For someone who has sung more than 500 Tamil and 200 Hindi songs, besides 30 plus ghazal albums, singing in multiple genres of film, classical, and Carnatic music singer Hariharan says at this juncture of his life, he looks forward only excelling in his craft and making a lasting contribution to the music industry. Known for singing across genres, this Padma Shri recipient singer tells IANS that this has much to do with his personality, “Diverse genres pique my interest and motivate me. However, I must add that the Ghazal holds a special place in my heart,” he says. As he gets set for HCL Concerts Mehfil-e-Gazal on June 16 in Nagpur, Hariharan, who started classical training at the age of 17 years, stresses that the same holds immense significance in his life. Calling it a journey of self-discovery, he adds, “Throughout this lifetime, I have been immersed in this pursuit. The essence of Khayal gayaki forms the very foundation of my musical expression.”Talk to him about the contemporary music landscape when artists often release an album but promote it as a single, and he says that by focusing on a single song, the costs are reduced, and the promotional efforts become more efficient. “This approach has gained popularity due to the sheer volume of music being released in recent times.” The artist, who will be treating Nagpur audiences with his popular music as well as a diverse collection of ghazals spanning across genres, feels that like HCL, other corporate houses too need to come forward and constantly support the arts.
Hariharan, a renowned singer with over 500 Tamil and 200 Hindi songs to his credit, along with more than 30 ghazal albums, is focused on excelling in his craft and making a lasting contribution to the music industry. His diverse interests and motivations stem from his personality, and he particularly holds a special place for Ghazals in his heart. As a recipient of the Padma Shri award, Hariharan values his classical training, which began at the age of 17, as it has played a significant role in his musical journey and self-discovery. The essence of Khayal gayaki, a form of classical singing, forms the foundation of his musical expression. When discussing the contemporary music landscape, where artists often release albums but promote individual songs, Hariharan points out that focusing on a single song reduces costs and makes promotional efforts more efficient. This approach has gained popularity due to the large volume of music being released in recent times. Hariharan will be performing at the HCL Concerts Mehfil-e-Ghazal in Nagpur on June 16, where he will treat the audience to his popular music and a diverse collection of ghazals spanning various genres. He believes that corporate houses, like HCL, should come forward to support the arts consistently. He is grateful that HCL provides a platform for classical and fusion genres. Hariharan also mentions that he will be touring the US soon.
