Valley’s well-known and much-loved Sikh singer Dr Gurdeep Singh, who is popularly known as “Dr Deep Singer” is all set to release his first Kashmiri song titled Panun Kashmir.
The song ‘Panun Kashmir’ was written and composed by Singh and will be released on 12th April to be held in Deputy Commissioners office in Tral.
In an exclusive chat with Brighter Kashmir, Dr Deep Singer said the song has been video-graphed at famous picturesque Pahalgam, famed Dal Lake, Kashmir University and in all religious places of different faiths. “I have written the song keeping in view the beauty of Kashmir, present situation, pain and agony faced by common people in Kashmir presently,” Deep Singer told Brighter Kashmir.
On being asked on how he penned down the ‘Panun Kashmir’ song, Dr Deep Singer said, “I was watching television and news about Kashmir aired. Some words poured in my mind and I penned down them on paper.”
“Kashmir is called heaven on earth by its natural beauty and resources given by the almighty. But still, something is missing here, which makes me unhappy” he said.
Dr Deep Singer said that after completing the song he wasn’t sure of its quality and showed it to his fellow Kashmiri friends for comment.
“To my surprise, they liked it very much,” Deep Singer said.
Dr Deep Singer said he had taken part in the famous television show “Indian Idol” and “Voice of Punjab”.
“I waited throughout the night in Delhi for an audition in the show Indian Idol, but my number did not come as there were more than one lakh people waiting for it. My song was appreciated in “Voice of Punjab” show in 2010 when I was studying in class 12th in Shimla. I came first all around India and was honoured during a competition of “Keertan” in Simla,” he said.
Dr Deep Singer says he is not only treating people with his professional skills but is ‘healing their pain, agony, bitterness through his singing.’
Recently, Deep Singer sang a Kashmir song called “Arabach manz Wacze Lali, mubarakh choi hariye”, which he claims got about five lakh views on Facebook and other social media.
“This encouraged me to sing a Kashmiri song in a big way,” he says.
Dr Deep Singer said that he used to sing during marriage concerts in Tral.
“Whenever there is any marriage function in my Tral area people call me for singing,” he said, adding “I have also begun performing on different channels occasionally. I have been invited by Srinagar Doordarshan Kendra for their morning show on the occasion of “Baisakhi” festival.”
Dr Deep Singer said that he is going to do a Punjabi song with his teacher, Malkeet Singh aka the golden voice of Punjab.
“I did a song “Maa” with him during a live concert at SGT Gurgaon,” he said.
Dr Deep Singer has also performed with Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor, Imran Khan, Priyanka Chopra and others on stage during the promotion of their film “Dil Dhadhaknay Do”.
Deep Singer’s newt project is a Punjabi song with Punjabi singer Malkeet Singh.
“Actually I was supposed to do all in Punjabi but as I got unbelievable viewership of my Kashmiri song. The likes and comments encouraged me and I decided to do my Kashmiri song ‘Panun Kashmir’ which is regarding the present situation, the pain of mothers, sisters. It is about the sons and brothers penned down with good lyrics for every home. It also carries a message for the Kashmiri Pandits who left the valley, to come back and you will be welcomed with dignity and honour. It is about the sons and brothers who were lost in turmoil during all these years,” he said.
Dr Deep Singer said that he became a singer due to the love shown by his people. “Actually I was singing Keertan in a Gurudwara. Singing is my passion now. I am a professional singer now. I am doing concerts and I wish to continue it”, he said.
Dr Deep Singer that he has faced many ordeals in life. “Whenever I was going to Kashmir and meeting my people there and hearing the day to day incidents, it was disturbing me. I started questioning why it is happening here? We Kashmiris have everything but still, it is happening here. One could do nothing to restore peace. My song carries the message of peace. Kashmir is a tourist place and people descend from all parts of the world to cherish the beauty of it,” he said.
Dr Deep Singer calls himself a fan of Noor Mohammad, a local rabab-singer who shot to fame with his Mouji song. “I am his big fan. I used to listen to him a lot. He is an idol for me in Kashmir,” he said.
Dr Deep said that it's very tough to continue both his professions as a singer and a practising doctor.
“It is a big challenge for me to balance both. As you know there are very few holidays’ in doctor’s profession and people do ask me how you balance both,” he said, adding, “My wish is to give whatever is best to my Kashmir,” he said.
On being asked about his inspiration, Dr Deep Singer said that he is inspired by his mother. “My mother is also a singer. Her Urdu is very fine. I was inspired by her and learned many things. She helped me correct my pronunciation problems which I had while singing Kashmiri and Urdu songs. People praise my singing and that they say that despite I am a “Sardar” (Sikh) my pronunciation in Kashmiri is fine,” he said.
Dr Deep Singer said that when he started his journey as a singer, his parents weren’t as supportive. “They weren’t supportive and were thinking that there is no future in singing. When I was told them that my programme is on TV, they started laughing. But gradually when they started watching me on different channels and seeing me performing well, their support started pouring in,” he said.
Dr Deep Singer thanks the Almighty for his success and becoming a known name in Kashmir. “My parents always insisted me to become a doctor. I fulfilled their promise and they were supporting me but only in singing Keertan,” he said.
Singer credits the support of people for his success.
“My people made me a singer. I never became on my own. Whenever I visit my native village in Kashmir, people do visit and meet me with love and pride. When I came here in Gurgaon nobody knew me. But I was not sure that people will recognize me with my singing and not with my profession,” he said.