JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Jonita Gandhi is an Indo-Canadian singer. She sings in Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu prominently.

JONITA GANDHI

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Jonita Gandhi was born in New Delhi, India, but her parents moved to Canada and she grew up in Toronto. Her father, a musician by hobby and an electronics engineer by profession, recognized her potential and encouraged her to sing. She first performed in 1995 at a gig at her father's show in Toronto on a Christmas event and the years to follow became prosperous for her. She completed her degrees in health science and business. She also received an internship at CIBC World Markets during her undergrad but the first passion for Gandhi was always singing, so music continued to run in background throughout her education.


JONITA GANDHI:

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION:

Embrace me now, as this beautiful night may never come again
Perhaps in this life our meeting may not occur.

MOVIE  : WOH KAUN THI 1964
LYRICS : RAJA MEHDI ALI KHAN
SINGER : JONITA GANDHI
MUSIC   : THE JONITA GANDHI BAND

1) LAG JAA GALE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyTl6wf0BNQ

Lag ja gale ki phir ye hasin raat ho na ho
Embrace me, this beautiful night may never come again
Shayad phir is janam mein mulakat ho na ho
Perhaps in this life our meeting may not occur

Lag jaa gale se ...

Hum ko mili hai aaj ye ghadiya naseeb se
We have got today with these moments by chance
Je bhar ke dekh leejiye hamako kareeb se
See to your heart's content me from up-close
Phir apke naseeb mein ye raat ho na ho
In your fate this night may not happen again
Shayad phir is janaam mein mulakaat ho na ho
Perhaps in this life our meeting may not occur

Lag ja gale ki phir ye hasin raat ho na ho
Embrace me, this beautiful night may never come again
Shayad phir is janam mein mulakaat ho na ho
Perhaps in this life our meeting may not occur

Pas aiye ki ham nahin ayenge baar baar
Come near me for I will not come again
Bahen gale mein daal ke ham ro le zaar-zaar
With arms around your neck let me weep to my heart's content
Ankhoon se phir ye pyaar ki barsaat ho na ho
From my eyes this rain of love may not fall again
Shayad phir is janam mein mulaakat ho na ho
Perhaps in this life our meeting may not occur

Lag ja gale ki phir ye hasin raat ho na ho
Embrace me for this beautiful night may never come again
Shayad phir is janam mein mulaakat ho na ho
Perhaps in this life our meeting may not occur

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Gandhi has formal training in Western classical music and during her stay in India has taken up training in Hindustani classical singing. She speaks fluent Hindi and Punjabi Languages.

JONITA GANDHI

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Aao huzoor tumko, sitaron me le chaluun
Come sir, let me take you into the stars
Dil jhoom jaye aisi, bahaaron me le chaluun
My heart spins, let me take you into the gardens of spring
Aao huzoor aao
Come sir, come

MOVIE  : KISMAT 1968
SINGER: JONITA GANDHI
LYRICS : NOOR DEVASI
MUSIC  : THE JONITA GANDHI BAND

2) AWO HUZOOR TUMKO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-_xxzjsWOA

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

#3) MAIN TENU SAMJHAWAN KI|

(Main tenu samjhawan ki
How do I explain this to you
Na tere baju lagda jee
Without you my heart is nowhere
Tu kee jaane pyaar mera
What do you know about my love
Main karaan intezar tera
I will wait for you
Tu dil tuyyon jaan meri)2
You are my heart and my life too

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

4) KABHI SHAAM DHALE:

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Your love has supported me; it has removed all sadness from my heart
My fate has been joined with your's, I have not been incomplete once I met you

MOVIE  : AASHIQUE 2
LYRICS : MITHOON
SINGER : JONITA GANDHI, SANAM PURI
MUSIC   : THE JONITA GANDHI BAND

5) TUM HI H0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fCIj8lEeGw

(Hum tere bin ab reh nahi sakte
I am not able to live without you anymore
Tere bina kya wajood mera)2
There is no existence without you
Tujhse juda gar ho jaayenge
If I am separated from you
Toh khud se hi ho jaayenge judaa
Then I will be separated from my own self

(Tera mera rishta hai kaisa ek pal door gawara nahi)2
Our relationship is such that even one moment apart is troubling
Tere liye har roz hai jeete tujh ko diya mera waqt sabhi
I live everyday only for you; I have given all my time only to you
Koi lamha mera na ho tere bina har saans pe naam tera
There is no moment which is without you, you name is present in all my breaths

