Harshdeep Kaur
Harshdeep Kaur (born December 16, 1986) is a popular playback singer in India. Harshdeep was born in a Sikh family in Delhi and inherited music from her father, Savinder Singh, who owns a factory which makes musical instruments. Apart from studying, she started learning music at the tender age of six.
She learnt Indian Classical Music from Shri Tejpal Singh, popularly known as the Singh Brothers, and Western Classical Music from George Pullinkala, Delhi Music Theatre. Later, at the age of twelve, in order to explore the world of music, she joined the Delhi School of Music to learn piano. Playing piano is her passion. "She is a singing sensation who is set to rock the music world with her powerful and magical voice", said a music critic from India. At the tender age of 14, She recorded her first album called Romantica.
Harshdeep also has a good command over both western classical music as well as Indian classical music. She feels that Sufi and folk singing is closer to her heart than Bollywood. Music, for Harshdeep, is like oxygen which keeps her life moving.
Milestone
- 1997: Went to Russia after winning a cultural exchange contest in Delhi.
- 2000: Recorded her first album Romantica at the age of fourteen. She sung and composed the title song of alpha punjabi’s show called excuse me please and direct dil se.
- 2001: Won the MTV video GAGA contest 2001. She sung a duet song called aari ve aari with pammi bai, a hit singer from Punjab, in his album nach nach pauni dhamal.
- 2002: Sang in the movie, aapko pehle bhi kahi dekha hai, a song called sajna main hari.
- 2003: Sang two songs in the movie oops namely alag alag and uljalul. She has cut a solo album called romantica which was released by sa re ga ma Hmv.
- 2008: Won the Junoon Sufi ki sultan category
Awards and Competitions
MTV Video GAGA 2001
2001: She won the hearts of millions when she won the MTV video GAGA contest 2001, where she won against 10000 contestants from all over India at a tender age of 14. The panel of judges included artists like Javed Akhtar, Usha Uthap, Jatin Lalit among other eminent judges. In spite of her small age of 14, she amazed everyone with her deep voice and by evoking people’s emotions with the rendition of the all time great Lambi Judai.
Harshdeep is the first female to win two Reality Show titles.
Sufi ki Sulatana
2008: Harshdeep won the singing competition 'Junoon kuch kar dikhaane ka' on ndtv imagine in September 2008. She competed from the Sufi ke Sultan genre with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as her mentor. She was declared the Sufi ki Sultana by Amitabh Bachchan who was the chief guest in the Grand Finale.
The show was a competition between three genres - Sufi, Folk and Bollywood. Eminent singers from India and Pakistan participated in the show.
Harshdeep's presence on the show was appreciated by millions of people across the globe. Her turban-look made her stand apart in the show. Being a Sikh girl, she showed complete respect to her traditions and culture by wearing the turban - a symbol of Sikhism.
Career
Harshdeep recorded her first album Romantica at the age of fourteen. She also recorded her first song as a playback singer at the age of fourteen. Harshdeep is one of the few singers who get the golden opportunity to sing at a young age. Her soulful, mature voice gives a beautiful color to her songs.
Ik Onkar, the Sikh prayer in Rang de Basanti, was a milestone for Harshdeep. It gave her recognition on a wide scale. The prayer is the most popular Hello Tune of all mobile networks in the world. People from all across the globe can relate to this prayer.
Filmography
- Harshdeep on NDTV Imagine (2008) - http://youtube.com/watch?v=kc_iQZRyP0E
- Is Pal Ki Soch - Halla Bol (2007) http://www.liveindia.com/harshdeep/online.html
- Saajana - 1971 (2007) http://youtube.com/watch?v=dGbyUTkd5TE
- Dil Ne Ye Na Jaana - Red - The Dark Side (2007) http://youtube.com/watch?v=cdD_ifNdcCQ
- Ik Onkar - Rang De Basanti (2006) http://youtube.com/watch?v=X82orzYExCc
- Leja - Karam (2005) http://youtube.com/watch?v=fJsfYhD5NbU&feature=related
- Udne Do - Taxi 9211 (2006)
- Ul Jalul - Oops (2003)
- Alag Alag - Oops (2003)
- Sajna Main Haari - Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai (2003) http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=hUaawjWzebY
Interview
Q. You won Lux Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhane Ka.. you were called the audience ki ladli on the show..
