Girja makes forays into Bollywood

by Avtar Bhat

Girja Pandit is the first Kashmiri female singer whowrites and sings the bhajans in both the Hindi and Kashmiri languages. Aversatile artiste, Girja came into prominence after her albums Beda Par KaroJagdambey and Raghupati Raghav Rajaram hit the stands last year.

These two albums were released by veteran actor, Ranjeet who wasthe chiefguest at a function held at Hotel Seaside, Mumbai on August 26,last year in presence of some music and TV personalities.

Besides, Girja, Beda Par Karo Jagadmbey has singers,Suresh Wadkar and Sudha Sharad. The numbers of Raghupati Raghav Rajaramhave been sung by Uday Mazumdar along with Girja. The music to both these albumswas composed by Kamlesh Mehta. The latter has been penned and composed by GirjaPandit and the album has been released by Nice Music. After gaining popularityin the albums, Girja has now turned towards the commercial music and sherecorded a romantic album Payal Baje with Roop Kumar Rathod. This albumwill shortly be released by Nice Music.

Girja, a disciple of famous Music Director, Bhajan Sopori, istoday a national level Kashmiri singer. Her admirers say, the patience, struggleand confidence are the main factors needed today to get a break as singer andthis melodious Kashmiri singer possesses all these qualities.

It is also one of the reasons that Girja achieved her goalinstantly in the form of four devotional releases. The first album released byher was Param pad paun re through which she made an entry as asinger-composer. The album was released by Venus and in addition to Girja Pandit,Vinod Rathod and Sudha Sharad have lent their voice to it.

Besides Girja is also working for small screen like Ibadat(title track) written by her and Hare Kaanch Ki Chudiyan as singer andMusic Director. Three of her Bhajan albums are also ready for release. Kabir andMira (as singer composer) and Shidi Sai has her lyrics. Kabir and Mira areco-rendered with Uday Mazumdar and the last one with Suresh Wadkar.

After coming to prominence some years ago Girja Pandit, did notlook back. She made her presence felt in the music world after getting her fouralbums released one after other which were highly acclaimed by the music lovers.The name and fame which this young versatile artist attained day by day ismerely due to her talent and hard work.

But Girja gives the credit to her father, Mr. Janki Nath Koul, arenowned devotional poet, her mother-in-law, Nirmala Pandit also a spirituallady and Guru, Bhajan Sopori.

Music is both worship and passion for Girja, who was exhortedfrom her very childhood to join this line after getting inspired by her father.

Girja, who is a graduate from Kashmir University has also learntclassical music from Mahinder Jit a renowned Music Director who has launchedsome best singers of the country.

This melodious singer was so interested in the music from herchildhood that she took part in school functions as a small child and to herutmost surprise it really paid as she was awarded by Begum Sheikh MohammedAbdullah when she was a seventh class student in Government Girl HigherSecondary School Anantnag way back in seventies. Later, she participated invarious music concerts at College level and sang for Radio Kashmir, Srinagar.

Since then the music became an integral part of her life and shedevoted herself to it. It was her sheer devotion to music and art that Girja hasbeen selected for the playback singing for his movies in Bollywood. She hasundertaken the job under the guidance of renowned Music Director, Trivani PrasadJaipurwale.

Her Album of Kashmiri Panchastavi which was composed bylate Jia Lal Saraf was also released recently. Girja's hits include Jai MaaLaxmi Mata in Hindi and Rachtam Meh Padan Tal a cassette of Kashmiribhajans was released over a week before.