Kyunki tum hi ho ab tum hi ho zindagi ab tum hi ho
Because it's only you, now it's only you, who has become my life
Chain bhi mera dard bhi meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho
My peace, my pain, my love, you are everything

Tere liye hi jiya main khud ko jo yun de diya hai
I have lived only for you, I have given myself this way only for you
Teri wafa ne mujhko sambhala saare ghamon ko dil se nikala
Your love has supported me; it has removed all sadness from my heart
Tere saath mera hai nasib juda tujhe paake adhura naa raha hmm..
My fate has been joined with your's, I have not been incomplete once I met you

Kyunki tum hi ho ab tum hi ho zindagi ab tum hi ho
Because it's only you, now it's only you, who has become my life
Chain bhi mera dard bhi meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho
My peace, my pain, my love, you are everything

Tum hi ho ab tum hi ho zindagi ab tum hi ho
Because it's only you, now it's only you, who has become my life
Chain bhi mera dard bhi meri aashiqui ab tum hi ho
My peace, my pain, my love, you are everything

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION
A R REHMAN PIECE, IN HER PUZZLE

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Gandhi started posting videos in collaboration with Aakash Gandhi and they went viral on internet. She has big hits on YouTube for covers of songs Someone Like You, Pani Da Rang, Tujhko Jo Paaya, Tum Hi Ho, Suhaani Raat, Yeh Honsla, and many others. She has also performed in BC, Canada for songs like Aao Huzoor Tumko, Lag Ja Gale which are very famous. She has participated at concerts with Sonu Nigam which were located in various countries including Russia, UK, US and the Caribbean.

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION


A girl from Toronto first sings for Chennai Express (title track) and now two tracks in Highway –– Kahaan hoon main and Implosive Silence. How did all this happen?

That’s quite a loaded question! Lots have happened over the past few years, and I believe all my experiences have contributed to bringing me where I am. I had done a lot of preparation before delving into the Indian film music scene. I had been performing and singing for several years, and putting up a lot of material online before I actually got on a flight to India to meet people within the industry. With my success on the 88keystoeuphoria YouTube channel, I had built a presence online, and credibility among professionals within the industry. Our videos were getting a lot of views and were being circulated worldwide. This was a great start, as it gave me a solid portfolio of work to showcase to music directors as a sample of my voice. Ultimately this led to my breaking into the film music industry.

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At what point did you decide to visit India to pursue a career?

I decided to pursue singing full-time right after I graduated from university. Until then I was focused on completing my studies. Right after I graduated, I toured with Sonu Niigaam for his ‘Klose To My Heart’ tour across North America. Shortly after that I visited India to explore.

You sing as brilliantly in Hindi as in English. Does that help?

I take pride in both my Indian heritage and Canadian upbringing, and I bring that out in my music. I combine western and Indian styles when I sing. I think it makes me unique, and being different can help propel you in the Hindi film industry.

Vishal-Shekhar (Chennai Express) and now A.R. Rahman (Highway). They have very different approaches to making music…

I can share the experience I had working with each of them. With Chennai Express, the song was already produced. I simply had to learn my lines and deliver them and it was amazing to have Vishal guide me throughout. For Highway, the songs were being created as I sang them. It was a dynamic process and the song kept changing as we recorded it. This was the major difference.

You are trying to make it as a singer in Canada and in India. What are the challenges?

There is limited scope for a Hindi-language singer in Canada. I never really pursued singing as a full-time career in Canada. In terms of live performances, events there only happen on weekends, and there are fewer opportunities to perform than there are in India. Most singers in Canada have a day job and only sing part-time. Similarly, I only sang part-time while I completed my studies. Once I started putting material online, I realised most of my fan following was in India, and so that’s where I should be exploring musical opportunities. Naturally, I came to India and took it up full-time. Despite there being much more competition here in Mumbai, there is also a lot of work to go around.

You are a Delhi-born girl who moved to Canada when you were less than a year old. What made your family move?

There were a few different reasons why my family decided to migrate to Canada. I guess it was a combination of public healthcare, the education system, and exploring new business opportunities. Despite moving to Canada, however, we’ve stayed pretty close to our roots and culture.

How much of a support has your family been about your music? My family has been my pillar throughout my music career. Without their support I wouldn’t have been able to make the progress I’ve made till date.

Did your parents ever feel that you needed to have a second career option?

