Narendra Chanchal: the Singing Icon, whose Devotionals were a Global Rage

 

Think of Goddess Durga and one of her ostensibly favourite sons comes to mind: Narendra Chanchal, the iconic singer who carved a unique place in devotional singing and the genre remains synonymous with him. He specialized himself in rendering devotional songs/hymns in praise of the Maa Bhagwati. His voice was widely believed to be a hotline to the Mother Goddess and he had the power of intercession. Chanchal was the flamboyant face of the Bhagwati Jaagran, a nightlong session of songs in praise of Maa Vaishno. Though Jaagrans have thousand years of history, but the credit to convert these into outdoor grand music shows goes to Chanchal, earning him the titles ‘Jaagran Samrat’, ‘Dhyanu Ke Avtaar’, ‘Maa Bhagwati Ke Lal’, ‘Aalokik Kanth Ke Swami’ and many more. His mellifluous voice had the ability to pierce straight into the listener’s heart, making every listening an emotional and spiritual experience. 

Chanchal, came to be identified with high-pitched Bhents/bhajans. He would not just sing bhents extolling the greatness of the deity, he would even dress up in a “Mata Ki Chunri”. In his concerts, he would regale his listeners by constantly interacting with them, often asking them to sing along. No one will ever walk up to Maa Vaishnodevi shrine without hearing his voice resounding through the Trikuta hills. Chanchal soared from local fame to international stardom via this route. Navratra celebrations across India, USA and Europe are incomplete without his bhents. He, however, did not fail to note the increasing exhibitionism and consumerism creeping into matters of faith.

The 'Voice of Jaagran', Chanchal also hit a high note in mainstream Hindi cinema. Sung by the irrepressible Narendra Chanchal, the super hit song "Beshak Mandir Masjid Todo.... Main Ni Bolna" (Bobby-1973) was soaked in the truth of life, which got him the Best Male Playback Singer Filmfare Award on his debut. An ordinary man Narinder Kharbanda became an extra ordinary person Narendra Chanchal. At a time when most singers were content to sing romantic numbers, he stood out for his ability to sustain high-pitched songs with ease. Very few romantic songs came his way, but he carved out his own niche with what came his way. He had the rare ability to get into the soul of the song, and make it entirely his own. It was the intensity of his voice and the emotional quality that made him special.

Chanchal was born as Narinder Kharbanda (Nindi) on October 16, 1940 in Namak Mandi, Amritsar. His father Chet Ram Kharbanda was a small time investor in share market. His mother Kailashwati, a devotee of Mata Rani, used to sing hymns. Nindi’s tryst with devotional music commenced at the age of 8 years when he started singing hymns and bhents of Vaishno Maa. He followed his mother into Jaagran singing, the devotees would just leave a garland or two or a rupee in appreciation of his singing. His childhood was full of struggles, even he could not afford a pair of slippers.

He attended Gian Ashram School, Amritsar and excelled in outdoor games. But he was a naughty boy and due to his flickering behavour, his Hindi teacher Shastriji started calling him ‘Chanchal’. Later in life, the entire world recognized him as ‘The Midnight Singer- Narendra Chanchal'. He was admired by his teachers for his writing skills and admiral thinking. His poems were published in newspapers like Milap. He participated in a state level singing competition in Chandigarh dropping his school examinations and luckily, he won the competition.

Since there was no radio or gramophone at home, Chanchal would run after cinema-advertising rickshaws and even he would walk after the death processions for listening to the music. Sometimes he would go to a nearby Paan shop and sit there listening to songs of Mohammad Rafi. He accompanied by tabla master Ustad Darshan Lal Lohgarh, used to perform at Bhagwati Jaagrans and wedding functions. After he picked up the nuances of the devotional singing, he started taking professional lessons from Ustad Prem Trikha. His fortune sparkled only after he had performed at Siddha Shaktipeeth Shri Devi Talab Temple, Jalandhar. Soon he became part of a famous musical group, which was chosen by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry to entertain Army Jawans at the India-Pakistan and India-China borders.

Chanchal embarked upon his musical voyage with the recording of 'Tere Naam Di Japan Main Mala' by Polydor India under the cover 'Devi Diyan Bhentaan'. The cassettes of his various bhents were later released by reputed record companies. Initially he was singing bhents based on popular Hindi film songs and then started composing his own bhents. He included some words in his bhaints, which were objected to by the spiritual preachers and Mahants. Though he was not a member of Mahant Gharana but he had his firm belief in Bhagwati Maa. Whenever he got any idea, he would just need to pull a pen and the thought converted into a Bhent. Possessing a distinctive voice, he made a name for himself in religious circles and his devotional songs resounded in temples and homes across the country.

