Gayatri Ashokan Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mastering the Urdu language, known for its complex beauty and poetic depth, is a feat for any non-native speaker. For Malayalam playback singer Gayatri Ashokan, this arduous journey went even further; He not only learned Urdu but also started singing ghazals.

After moving to Mumbai, following her marriage to sitar player Purbayan Chatterjee, Gayatri immersed herself in the world of Hindustani music, and dedicated herself to mastering the subtle vocal techniques of ghazal singing. Over the past seven years, he has released a series of original ghazals. His latest release, ‘Kitne Aish Se Rahte Honge’, released on October 30, brings to life the work of iconic Pakistani poet Jaun Elia with Alap Desai’s soulful composition and Momin Khan’s moving Sarangi accompaniment.

different expressions

‘Kitne aish se rehte hoga’, is the epitome of tragic-comedy in the realm of romance, says Gayatri who interprets the emotions of the piece with depth yet maintains a sense of ironic detachment. Gayatri says, “Singing John Elia’s ghazals is a personal aspiration as I have been a huge fan of his and wanted to musically interpret his introspection for some time.” Alap Desai is an incredible musician; This is our third collaboration. Alap is the son of famous musician Ashit Desai and he himself is a brilliant singer. I am very grateful to Momin Khan for including Sarangi in this ghazal.

Gayathri describes the surreal experience of singing Malayalam ghazals, especially in a language that once seemed completely foreign. “After two decades in Malayalam playback, moving towards ghazals feels like climbing a mountain,” she muses, “but the journey has been very enriching. Performing live in Hindi Patti has always been a dream, and it’s finally coming true,” she says, adding that moving to Mumbai seven years ago was a turning point.

transfer of forms

Having been trained in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music, Gayatri elaborates on how the cultural differences between the two streams influence her approach towards performing. “Having learned a little Carnatic music in my childhood, I noticed its focus on devotion and purity of expression. Hindustani music, on the other hand, evolved with Persian influence, offering a unique path and allowing greater emotional freedom through subgenres such as thumri, ghazal and Sufi music. While I enjoy experimenting with ghazals inspired by Carnatic ragas, adding a fresh twist, I remain true to the Hindustani style in my performances.

All India Path

Admitting her desire to record sessions in her mother tongue Malayalam, Gayathri remains connected to Kerala through her role as a judge in reality show competitions and through her concert performances. “However, singing for a pan-Indian audience is the glamorous path I have always dreamed of,” she says. “That’s why I don’t miss the glamor of the film industry – I’ve experienced it all.

Having discovered her passion for ghazals, Gayatri has envisioned creating and publishing more original content. “In my own way, this will be my contribution to the ghazal soundscape,” she says. “It has been a long and painstaking journey, but I am enjoying it. I also hope to further explore the fusion genre by collaborating with a prominent instrumentalist in the future.

Gayathri says that unlike the film industry, which operates like a well-oiled machine, the independent music sector and its artistes face significant challenges. “To support independent music, we need more music labels dedicated to promoting ghazals and the Indian classical and semi-classical genres, which are an integral part of our heritage and identity.”