Ravinder Ravi, the self taught musician, is the voice that wafts in from the breeze of Ludhiana from where he hails, like an untainted performer, who just lets himself go. Combining his spontaneous gust of vibrancy with unstructured ease, he transcends listeners to the varied emotive faculties that constitute the multiplicity of life in the Punjab. And rightfully earns their love. And respect. For he sings from his heart, allowing every bit of his innermost recesses to communicate with the connoisseurs of music and appeal to the layman's demand for foot tapping lilt as well.
Though the nation remembers him as one of the top ten finalists in the Indian Idol contest on Sony Entertainment Television, he was sorely missed by viewers and fans when he lost out to other contestants. But he has victory as his eventual destination as his characteristic rustic strains blends with his raw energy to supplement his career in what is his only passion – music. He is sure to carve out a niche for himself as the full throated voice that does not need any introduction. Nor any musical embellishments to support his natural talent for melody. And has his own individual style. The high pitched timbre of his voice adds more appreciative depth to the songs he sings. And the romantic soft numbers too have the earthy sentiments rendered with pathos ridden grief. And passion.
His first album Jat Lutya Gaya is releasing next week and he is bound to get noticed soon.
Some people have all the luck in the world. And others have no Lady Luck smiling at them. Despite their best efforts, it's only their fortune that decides their fate. Ravinder Ravi, one of the ten finalists at the Indian Idol contest on Sony Television show, has had a roller coaster ride though, what with fame – when he was voted as the most popular singer once by the audience- and ouster- as he failed to make his mark in the penultimate round to prove his talent- running simultaneously raising hopes one moment and crushing them the next moment. But that's life!
'Any good talent cannot be pinned down', they say. And so Ravinder Ravi, finds himself kissing success all over again as music directors from Bollywood and even the South Indian music industry get him to record their songs. "The year has been like a dream really", he gushes. "So much has changed over the years that I cannot imagine that all this is happening to me."
The self effacing young man of 27 years who took his life's "biggest risk' by relinquishing his profession of masonry, wife and two children and try his luck in the talent hunt show announced on SET, is still haunted by his days when ill luck followed him through his formative years back home. "My parents passed away when I was only 3-4 years old and my brother, who is a couple of years older and I were left to fend for ourselves, "he remembers. "Actually it was my brother who wanted to sing. When both of us wanted to try our luck, he being the older one, perhaps, withdrew from the contest and encouraged me to enter."
With the job of painting houses as their mainstay, "music was never included in the scheme of things for us though both of us adored singing Mohammad Rafi's songs," states the unassuming singer who lives far away from his family in a rented accommodation in Mumbai – "a place where dreams get realized," he believes.
It was his sheer good fortune when a Delhi based businessman Rajbir Singh heard him on one of the shows and decided to back him. Singh who is "great pals" with composer Jawahar Wattal, had to just make a phone call to him and ask for his time. "When Wattal heard him, he too liked the freshness and originality in his voice and decided to launch him," recalls Singh.
"I shall be eternally indebted to Wattalsaab for giving this opportunity to someone like me for I had almost given up hope after I lost out to other singers."
Did he at any point feel sidelined during the competition?
"Yes I did," he says hesitatingly. A trifle unsure whether to spill the beans or let injustice pass, Ravi pleads non committal stand. But a little prodding for details has the Punjabi singer, unleashing his vent against the system. "I was allowed to sing on tracks which I had prepared. Instead new tracks were given to me some of which I had not even heard before, " he rues. "Subsequently, I found it rather impossible to perfect some notes and sing with ease, and my final performance got badly affected." But he should have any regrets. His new album which have ten songs highlighting every mood and emotion, showcases his talent to the hilt. "I had to offer Ravi this platform," says Wattal, "as I see in him alot of potential."
But isn't he the one who was forever labeled 'offkey' by judges Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam?
"I know I was and when I heard Abhijeet Sawant, Rahul Saxena, Rahul Vaidya and Amit Sana, I realized that they were far ahead of me as they are all trained in classical music," says the singer without any trace of envy and with complete honesty. Wattal of course has his state-of-the-art studio to take care of glitches, if any. "With pitch correctors and mid blowing technology that could improve any note, minor faults and shortcomings could be worked out. But I see in Ravinder the will to succeed as well as the malleability to mould him into a good singer."
The singer himself is "confident that this time around things would work for me." He is dismissive of several of his 'friends from the Indian Idol' days though they are good friends and do keep I touch regularly. "Rahul Vaidya sings a lot like Sonuji, Abhijeet Sawant is also not original, Rahul Saxena is a great singer but is inconsistent about other things - his personal habits act as a deterrant," he avers diplomatically. He is forthright when it comes to assessing Fame Gurukul winner Quazi Touqeer though. "He is plain lucky and not a singer," he declares.
Any favorite among them?
"Yes, Prajakta Shukre. She is very talented," pat comes the answer.
Admittedly, he believes his "journey has just begun. I have a long way to go but I am on the right track." He has many other dreams to fulfill. And realize them not at the risk of his family. "It's unbearable to stay so many miles away from them in an alien world in Mumbai struggling day in and day out," his moist eyes reveal his pain. "But it's their dream too to see me as an achiever now." And he is willing to make sacrifices. And walk that extra mile to let his family's dream become a reality. And who knows, repay his sibling all that he owes him. "I want to bring him to the spotlight as he is a better singer than me," he determinedly states.
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