Chanchal sang a famed 17th-century Sufi Baba Bulleshah poem ‘Ni Main Kamli Haan’ at the annual concert "Baisakhi Ki Sham" (13 April, 1972) in Mumbai and was awarded a gold medal for his excellent performance. The great showman Raj Kapoor was enraptured by his shrill, high-pitched voice and crisp diction. After a quick backstage meeting and a tight embrace, Raj Kapoor offered him to sing in his forthcoming movie 'Bobby'. Chanchal found himself in a recording studio three days later, crooning for composer duo Laxmikant Pyarelal. He featured as a folk singer on-screen in the high-pitched ‘Beshak Mandir Masjid Todo’ (Bobby-1973). And what a debut it was, the audience gave him a standing ovation. This captivating song catapulted him to the echelons of Hindi film music.

He became much sought after playback singer and the film directors created space to have his songs in their films, but he was very choosy. His next venture ‘Yara O Yara Ishq Ne Maara’ (Be-naam) under the baton of R.D. Burman proved another superhit. After that came hits like ‘Baki Kuchh Bacha To Mehangayi Maar Gayi’ (Roti Kapda Aur Makaan), ‘O Maiyya Beta Tujhko Pukare’ (The Cheat), ‘Kabhi Gham Se Dil Lagaya’ (Daku), ‘Tune Mujhe Bulaya Sheranwaliye’ (Aasha), ‘Rab Na Kare’ (Do Shatru), ‘Meri Zindagi Tere Pyar’ (Jeevan Sangram), ‘Do Ghut Pila De Saakiya’ (Kala Suraj) and ‘Huye Hain Kuchh Aise’ (Anjaane) etc. A cult bhent ‘Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai’ (Avtar), he belted out many years ago, still wrenches at the heartstrings of the devout. His voice added magic to such songs and each of those could quite literally blow the roof. Such was his uniquely gifted voice.

His co-singers were all the giants Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Mahendra Kapoor, Kumar Sanu and Sadhana Sargam etc. While he sang a lot for Sonik-Omi, however, his success record was highest with Laxmikant Pyarelal. He also sang under Kalyanji-Anandji, S. Madan, Sapan-Jagmohan, Ravindra Jain, Bappi Lahiri, Shamji-Ghanshamji and others. His last movie was Anjaane (2000) with Rajesh Roshan. He also made cameo appearances in films like Bobby, Benaam, Jai Mata Di, Sarpanch, Dharamjeet, Sardara Kartara and Tara Rani Ki Amar Katha etc. He gave playback in more than one hundred Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bangla and Marathi films.

However, he slowly extricated himself from the film scene when he realized that he was being stereotyped as a devotional singer. He moved to Delhi and created his banner “Chanchal Nights”. He played an important role in stabilizing devotional music industry. High pitch master Chanchal became one of the most famous Jaagran singers in the country. Some of his evergreen devotional songs are: Ambe Tu Hai Jagadambe Kali, Bhor Bhai Din Charh Gaya Meri Ambe, Aankhiyan Udeekdiyan, Dil Wali Palki Wich Tenu, Saj Dhaj Kar Baithi Maa, Om Jai Ambe Gauri Aarti, Sankat Mochan Naam Tiharo, Ram Se Bada Ram Ka Naam, and others. He had several hit albums to his credit in Hindi and Punjabi. He also sang qawwalis, Muslim devotionals and folk songs. He gave several shows in USA, UK, Dubai, Singapur, Malaysia etc.

He was passionate about the glamour he sported on his person. As an adult, he worked in a dry cleaner’s shop. He used to look at the fancy clothes and stroking those suits. He admitted to remembering those days with irritation. Now Durga Maa had generously fulfilled his childhood desires. He was married to Namrata Chanchal on August 31, 1972. Next year, his eldest son Siddharth (Bobby) was born. Subsequently, the couple had one daughter Kapila and another son Aman.

He also penned his autobiography titled “The Midnight Singer- Narinder Chanchal: The Extraordinary Journey of an Extraordinary Man”, which unfolds his life story and his struggle to achieve big in singing. During his lifetime, Narendra Chanchal won many accolades including Raj Kapoor Memorial Award for his contribution to Indian music industry. He was also awarded the Honorary Citizenship of State of Georgia in USA. 

Aware of the pains of poverty, Chanchal founded Ekta Mission and Narendra Chanchal Institute for Non Formal Education for the deprived lot. Ekta Mission provides a platform to slum-children for training in music and dance. Ekta might not have produced rags to riches stars yet, but Chanchal continued his efforts to give a voice to the voiceless. He founded Mamta Ka Mandir for the elderly and orphans.

Keeping pace with the modern times, he composed song on the girl child. While on his tours abroad, he would end the show with a song dedicated to Bharat Mata. Narendra Chanchal came up with his swan-song “Kitthon Aaya Corona?” last year. He was suffering from age-related diseases and clotting in his brain cut short his life. He proceeded to his heavenly abode on 22 January, 2021.

Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai, Mata Ne Bulaya Hai………………..