‘UPSNA’ award for Anup Jalota’s disciple Vivek Prakash
Award is an appreciation of good work done in a particular field. Most of the artists get elated when honoured with an award. Vivek Prakash, a famous singer composer and disciple of Anup Jalota, was an elated person when he was honoured with the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Award recently. It was a great moment for Vivek Prakash, who considers Anup Jalota as his mentor. Anup Jalota too was happy for his disciple and gave a lot of best wishes to Vivek Prakash. He said that he was very happy that Vivek had received such a great honour. Anup ji also showed displeasure that Vivek’s wife Roli Prakash, was not in the awardee’s list. He clarified saying that both Vivek and his wife always perform together, so she too should have been considered for an award. Incidently Vivek’s maternal uncle Pt Raghunath Seth is a renowned flutist and music runs in the family.
Vivek is not only a very good singer but also a great composer. Vivek and his wife Roli Prakash sing together and are famous in the Ghazal world as a duo like Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh. Anup Jalota said that he has sung a lot to the tunes composed by Vivek. ‘We have worked together in many projects’ said Anup ji. One historical act of Vivek Prakash and Anup Jalota is that they have converted the 14 chapters of Srimad Bhagavad Gita into music through 16 beautiful poems. Vivek Prakash has composed and recorded music for this musical Bhagavad Gita. Vivek Prakash says ‘it has been a great experience forme. Composing music has been a very challenging experience for the Bhagavad Gita. But Anup ji’s participation made it worhtwhile’.
Vivek Prakash have worked extensively with Hema Malini. In fact he has made her sing too. Except Lata Mangeshkar almost all noted singers have lent voice to his tunes. The journey was not easy for Vivek Prakash, but he thanks his maestro Anup Jalota, whose support made him a singer and musician. Anup ji and Vivek have performed together on stage too and share a sweet bonding. Anup ji arranged a small but special party for him and made him feel special.
Vivek Prakash says “It’s a gratifying feeling for any ‘Shishya’ receiving praise from his ‘Guru’. I am experiencing that moment. It has always been frucyifying experience when around Anup ji. I have learnt so much from him that he’s next to god for me. My wife Roli Prakash has been a big contributor in my career. We do stage shows together and sing ghazals. Receiving Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Award is a great achievement and i take it as a responsibility to do still better, in the ffield of music, in future”.