Deepali Wattal, a leading exponent of music
from Jammu and Kashmir, gave superb musical performances on Aug. 22 and
23 in Atlanta, enthralling local music lovers.
Wattal, a lecturer of music at Jammu University, was in the
United States at the invitation of Kashmir Overseas Association (KOA)
and wanted to promote Kashmiri culture and music through her melodious
voice.
For about three hours on Aug. 22 at the Banquet hall of Royal
Indian Cuisine, Wattal entertained an audience that had gathered to
enjoy her maiden concert in Atlanta. Her renditions of classic Kashmiri
songs such as “Lalas Vantay,” “Bhoomro Bhoomro” and “Rind Poshmaal”
were just superlative.
Wattal also demonstrated her range of voice and mastery as a
vocalist by singing Urdu Ghazals by Mirza Ghalib and other famous
poets, and nostalgic K.L. Saigal songs. The audiences broke into
spontaneous dance and ovation at the beat of her fast numbers of
Bollywood and Punjabi drum.
Her rendering of classic Geeta Dutt songs such as “Babu ji Deere
Chalna” in her mellifluous voice was spellbinding. Accompanying Wattal
on tabla was Dr. Shekhar Pendalwar, a local musician.
Wattal also sang at the benefit concert for the Senior Citizens
Program (SCP) in Atlanta and at the Shiv Mandir of Atlanta the next
day, Aug. 23. “At the Senior Citizen’s concert, she took the elders
down the memory lane with nostalgia of ‘Old is Gold,’” said Raj Razdan,
executive director of SCP.
Wattal delighted the devotees of Shiv Mandir with her plethora of
Bhajans. “It was a real treat and our good fortune for a singer of her
fame to grace our temple on the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi and
Teej,” said Surinder Dhar, president of Shiv Mandir of Atlanta.
Dr. Rakesh Raina, director of the Atlanta chapter of KOA, who
coordinated Wattal’s Atlanta performances, described her as a “unique
and real talent.” “She sings in many languages and dialects including
Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Sindhi, Himachali and Gojri and has given her
voice as a playback singer to many television serials and
documentaries, as well as Punjabi and Himachali movies,” he said. “Her
songs and performances are often featured on radio and television
programs in India.”