Geeta Chhabra

I have been influenced by music, from the age of nine or ten. My mother's memories always bring with them lilting notes and her sweeping open voice. She enriched me through her songs. My father recited and translated Ghalib, Mir, Zauq with such a profound involvement that he almost forgot his audience, every time! I enjoyed their moments of glory at the frequent large family weddings. Music was always a popular subject at home and all my siblings had the ear and voice for it. Two sets of radios lived a free life in our huge, sprawling home; at one end my grand-father heard the news in Urdu and at the other end songs would be playing from different stations. Throughout my school and college years, I learnt folk and light music. I loved it, when as a child I sang 'Aye Malik Tere Bande Hum' from the film Do Aankhen Bara Haath, in our drawing room filled with relatives. My grand-father was so pleased with my singing that he gave me a ten rupee note with a big hug and a blessing. Till today, the song and the scene fill my heart with lasting warmth. Marriage strengthened my interest in singing further and I have kept up with my lessons of singing. It was good to record for a few years; the exposure to studios and marketing is another world of its own. The requisites of performing on stage gave me a sound training in sequences. Now, rendering Bulleh Shah, Faiz, Mira, Kabir or Ghalib has a deeper meaning than those earlier days. My soul is consistent enough to score for: The One and Only. There is no doubt in my mind, this is the ultimate ever joy, for me!