‘DILLI KE LOGON KA PYAR KAHAN CHALA GAYA?’
Jaspinder Narula gets wistful about the city she called home
Remember the song Pyar To Hona Hi Tha from the 1998 film of the same name? That’s the magic singer Jaspinder Narula has been creating ever since she was popular as Baby Narula in Delhi’s circle of performing artists. A PhD in Hindustani classical music from Delhi University, Narula is known for her playback hits and her spectacular live renditions in the Sufi, bhajan, ghazal and folk music genres.
Born and brought up in Delhi, Narula divides time between Canada (where her husband is based) and Mumbai (where she works). She was recently in Delhi for a Sufi performance at Jashn-eRekhta, and spoke about the city she still considers home.
‘BABY NARULA’
“My school was near India Gate and I used to travel in the school bus from my house in Krishna Nagar in the transYamuna area. I still remember the lohe wala pul. The bus used to take the route via Purani Dilli crossing Mori Gate, Kashmiri Gate and Chandni Chowk. And the minute we’d cross Gurudwara [Sis Ganj] Sahib, main bhaag ke fata fat bus ki us side jati thi jahan se mathha tek sakun,” she says, adding, “When we passed by restaurants that served dishes like butter chicken, I would wish we could stop the bus and ask the driver ki yahan se humein kuchh pack karane do!”
As a kid, she was popular. “I began with a children's programme (on Doordarshan) in 1974. They addressed me as ‘Baby Narula’. But childhood wasn’t easy. “I was a working child, I used to perform with my dad. I used to travel to Rajasthan, UP and Punjab for programmes. My dad would pick me up from school, I’d change in the car to perform in the evening and we’d return late at night. But, no matter what time I reached, my mom ensured I went to school next day!” Narula recalls.
‘MIKA CALLS ME FEMALE DALER’
The discipline she imbibed as a child stood her in good stead. But nothing came between the singer and her love for food. “Achha gane wale amuman achha khane ke shaukeen hote hain. Jasjit [Singh] uncle was very fond of eating. In fact, Mika [Singh; singer] calls me female version of Daler [Mehndi] because main bhi chatkare leke khati hoon! Aur Dilli mein toh mujhe aisi aisi jagah pata hai khane ki... Main jab college jati thi toh apna dibba friends ko khila deti thi aur phir sabko treat deti thi... Chache ke chane bhature (North Campus) yaad hain...”
DILLI KI SARDI?
Used to living in Canada’s chilly weather, Narula feels “aajkal itni thand nahin padti Delhi mein”. However, a trip to the city in this weather lets her wear her coats. “They are lying in my Delhi house. And, of course, kakori and galouti kebab aur tandoori chicken khane ka maza sardiyon mein hi aata hai,” she adds.
NEED CIVIC SENSE
The singer feels the city needs to revive its “civic sense”. She says, “Main avoid karti hoon driving nahi to phir muh se galiyan nikalti hai. Ye pehle nahi tha. Civic sense is lacking now. Logon ka pyar kahan chala gaya? Today, it’s about money, but that’s not what we’re going to take with us.”
Mika [Singh; singer] calls me female version of Daler [Mehndi] because main bhi chatkare leke khati hoon.
JASPINDER NARULA SINGER