[Assam] singing: Assam's Debojit versus SaReGaMaPa's Vinit - my judgement

[umesh sharma]

Hi,

After reading the IIM-A grad's declaration about her speaking "on behalf on all Indians" that Debojit Saha (of Assam) is not as good as a singer as Vinit (of UP) I felt compelled to listen to both of them to get to the bottom of the matter. Infact, I was afraid that perhaps with so much national media (non NE India) maybe Vinit might really be better and it might be an exercise in futility. 

(Ms Bansal http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=14147233 )

Nonetheless, hoping against hope (on behalf of many in same boat perhaps) I listened first to Debojit Saha (there was another Debojit -Debojit Dutta but he was different) on youtube.com (Ms Bansal of IIM-A fame's song video weblink of sify.com was caput didn't work even my net connection collapsed for a few minutes -some virus??) . His voice seemed like that of a well rehearsed , melodious, versatile singer who sang true to the original song - well it was not SaReGaMaPa - but some other show Jo Jeeta Woh Superstar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CTzl6laoDw --nonetheless after hearing him I felt strengthened.  I was betting on the winning horse!!

About music tastes - they vary according to geography. In India I varied between Indian classical/bhajans(hymns) and Western Rock/pop (esp after listening to my college group Parikrama -with Sonam Sherpa-of India fame with Guns N Roses, Deep Purple etc Shillong variety http://www.parikrama.com/home.html ). But after coming to the US I get to hear less Indian music (in buses or trains unlike in India) I have started using youtube to listening to Indian songs - even old ones. As a member of Harvard Radcliffe Chorus (I had to learn how to read music and sing alongside -as a non-credit course - before I could join it) I think I got some ear (and maybe throat/tongue) for music.

Then I heard a duet of Vinit and Debojit (that was when my net connection got caput and I could only this sing play , rewind, play - not other webpage was getting refreshed) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ANXRey5iQ
Couldn't make out who was behind which voice .

Then I got to hear Vinit in 3 other songs - starting with Shaan's song (Shaan is one of my favorite Indian singers - even while in India) Tanha Dil is my favorite Shaan song - but Vinit seemed a watered down version -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-QgHacu1Z4&feature=related

 not bold confidence, no deep ringing singing from the very being ---unlike Shaan. Ofcourse, Vinit looked more like a film star (than Debojit) - more like Tom Cruise. But this was no modeling contest - it was a singing contest. 
Another lackluster song
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkSau027cH0&feature=related
Border song he sand better but still it didn't have the haunting passion of a desert battle as in the original version  - 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsC9dHt1HQs&feature=related

Here is the original version of the Border song 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yIYNjoW94I

One might say, you heard only song of Debojit and 3 of Vinit and decided that Debojit was a better singer.  As in statistics - Debojit set the benchmark with the first song I heard, Vinit had to meet it. But, even with three songs one after the other he didn't even come close.

Any comments?


Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)




www.gse.harvard.edu/iep  (where the above 2 are used )
http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/



http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/