Anup Jalota

Anup Jalota is one of India's most prolific vocalists. Equally skilled at singing bhajans, ghazals and classical music, Jalota recorded such hits as "Aisi Lagi Lagan," "Rang De Chunariya," "Chand Angdaiya Le Raha Hai," "Maiya Mori Mein Nahin Makhan Khayo" and "Jag Mein Sundar Hai Ghulam." Jalota has taken an ethnomusicologist's approach to preserving India's traditional music and has released two extensive collections of music in the sanskrit language. Ram Charit Manas: Ramayan is a set of twenty cassettes, while, Bhaqwat Gita is an extensive collection of thirty cassettes. In an early-1990s interview, Jaluta said, "My music has given people a lot of peace, a lot of good thoughts and I feel the difference in me also." The son of famed singer and teacher, Purshottam Jalota, Jaluta made his debut as a vocalist at the age of seven. Moving to Lucknow, he studied Hindi classical songs with Bhatkande Sangeet Vidyalaya and attended Lucknow University. Shortly after relocating to Mumbai, he launched his career as a chorus singer. His first break came when he appeared in the Manoj Kumar-produced film, Shirdi Ke Saibaba. ~ Craig Harris