Father and husband behind Girija Devi's success: Documentary

Eminent classical singer Girija Devi had attributed her success to hard work and support from the two most important men in her life, her father and husband, according to a documentary film.

The film 'Girija - A Lifetime in Music," made by vocalist Debapriya Adhikary and sitarist Samanwaya Sarkar, portraying the life and times of Girija Devi recently won the 65th National Award for Best Film on Art and Culture.

When it came to performing in concerts, she did not go against the wishes of her businessman husband, Madhusudan Jain, and remained a family person committed to certain values, they said.

"If she had to go for a concert for one day and another concert was scheduled in two days time, she was not allowed to stay there for more than one day.

"She had to come back and go again. She never went against her husband's words," Adhikary said.

Her husband used to organise concerts for her and that helped her professionally, Adhikary said.

Her father was also instrumental in Girija Devi taking lessons in classical music from renowned singers since her childhood, they said.

A significant part of the documentary was shot in Benaras where she had spent a considerable part of her early age and includes rare footage from her old concerts.

Adhikary and Sarkar recalled how she had lived music, embodied music in her life and even described day to day chores in musical terms.

Fondly called 'Appaji' she was married at the age of 15.

Adhikary and Sarkar were disciples of the classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas, who helped elevate the profile of thumri.

In another tribute 'Pranaam Appa', an art work with rare photographs launched six months after the death of the vocalist on 24 October 2017, doyens of classical music - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt Birju Maharaj, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt Jasraj, Ulhas Kesalkar to name a few - have come together to share memories of the talented vocalist.

In his tribute, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan recalled having made a request to the prime minister for conferring 'Bharat Ratna' on the 'Thumri Queen' and wished that it had happened in her lifetime.

Khan pointed out Girija Devi happened to be the last of the doyens representing the timeless legacy of 'thumri' singing and said it would be in the fitness of things to confer on her the 'Bhrat Ratna', taking into account her contribution.

Kathak virtuoso Pt Birju Maharaj said, he wold love to see Girija Devi's home in Benaras turned into a museum to enable music lovers to visit the place.

Hindustani classical vocalist Pt Jasraj said, "...She was a Dabang gayika, a bold artist. She had managed to make her mark at a time when Benaras boasted highly acclaimed singers like Badi Motibai, Rasollan Bai, Siddheswari Devi and so on. At a certain point no one was bigger than her in Benaras."
Remembering he had first heard her on radio in 1957-58, Pt Jasraj said, "In the 60s we became quite friendly with each other, fight with each other over music."
Hindustani classical vocalist Ulhas Kesalkar said, "I used to send many of my students to Girija Devi to be trained in lighter musical forms such as 'thumri', 'kajri' and so on."