on the scene in the 1980s. More comfortable talking in Punjabi, Hans remains at heart the simple village boy he once was. Blessed with a golden voice, Hans has sung for Hindi and Punjabi films, and was amongst the first singers to bring Punjabi folk and Sufi music to the international arena. He has lent his voice to international films like Monsoon Wedding , Bend it like Beckham and Viceroy’s House . In Delhi for a performance, Hans, who is turning 54 this week, is looking forward to his forthcoming concert in the US.
Excerpts:
On why he became a singer
Born in Shafipura, a village near Jalandhar, I was the second child among four brothers and two sisters. I was always drawn to music from ever since I can remember; I am told I used to listen to the village singers who wandered around the village with an ik tara and a duff. They would sing folk songs and the “boli” (words) of Baba Farid. I don’t know what attracted me, since I come from a family of farmers, and there was no tradition of music at all. I forced my father to allow me to start learning from Ustad Puranshah Koti.
One day I went to hear qawwali by Ustad Lal Chand at the nearby dargah – I was totally enthralled. I just wanted to be with him; I was so enraptured. My parents forcibly brought me home, but I was determined to go and learn qawwali. In those days, parents usually didn’t support a singer in the family. Eventually I went to him, and stayed with him for years. I did my schooling there too. Ustad Lal Chand’s guru was Baba Murad Shah, who was popularly called Ladi Shah. I was brought up in his “dera” at Nakodar.
I was brought up in the Sufi tradition. The dera was an open house for all travelling saints. I grew up in their company. The discussions were largely about spiritual matters. We used to hear the classical music concerts at Harivallabh Festival. One feels proud to think the oldest classical music festival, established by a saint is in my own Jalandhar! Anyone who has sung at Harivallabh has soared. It’s sad that the old recordings are not available.
Musically, I was trained by my Ustad in the qawwal tradition. He used to say “ai sabar da gaana hai” (this is music is of patience, for patience).
On why he didn’t pursue qawwali like his guru
I saw that the only season during which qawwals were called to sing was in May-June, otherwise there were no concerts at all. They could barely survive. It is only after Ustad Nusrat Ali Khan popularised quwwali in the 1980s that it became such a rage. I realised to make a career in singing I would have to break free and re-invent my style. I had by then started singing at Jalandhar AIR. When I went to DAV College, it was an eye opener. Those days it was the best college in North India with students from the best families – I was this country hick, totally unsophisticated. I had long hair, an untrimmed beard, I looked like a fakir! But my voice made waves, I won several competitions. After college, in 1980, I realised though I thought I was a singer, no one called me to sing! I had no job, I was very downcast.
On his first break
A film Yaarana had just been released in which the hero singer’s friend helps him achieve stardom. My friend, Satnam Gill was inspired by the film to help me. So he brought me to Delhi and introduced me to someone at HMV, and my first record was launched, by the then General Manager Zaheer Ahmed. The record had nine tracks, “Jogiya de kanne wich kacch dee mundaraan” was the title track, and was a huge hit. I composed simple songs, with a spiritual theme, I did not like double meaning lyrics which were popular then.
I went home with my album after 10 years of being away. It was a very emotional homecoming for me; my parents were so very proud of me. After that there was no looking back, I started travelling worldwide to sing, even at Madison Square Garden. In 1984, I was called to Birmingham as a judge for a music event and I met Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He too was from the Jalandhar region originally, and there was an instant rapport. He asked me to sing saying, “teri avaaz che doaba bolda hai” (your voice is the voice of the Doaba). I was overwhelmed; here was this singer with a 500-year-old tradition behind him and he was praising my voice! My film songs got me stardom too, starting from Kachche Dhaage , Nayak , Bichhoo and many more. My pop album Chorni was another big hit.
On taking a long break from the commercial music industry
Somewhere along the way, I realised that my image had moved away a lot from the Sufi tradition in which I was trained. I suddenly remembered what Lal Badshah (my Guru’s Guru) had once told me, you will get very famous, when you have had your fill, come back and establish my darbar here. I had got homes in the village, in Jalandhar, in Mumbai…but I was tired of it. I actually wanted to get out, I felt my health started to give way, and I remembered those words. So I went back to Nakodar and started to make a Taj Mahal like building for my Pir. It took 8-9 years to complete. My mother and mother-in-law thought I was mad to leave my name and fame to live in a small place like Nakodar. But it gave me peace. “Fakiri” (renunciation) was written in my life.
After I set it up, I invited everyone to come and sing at my Pir’s darbar, and have held many concerts there. Now I have again started singing; I had thought I won’t sing again, but I didn’t want to be financially dependent on anyone.
On his most memorable concert
Dilip Kumar once invited me to sing at his birthday. I remember when I got a call from Saira Banu I didn’t believe it was her on the phone. I said “Saira Banu nu main ee milaya gal karnan liye!” (Saira Banu found only me to talk to) I was so excited, as I regard Dilip Kumar as the finest actor ever, like amongst singers for me it is Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
I sang the song “Yusuf Zuleikha” in honour of Dilip sahib and though I was invited to sing for only half-an-hour, I sang for five hours! After the singing, I was invited to eat at Dilip Kumar’s table. I was so touched by this old world courtesy. Afterwards, he presented me with a lovely bracelet, and said, in chaste Punjabi. “Aino dekhna, pher sochna ke keene ditta” (look at this, and remember who gave you this) I treasure this till today.
On his goals
I am not in competition with anyone. By God’s grace I have travelled all over the world. I am grateful that I have contentment; I am happy with my lot, it’s a very big thing.
