Narendra Chanchal
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A brief biography
Avijit Ghosh, January 23, 2021: The Times of India
Devotional singer Chanchal no more
Singer Narendra Chanchal’s distinctive voice soared like an eagle and attracted nationwide notice with Beshak mandir masjid todo (film: Bobby, 1973) and went on to become a charismatic, crowd-pulling performer of devotionals.
Two popular film songs by Chanchal — Tuney mujhe bulaya Sherawaliye (film: Asha) and Chalo bulawa aaya hai (film: Avtaar) — were dedicated to the goddess. Lata Mangeshkar posted that he was “a very talented singer and a devotee of Mata Rani”.
However, two of his biggest chartbusters were non-religious numbers. Yaara o yaara (film: Benaam, 1974), the cri de coeur of a nameless man, was poignantly rendered. The track was also filmed on the singer. Mehngai maar gayee (film: Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, 1975), a satirical protest composed in qawwali style, included major singers like Lata, Mukesh and Jaani Babu Qawwal. But Chanchal’s “ojpoorn aawaz (vigorous voice)” to use PM Modi’s description on Twitter, stood out. The song topped the Binaca Geetmala countdown show in 1975.
Chanchal grew up in a family of seven brothers and one sister in Amritsar. His father dabbled in shares but money was always in short supply. As an 8-year-old, he loved shouting into a well in the courtyard of his house and listen to his echo. He sang at impromptu gatherings in his locality, where his talent was first noticed. Chanchal would also sit outside the record stores, listen to film songs and reproduce them. “The gramophone was my guru. My favourite singer was Manna Dey. I also loved singing Rafi saab’s Chal ud ja re panchhi,” he had once said.
Film songs, mata ki bhent (bhajans) and kafi, a genre of sufi poetry in Punjabi— Chanchal sang all at local gatherings to earn money. His talent gave him early popularity and turned him into a travelling performer. A visit to Bombay led to a meeting with Raj Kapoor. The result, Beshak mandir masjid todo, became his signature and earned him the Filmfare award for best singer.
Chanchal sang for several years in films, including in Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali. But after he lost his voice for a few months, as the singer said in a Rajya Sabha TV interview, Chanchal concentrated on devotional songs, especially at jagrans, where he rendered bhajans at night. His rousing performances were an enlivening experience.
Over the years, he released a clutch of non-film albums and became a superstar of the genre spawning several imitators. His shows were booked for months in advance. Narendra Chanchal’s death leaves a gaping void in the world of devotional songs.
