Google on Friday celebrated the 72nd birth anniversary of Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh in its signature style; a doodle. The search engine major has splashed Jagjit Singh's picture across its home-page.
Jagjit Singh born as Jagmohan Singh was born in Rajasthan; but shifted to Bombay. He continued to pursue his love for music.
Recipient of Padma Bhushan Award, Jagjit Singh is credited as the man behind making the ghazal genre available and understandable to all. Prior to Singh, ghazal singing was considered as an elite art, difficult for the common mass to understand due to high class Urdu and Persian.
Singh breathed fresh air into the genre. Later, when television started showcasing music videos, he was among one of the prominent members of the music fraternity to perform.
He met and married Chitra Dutta there in 1969. The couple created the album 'Unforgettables' in 1976. Jagjit Singh, along with Chitra went on to release many albums thereafter.
Singh is said to have encouraged artistes from Pakistan to come and perform here in the country. Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali was one such artist.
Some of his notable Bollywood movies include 'Arth', 'Sath Saath', 'Bahuroopi', 'Avishkaar', 'Griha Pravesh' among others. Some of his memorable albums include 'Face to Face', 'Marasim', 'Aaeena', and 'Dil Kahin Hosh Kahin'.
He has lent his voice for ex-prime minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee poems in the albums 'Nayi Disha' and 'Samvedna'.
Jagjit Singh died in Mumbai on 10 October 2011 due to cerebral haemorrhage.