A. (Laughs) In a way it was tough to beat established singers like Abhas Joshi and Malini Awasthi. My genre of music was sufi. The show had Pakistani singers rendering songs in rich Punjabi but I simplified my songs.. and made them more appealing for the young listeners. I think that worked.
Q. Would you consider Ek Onkar from Rang De Basanti your breakthrough? A. (Gushes) Yes, yes, yes. I might even do a Punjabi musical.. titled Ek Onkar.
Q. At 21 you have worked with nearly all the music directors.. A R Rahman, Vishal-Shekhar, Pritam, Anand Raj Anand, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Pritam..
A. More the merrier.. I’d want to sing more for them, especially for A R Rahman sir
Q. So you thank reality television for it?
A. I do. Initially the audience only related to the voice. Now they know me by face.. It’s a big deal. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, my mentor, has extracted the best out of me.
Q. What’s in store?
A. Quite a few projects. Kajra re and Idiot Box and my private sufi album. I play the piano, I am a pure musician. Whatever I do in the future – acting or TV — has to be related to music
Q. How was the experience of singing with Mr. A.R. Rehman?
A. I have always admired Mr. Rehman's music. Singing with him was like appearing for the board exams. I was excited as well as nervous. But to my astonishment, the moment I entered into the recording studio and began to sing, everything went by as smooth as an ice cream.
Q. Tell us about the song in Rang De Basanti.
A. It is not a song. It is an extract from Japji Sahib, the Sikh's Morning Prayer. I consider it an honor to sing Ik Onkaar. Since childhood I have been singing it. We recorded the song at 4 in the morning. It is believed that early morning is the time of God and I actually felt God standing next to me and making me sing.
Q. Tell us about your first break as a playback singer.
A. My first film as a playback singer was with Music Director duo Nikhil Vinay for the film Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai. The best part was that for the first time my name was featured along with music maestros like Jagjit Singh, Asha Bhosle, Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Alisha Chinoy and many more.
Q. How was the feeling of hearing your voice on the silver screen?
A. It is a moment that I will never forget. For the first time I was hearing my voice in a cinema theatre. Not only me, but also hundreds of people sitting next to me were listening to my voice. Up till now my only audience used to be my family, but now there were people outside my family who were listening to my voice. My parents were almost crying with happiness. I felt even more responsible.
Q. You started as a pop singer with your album Romantica. When can we expect more albums from you?
A. I am working on my album. I am also composing the tunes. It will be released this year.
Q. That is wonderful. How did you get into composing?
A. I enjoy composing music. I don't want people to know me just as a singer. I want the world to know me as a complete Musician. I love each and every aspect of Music and don't want to stay untouched from any one of it.
Q. How did you come into the field of music?
A. I didn't come into this field. I was born in the house that was full of music. My father, Mr. Savinder Singh, owns a factory of Musical Instruments in Delhi known as House of Music. We had almost all the musical instruments at home. So getting attracted towards music was inevitable.
Q. From where did you get your formal training in Music?
A. Initially, my father used to teach me. But later he sent me to Shri Tejpal Singh Ji (popularly known as Singh Bandhus). I learnt Indian Classical Music from him and Western Classical Music from Mr. George Pulinkala. I also joined the Delhi School of Music to learn the Piano.
Q. You started your career at an early age. Did it disturb your studies in any way?
A. Not at all. My parents have always given a lot of importance to studies. They never allowed me to take unnecessary leaves from school. I have always enjoyed studying as it broadens one's perspective. I did my schooling from Delhi and then my family shifted to Mumbai. The first thing that my father made me do after shifting to Mumbai was to fill the forms of all the colleges and look for the best course. I then joined S.N.D.T. Women's University. I am pursuing a Graduate course in Audio Production.
Q. What is it, besides music, that you like spending your time on?
A. Studies. At college we get a lot of projects and assignments. At home I am always busy completing them.
Q. Everyone has a role model. Who has been your source of inspiration both in and outside the field of music?
A. My father acquainted me to music. He taught me the basic Sa Re Ga MA…. So he is my role model.