Yes. My parents were quite insistent that I complete my education before pursuing music full-time. I obtained two undergraduate degrees — one in business and one in health sciences. I also did an internship at CIBC World Markets during my undergrad, so I have a solid resume in place to apply for jobs in these fields if need be.

Your dad (Deepak Gandhi) is a musician. Tell us about him and how he guides you....

My father is the biggest driving force behind my singing. An engineer by profession, he is extremely passionate about music. He played the guitar and sang in his college band in Russia, and in Canada picked up playing keyboard for popular Bollywood songs. He performs at local events across North America. Growing up hearing him rehearse and perform had a huge influence on me. He encouraged me to practice and train myself, and gave me a chance to sing at his shows. He is also a self-taught recording engineer, and he started a studio called Sargam Studio. It is a professional set-up where several musicians and singers in the Greater Toronto area come to record and produce music. Sargam Studio is also where I’ve recorded my vocals for almost all the covers, which are online. I recorded my first album (in 2005) in our studio as well.

How did you meet Aakash Gandhi (with whom she has worked on several tracks on YouTube)?

I reached out to him on Facebook after discovering his channel. I worked with him on a few covers before actually meeting him a few months later when he visited Toronto.

What has been the coolest thing you have done in Mumbai?

All my musical experiences have been pretty cool! Getting to meet SRK and Deepika Padukone at the Chennai Express launch, shooting for Coke Studio, recording for films –– all these things are huge highlights. Outside the music space, my coolest experience was when I went trekking in Karjat (in Maharashtra) with some friends. It’s a beautiful hike and despite being eaten alive by mosquitoes, we had a lot of fun .

India has a vibrant independent music scene. Have you given it a thought?

I have only recently been seeing and hearing artistes on the independent scene. It is definitely a space that interests me. I have a lot of respect for Indian artistes who are keeping the non-film category alive.

Finally, any plans to move permanently to India?

Although I’ve been spending the majority of my days here over the past year, it’s too soon to say.

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

MOVIE  : YEH WAADA RAHA 1982
LYRICS : GULSHAN
SINGER : JONITA GANDHI, SANAM PURI
MUSIC   : THE JONITA GANDHI BAND

6) TU TU HAI WAHI DIL NE JISE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32i1grGCOg4

Tu tu hai vohi dil ne jise apna kaha ...
You, you"re the one who my heart called my own
tu hai jahaan main hoon vahaan
Wherever you are,I'm there
Ab to yeh jeena tere bin hain saza
Now, living without U is a punishment

(Ho mil jaaye is tarah ... do leharen jis tarah)2
O, let us meet in the way that two waves do
Phir ho na judaa Haan yeh vaada raha
Then let us never separate, yes this is my promise

(Main aawaaz hoon to tu hai geet mera)2
If I am the voice, you are my song
Jahaan se niraala manmeet mera 
Unique from the world, my soulmate
(Ho mil jaaye is tarah ... do leharen jis tarah)2  
O, let us meet in the way that two waves do
Phir ho na judaa Haan yeh vaada raha
Then let us never separate, yes this is my promise

Tu tu hai vohi dil ne jise apna kaha 
You, you're the one who my heart called my own
tu hai jahaan main hoon vahaan
Wherever U are,I'm there
Ab to yeh jeena tere bin hain saza
Now, living without U is a punishment
Mil jaaye is tarah ... do leharen jis tarah  
O, let us meet in the way that two waves do
Phir ho na judaa Haan yeh vaada raha
Then let us never separate, yes this is my promise

Kisi mod pe bhi na ye saath toote
May our togertherness not break at any turn
Mere haath se tera daaman na chhoote ...
May your embrace never escape from my hands
Kabhi khwaab main bhi tu mujhse na roothe
Even in my dream may U never sulk away from me
Mere pyaar ki koi khushiyaan na loote
May no one rob the happiness of my love

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Now that you have stolen my heart
Don’t avoid me, my darling
After having turned over my life so
Don’t you ever undergo a change yourself,
Darling, you took my heart, yes my heart
And now that you have taken my heart don’t try to pacify me

MOVIE  : YADOON KI BARAAT 1973
LYRICS : MAJROOH SULTANPURI
SINGER : JONITA GANDHI
MUSIC   : THE JONITA GANDHI BAND

7) CHURALIYA HAIN TUMNE JO DILKO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs
Mg71R7Y3Y

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

JONITA GANDHI: SINGING SENSATION

Would have loved to hear Jonita sings these two classics in its original form, without the frills: take a good song and make it better? nah not in this case