King of Bhangra Pop- Channi Singh (OBE)

 

10 August 

Putting the previous night’s episode behind me, I managed to reach Hounslow with a smile as Channi picked me up from a bus- stop. A two-minute drive took us to a narrow lane in which was situated the small community centre. A step inside exposed a different aspect of the musician’s life. Channi not only had won millions of hearts through his melodious music tunes but had dedicated a part of his life to the welfare of elderly Asian men and women. As director of a multicultural charity, Channi has been devoting almost every Wednesday since 1981 in attempt to make life worth living for the elders. The charity, run by five other volunteers, offers cheap lunch at £2.50 per head to men and women above seventy-five years of age. Elders, mostly men of Punjabi origin turn out in huge numbers and interact with each other for a couple of hours, sharing their happiness and woes. The community centre also plays movies and conducts seminars on various topics concerning the elderly. ‘It’s my second home,’ said eighty-five year-old Yashpal Gupta of Punjab, who walked into Channi’s office, a small room with a table and a few chairs. ‘You know how kids are in the west, so this centre gives good opportunity for beating off loneliness.’ ‘Oh! Vermaji is here, looking fit,’ announced Yashpal. ‘He is ready for a young wife,’ joked Channi, as everybody present broke into a hearty laughter. ‘One fish lunch please,’ said Vermaji, handing cash to Channi. Lunch packets were laid on the tables in the common dining room where we, with twenty other men feasted on the Indian fish curry.

 

Daughter Mona

Post lunch, Channi asked what was the plan. ‘Haven’t met your daughter Mona as yet and since she is following your footsteps, I am keen to meet her,’ I replied. ‘Let’s go home, then, though she will be back only by evening from her bank job.’

Labelled as the Bhangra Diva, twenty-seven year-old Mona is carrying on the legacy of her father, with her two Punjabi album releases, ‘Akhiyan Ch Yaar Vas Da’ and ‘Kanka De Ohle’ a song filled with raw romance. Surprisingly, even though she has met with huge success in music, she still takes her banking career more seriously. As opposed to Channi’s view that Mona has a very strong talent for music, his daughter’s mind is fixed on getting married soon, bearing children and concentrating on her banking profession. She shared her thoughts with me during a conversation in the drawing room, while Channi was busy fixing the fuse of his Mercedes car. ‘But, touchwood, I’m at a point that whichever career I pick up I can be successful,’ claimed Mona. ‘I’m one of the very few Asian women on the pop scene. And with my father’s experience, and edge on the pulse of the new generation, I could have a great career in music.’

But does that mean that both father and daughter agree on music compositions easily? ‘He is so melodious, whereas the young generation prefers straight tunes. We fight in the studio and there have been occasions where I have even had to attack him!’

‘Time to bid goodbye,’ I thought, as I requested Channi to drop me at Twickenham.

‘I’ll come along for the drive,’ announced Dhanwant Kaur, and took over the conversation from the moment we were seated in the car.

 

Goodbye

It was the same route as the previous night, except that it was on a more cordial note. Mona’s song ‘Kanka De Ohle’ played on the disc player as Dhanwant Kaur shared her life’s experiences, speaking aloud from the rear seat. ‘It has been hard,’ she said, ‘coping with Channi’s busy life and especially when the bhangra scene had just arrived. Since Alaap was the only bhangra group, fans, especially women would hound him all day. His aura cast a shadow on my personality, as fans would just talk to him, not bothered that I was standing along,’ claimed Dhanwant Kaur. ‘I’m a headstrong person and I didn’t like the cold shoulder at all. I would say “what a cold person”, whereas as he would say “what a nice lady”. And the clamour of the instruments sometimes used to get on my nerves, like the “hik” you must have heard.’ But she can’t complain much since Channi hasn’t released a new album for years, which has become a cause of concern for everybody.

‘Out of sight, out of mind,’ confesses Channi, frankly disappointed with being left out of the multimedia explosion that took place in Asia, with not a single video release to his name. Composing music for Bollywood movies and concentrating on his daughter’s career have delayed the release of his new bhangra albums for a few years, for which he feels is a let down for his loyal fans. ‘I know my fans want me to release an album soon and the wait will be soon over.’ His new bhangra album is shortly due and Channi will be rocking the charts again. However, Channi who is fifty-two, wants to play a different tune. ‘Since I can sing ghazals very well, that’s the new role I see for myself, with music compositions for the Bollywood industry. I would like to carry on with live band performances and release a couple of cassettes, Jagjit Singh style, perhaps.’ All that is very well Mr Channi, but the fact remains that Channi will be remembered for being the pioneer that he is— the true Bhangra King. Balle Balle!

 

Bhangra legend Channi Singh of Alaap and his star daughter Mona Singh attending Prime Minister David Cameroon’s Vaisakhi reception at 10 Downing Street in 2012.

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