Music

Devotional singers’ Oldham dedication


24/10/2003

One of india's most famous devotional singer Ashit Desai wowed crowds as he joined Oldham's Indian community to celebrate the first day of Navrati.
Ashit who is probably best known for his playback singing in Richard Attenbourough's award winning film, 'Gandih', was at the Indian Association in Schofield Street with his wife Hema and son Alap (pictured below) where the family sang religious Hindu songs.
Ashit, aged 53 was impressed that Indians were keeping up with their traditions in a Western country and said he was dedicating all his songs to Oldham.
He said: "In India you see so many young people who are turning away from Indian tradition and religion and when I come to the UK its so nice to see the Indian community are keeping up with their roots."
Ashit has recently been busy composing scores for dramas, dance ballets, TV serials & films to advert jingles.
His music career started off when Baroda-born Ashit took a diploma in vocal music in his teens and went to Bombay with a single minded determination to carve a niche for himself in the world of music.
Since his breakthrough, Ashit has been honoured time again by the music world. At 18, he won the All India Radio's Best Singer Award in 1969. Since then, accolades and awards have come his way, including the Gujerat state award in 1976 and 1989.
Ashit Say's one of the best memories in his career has been working with sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
He said: "It was probably the most significant phase of my career. Panditji (Ravi Shankar) enlisted me to compose music for the Asiad, which is a huge event in India and this won me the Asiad Jyoti Medal from the President of India. He was a great teacher, a great man to work with."
Ashit now sings with his wife and son although Alap plans to go solo soon.
The 21-year-old said he loved working with his parents but would rather go into Bollywood.
He is in talks with recording studios to start a career in playback singing.


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