Today is the birthday of famous singer Alka Yagnik. Alka Yagnik has hundreds of 'melodious' songs recorded in her name. Veteran musicians Kalyan ji-Anand ji have a big role in his career. This couple has also taught Alka. But what is the incident when Kalyan ji-Anand ji changed the name of Alka Yagnik to Angana Yagnik?
Alka Yagnik was born in Kolkata. His father was in the Navy and was posted in Kolkata. Alka's mother used to learn singing. Regularly the Guru used to come home and teach music with Tanpura to Alka's mother. Obviously the seeds of music sowed in Alka from here. He also started learning. But there was a catch in it. The screw is also not small but very big. Alka wanted to learn music because she liked it. It was not among his wishes to become a playback singer. Now, when one has to learn as an amateur, many times the discipline in Riyaz was not seen as it should be. Mother used to get upset on this matter. In fact, there were some occasions when Alka Yagnik was beaten for not doing Riyaaz. Alka's mother was fully confident that her daughter had 'extra-ordinary' talent.
Alka's trouble was greater because her father was also fond of music. Younger brother also sang well. Along with singing, he learned to play the tabla. That means Alka had no option left to learn music without good discipline. Till now everything was fine, this problem increased further when Alka's parents decided that they would go to Bombay during school holidays and meet musicians for Alka. This was not an easy task. This was a different kind of 'struggle'. The 'struggle' is not about food or shelter but about taking time from the musicians. During that period, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle were at the peak of success. No one wanted to take the 'risk' of giving a chance to new singers. In the initial days, when the musicians did not get time, Alka's father also bought a house in Bombay (now Mumbai). Alka's resentment increased further when the other children went on vacations and her parents brought her to Bombay every time.
Then met Kalyan ji-Anand ji
After a lot of hard work, Alka Yagnik met the great musicians of that era, Kalyan ji-Anand ji. Both of them heard Alka. His opinion was that there is no maturity in Alka's voice yet. But Alka sang well so he agreed to teach her. When Alka used to go to Bombay during holidays, Kalyan ji and Anand ji used to teach her. Apart from this, he also used to call Alka to the studio and ask her to watch the recording. So that they can get that 'feel'. This sequence continued for a long time. Then one day when Alka was in Kalyan ji-Anand ji's studio, they said that they will take your 'voice test' today. Alka went to the 'mic' with full enthusiasm. Although he was not able to understand much.
Kalyan ji-Anand ji
Kalyan ji gave a line to Alka to sing and asked her to sing that line with full maturity. For ease, he also gave a 'brief' to Alka that she should sing as if it was being filmed on an older actress. He was given a chance for two 'takes'. Alka sang that line. In that era, recording of songs used to be 'live'. Alka sang the best she could. After that she came out. There was a fear in my mind that I would be scolded. But Kalyan ji came to Alka and said – Well done, you did playback singing today. You sang a song for Rakhi today.
What is your business in my garden?
That song was – What is your business in my life? This song was filmed on Rakhi in the 80s superhit film Laawaris. Rakhi had a 'special appearance' in this film. However, this song in the voice of Amitabh Bachchan became a huge hit. Even today this song is a big identity of the film Laawaris. But for this song Alka Yagnik got the Filmfare nomination for Best Female Playback Singer. Now coming back to the scene before Alka's recording, it happened that Alka Yagnik was a big fan of Amitabh Bachchan. He had asked Kalyan ji Anand ji to introduce him to Amitabh ji. That day Amitabh Bachchan had come to the studio to record this song. Kalyan ji, Anand ji immediately called Alka also.
Alka first saw Amit ji singing and recording this song. After this, Kalyan ji Anand ji introduced Alka to Amitabh Bachchan. Alka just kept looking at him. Alka was completely silent. He had no idea that in the next few minutes he would be asked to sing the same song which Amitabh Bachchan had just sung. The same thing happened in the next few minutes. Kalyan ji Anand ji had given the same line to Alka to sing. The truth is that even after Kalyan ji and Anand ji's advice, Alka felt that a joke had been played on her. This song will not be in the film. Then came the day of the film's premiere. Alka also got the invitation. Everyone from Prakash Jha was present there at the premiere. After some time, Rakhi came on the screen and along came the song in the voice of Alka Yagnik – Mere Angne Mein Tumhare Kya Kaam Hai. Alka's happiness was on cloud nine.
Today Alka Yagnik has won 7 Filmfare Awards. Two National Awards are in his account. But whenever Kalyan ji played that song on the radio in front of Anand ji, he used to lovingly call her Angana Yagnik instead of Alka Yagnik.
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