Maestros to sing Tagore songs to mark 60th I-day

Lata Mangeshkar, Jagjit Singh, Pandit Jasraj and Yesudas will sing Rabindranath Tagore's songs for Doordarshan to commemorate the 60th year of India's independence. On show will be a never-before bonding of Tagore's poetry sung as song and Mahatma Gandhi's thought that Tagore created as verse.

"We have sent a collection of four or five songs to Lata Mangeshkar that highlight Gandhi's message in Tagore's poetry. She will choose one to sing on October 2", Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, told Business Standard. Though Asha Bhosle has full albums of Rabindrasangeet to her credit, Lata has sung just six songs of Tagore in her entire career.

The ghazal maestro, Jagjit Singh will be singing Tagore's poetry for the first time. "I am impressed by Singh's dedication. He was given a copy of the song sung by four different singers. He rehearsed for 3 to 4 days before coming to record." Dasmunshi said. Shubha Mudgal, the exponent of the Gwalior gharana will also sing Tagore for the first time.

In addition Dilip Kumar will be shown as a commentator on Gandhi in a documentary film that has been shot in places like Sabarmati Ashram and Rajghat. the documentaries seek to highlight the various aspects of the life of Gandhi and Tagore and their mutual relationships in the canvas of Tagore's works.  Dasmunshi's actress-wife Deepa has helped to visualise and shoot some footage in one of the episodes.

As the serials have started to roll out on DD, the I & B Ministry is negotiating with agents to market them as DVD and VCD sets. "There are commercial discussions, but it will also provide an opportunity to popularize Tagore and Gandhi to a larger audience." Dasmunshi said. With an eye to cater to all, the ministry will use hindi versions of the songs.

Apart from Lata, Jagjit and Dilip Kumar, singers like Indrani Sen and Swagatalaxmi Dasgupta will participate. Bollywood actor and Lok Sabha MP Raj Babbar will ecites Tagore's poem sitting at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Similiarly, actress Rupa Ganguly will enact a poem at Sabarmati. Another chorus, ' Oi mohamanob ashe' (the great soul arrives) has been recorded at Sabarmati Ashram.