For close to eight decades, Pandit Jasraj ruled the world of music. For connoisseurs, no musical evening was complete without Pandit Jasraj’s inimitable khayal laced with elements of thumri, something which was unthinkable before Pandit Jasraj made it not just possible but acceptable, even popular. Born in 1930 in Hisar, he was groomed to be a vocalist early in his life, having been introduced to it by his father, Pandit Motiram. His early training included long tabla lessons under his elder brother Pandit Pratap Narayan, father of popular music directors Jatin-Lalit. Pandit Jasraj, though, often credited renowned vocalist Begum Akhtar for inspiring him.

Source: The Hindu August 17, 2020 15:56 UTC