The Mann of Punjab, writes Disney Brar

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Harbhajan Mann is not just a singer and actor par excellence, but also the face of  Punjab for the Punjabi diaspora spread across the globe. 

Chandigarh: A honeyed, mellifluous voice that is so culturally rooted in the sights, sounds, and colours of Punjab that we can’t help but crown him the undisputed cultural ambassador of Punjab. He represents Punjab and promotes Punjabiyat through his work around the globe, especially among the Punjabi diaspora, for whom Punjab is synonymous with Mann’s timeless songs, folk renditions, and films plucked from the 90s. His singing style effortlessly blends traditional Punjabi folk roots with pop, anchored by his training in the unassisted vocal tradition of Kavishri. His emotionally resonant tone makes him particularly adept at singing romantic ballads, emotional numbers, and culturally rooted folk songs. 

His popular folk numbers include, ‘Jago’, ‘Gidda Haar Geya’-a quintessential ‘Gidda’ track and ‘Lala Lala Lala’ which is a celebratory folk-pop track which is drenched in Punjabi folklore accompanied by traditional dance rhythms. Mann’s rendition of the epic ‘Mirza, a tragic Punjabi folklore of Mirza Sahiban is a testimony to the depth of Mann’s expertise in delivering classical Punjabi narrative folk numbers. Not to forget his soulful singing of the legendary ‘Heer’, Sufi poet Waris Shah’s classic love epic, which also sheds light on Mann’s in-depth understanding of Punjabi literature, brought alive in his songs and beautifully recreated on the silver screen. 

On a nostalgic note

Talking about his nostalgic numbers, ‘Chithiye ni Chithiye’ is one of the classic songs that catapulted him to the zenith of Punjabi singing; besides ‘Babul Meri Guddiyan’, a track which narrates the emotions of a daughter’s departure from her father’s home using the metaphors of a girl’s childhood dolls is legendary. Not to forget ‘Mitti Wajaan Maardi’, yet another cultural anthem for the Punjabi diaspora longing for one’s homeland. His most popular track, ‘Gallan Goriyan De Vich Toye ’, was the first Punjabi song to air on MTV in 1999, and the same hailed Mann as the king of Punjabi pop back then.

Talking to The North News, Mann looks back on his glorious journey as a singer and an actor, “When I look back, I am a very satisfied man; my journey has been wonderful right from my childhood spent in village Khemuana in District Bathinda, where Gursewak and I always wanted to sing. I got my big break with Chithiye Ni Chithiye in 1992 with Charanjit Ahuja, and there was no looking back. In fact, I never thought of becoming an actor, but then Jee Aayan Nu happened, and it turned out to be such an iconic film for Punjabi cinema that the rest is history. I have been singing for around 35 years now. God has been benevolent, and I deeply cherish the love and respect that people have always given me,” says Mann. 

The face of Punjab

On the great responsibility of being the face of  Punjab amongst the diaspora that Mann carries on his shoulders, he says, “I have never really felt burdened by the same because I have always done what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it. Maybe my schooling in music was such that I grew up listening to such legends and got opportunities to accompany such artists and learn from such deep thinkers for whom music was a devotion that my thought process became such that I have to really feel strongly for something before I decide to work on that project. And when one’s work becomes one’s ibaadat, everything comes naturally.” 

In his early days, Mann trained under renowned Kavishar Karnial Singh Paras Ramoowalia, a Shiromani Kavishar Award-winning Kavishar of Punjab, and is also married to his granddaughter Harman. “Bapu Paras has grounded my vocal delivery in traditional folk meters, folk poetry, and polished up my vocal expression when it comes to pronouncing Punjabi alphabets impeccably,” says Mann. 

Reviving lost love

During the lockdown, Mann got a chance to revive his first love for Kavishar gayaki, and he has also composed a full album on this traditional form of gayaki. On the same note, Mann quips, “I had a long-cherished dream of doing songs in Kavishari but didn’t get time before the lockdown, when Harman encouraged me to fulfill my dream.” 

Mann and his younger brother, singer and commercial pilot Gursewak Mann, grew up listening to Kavishari gayaki in their village. Mann reminisces, “Gursewak and I both heard Kavishari gayaki in the songs streaming on our village loudspeakers and used to be mesmerised by the stories woven from Punjabi folklore. So my inherent singing style comes from there. Even though popular music labels don’t encourage this style in music because it is not commercially viable, I have fulfilled my heart’s desire by recording songs in Kavishari gayaki, as I did in my album ‘Satrangi Peengh ’, which is a way of saving such a legacy for our future generations.”

On a future note

Mann is currently busy promoting his son Avkash Mann’s debut film, Eh Din Roz Ni Aune, slated for release on October 9. Talking about the film, Mann says, “This film is going to be a welcome change for the viewers who will be treated to a beautiful story valuing human relationships and emotions. The writer and director of the film, Aneet Sekhon, has worked with stalwart cinematographer Manmohan Singh, who has worked with the Yash Raj Banner and in Hindi cinema for a long time. So his style of filmmaking is very similar to the ones I have worked on  with Manmohan Singh ji. The audiences will feel a beautiful connection between the two styles of filmmaking.” The film will also see Harbhajan Mann in a prominent role. 

After the film’s release, Mann is ready with the release of his next music album, nods he, “I am just waiting for the film to release after which I shall be releasing my new music album, the songs for which are already recorded and ready to go on air.” And knowing Mann saheb’s style of singing and cinema, I can safely vouch that his fans have a lot to look forward to.