Hungama launches ‘Ghaliban’ – A new album of ghazals featuring Sudeep Banerji, Vishal Bhardwaj and Amrita Chatterjee

An ode and tribute to Mirza Ghalib and his mesmerizing poetry, Ghaliban will be available on Hungama Music, Hungama Play and other platforms Hungama, India’s leading digital entertainment company, today launched ‘Ghaliban’, a new album conceived, composed and created by Sudeep Banerji featuring him along with Vishal Bhardwaj and Amrita Chatterjee. A tribute to the legendary Mirza Ghalib, the album is a contemporary take on classic Urdu poetry with a music treatment that amalgamates modern and traditional elements together. Available on Hungama Music and Hungama Play, the album will also be distributed by Hungama across different platforms. In a first, Vishal Bhardwaj, known for his cinematic excellence, plays the narrator in the album and also recites some of the most beautiful couplets by Mirza Ghalib along with Sudeep Banerji and Amrita Chatterjee. Conceptualized by Sudeep Banerji, the album reflects the inspiration he drew from the bylanes of Old Delhi, where Ghalib lived and where Sudeep Banerji learnt about the art of ghazals. Speaking about the launch of Ghaliban, Neeraj Roy, Founder & CEO, Hungama Digital Media said, “The popularity of ghazals transcends geographical borders. The genre is appreciated worldwide for its unique blend of poetry and melody. It is an honour to associate with Sudeep ji for ‘Ghaliban’ and I’m certain that Mirza Ghalib’s renditions by him, Vishal Bhardwaj and Amrita Chatterjee will leave the listeners mesmerized.” Since the time they were in college, both Sudeep Banerji and Vishal Bhardwaj have been captivated by Mirza Ghalib and his poetry. ‘Ghaliban’ comprises 6 soulful tracks dedicated to the entrancing poetry by the maestro from the Mughal era. Taking the Ghalib’s musings forward, Sudeep Banerji, Vishal Bhardwaj and Amrita Chatterjee will leave ghazal-lovers spellbound as they bring Ghalib’s words back to life, over 200 years after he penned his last poetry. Speaking about the launch of the album, singer-composer, Sudeep Banerji said, “It will be an understatement to call Mirza Ghalib the greatest poet of all times. Deep, meaningful and soul stirring, his poetry touches the heart of everyone who hears it. I am overjoyed that my love for Ghalib Saab’s work is bearing fruit in the form of ‘Ghaliban’ and glad to finally present it to listeners around the world.” Producer-director-composer Vishal Bhardwaj said, “I have always been in love with Sudeep's Ghazals and have enjoyed his compositions since long. I am very happy and excited to be part of Ghaliban and I wish him all the best for this album and I am waiting to see the audience response for this unique album.” Trained under the legendary singer “Mallika-e-Ghazal” Begum Akhtar’s foremost disciple Smt. Shanti Hiranandji, Sudeep Banerji is the only male singer to have followed the traditions of light classical music like Dadra, Thumri and Ghazals and is also an accomplished music director who has composed music for more than 70 albums with various singers including Jagjit Singh, Asha Bhosle, Ustad Rashid Khan, Hariharan, Anup Jalota, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shreya Ghoshal, Shaan, Kailash Kher, Sadhana Sargam, Kavita Krishnamurthy, among others. Album Credits: Lead Singer – Sudeep Banerji Narrator – Vishal Bhardwaj Accompanied by – Vishal Bhardwaj and Amrita Chatterjee Guitar – Mayukh Sarkar Tabla – Amit Choubey Sarangi – Sandeep Mishra Recorded by – Salman Khan Afridi Recorded at – Studio Satya Song Titles: 1. Dil-e-Nadan 2. Yeh Na Thi 3. Koi Umeed 4. Nuktacheen Hai 5. Har Ek Baat Pe 6. Ibn-e-Mariyam