BEYOND TIME: THE AGELESS MUSIC OF JAGJIT SINGH

The Pictorial Biography of a Superstar

Jagjit Singh is a musical superstar, an artiste who has almost singlehandedly revived the ghazal as an art form for our times. He has broken the barriers of language to endear this poetic form to even those who cannot understand its lyrics but respond intuitively to the emotion of his singing. Not just the ghazal but Urdu poetry as a whole has received a shot in the arm, thanks to his enormous popularity which extends to millions of fans around the world.

How did this happen, what was the path to super-stardom, what explains his amazing popularity?

Here is that story in a book authenticated by the maestro himself :

"BEYOND TIME: The Ageless Music of Jagjit Singh" .

"Beyond Time" is more than just a biography. Based on close to 40 hours of recorded interviews with Jagjit and Chitra Singh, with members of their family, with friends, musicians, poets, film directors, colleagues, it is written with the warmth and intimacy of personal recollections. Its total authenticity comes from candid memories revealed for the first time; the words come to the reader just as they were spoken, evoking deeply-felt emotions of joy and sorrow.

In this simple and direct approach Jagjit Singh speaks in his own voice about his life and his music, his modest beginnings and years of struggle, his ultimate success, his personal and musical partnership with his wife, Chitra and the terrible tragedy they suffered with the death of their son. His own account is made richer by the participation of not only Chitra, but also those who know him best, voices that recount rare insights, anecdotes, observations that present both the public and private worlds of a musical phenomenon.

The book is structured in six chapters, with a Foreword by Lata Mangeshkar. While the main text follows a chronological narrative, sub sections capture facets of the man and his music, ranging from his thoughts on the ghazal and composition to the active encouragement he gives young singers and his quiet dedication to charitable causes. Also highlighted are six of his albums, from the pathbreaking "The Unforgettables" of 1976 to "Samvedna" released in 2002 featuring the poetry of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The text is complemented by photographs from Jagjit Singh's own collection, family and studio sources, as well as some specially shot for the occasion; a variety of images that capture the many faces of Jagjit Singh, from nostalgic sepia prints of the young eager student of music to mood shots of a mature artiste at the pinnacle of fame and career.

Pankaj Kodesia, the publisher of the book, says "it is a 'must read' not only for millions of Jagjit Singh's fans but all those who love music & musicians".

A collector's item, the book's limited edition carries an insert of a double CD album of Jagjit Singh's favourite selection over the last 3 decades, ghazals and nazms that follow the musical journey described in the text.