Jawahar Wattal

JAWAHAR WATTAL

Biography

One of India’s top cultural entrepreneurs, director and producer, Jawahar Wattal is best known for being a pioneer in the Indian non-filmi music field and for shifting the focus of the industry to Delhi. He was awarded one of India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri in 2008.

His passion for music led him to train in classical and instrumental western music as a teenager and to play the guitar. By the age of 21, he had already composed and sung numerous advertising jingles and performed for leading professional record labels like EMI India. The dream culminated in his setting up a multi-track digitalized production house and an accredited advertising agency by the time he was 22. This Production House was the first of its kind in India's capital.

The ’90s ushered in the Indi-pop revolution. When Jawahar ventured into the genre, he rapidly became recognized as the wonder kid and catapulted into another stratosphere. His uncanny ability to predict what would be popular with the masses tomorrow, his professional attitude, combined with his constant quest for excellence, originality and perfection spelled early success. Firm in the belief that music is a language with no barriers, he constantly experiments and reinvents the idiom, never allowing anything to limit the scope of his work. This brings fresh new energy to each project.

Major Projects

Advertisements: Wattal has directed and produced more than 3,000 commercials. They include: Ponds, Pepsi, Hero Honda, KLM, Usha Fans, Boost, Horlicks, Lufthansa, Maggi, Nescafe and Mirinda.

Brand Promotion: He has been actively engaged in brand promotions and execution of various product launches, with experience in the field of software production for multi-media applications. Additionally, he has been involved in the export of entertainment software to various countries across the world including the USA. Instrumental in corporate image building and promotions for public and private sector companies, his clients include: public sector organisations, BHEL, MMTC and STC to name a few.

Public Service Announcements: Producer of public service announcements (PSAs) on social issues - ranging from primary health care, education to sanitation and more for UNICEF. Producer, First Earth Run event, a joint production for the United Nations.

Theater: For many years, he has been actively involved in theatre productions for private and government entities. One of his hit productions – 'Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan' premiered in the U.K.

Tele-Serials: Wattal has scored musical compositions for tele-serials such as: 'Tol Mol Ke Bol,' 'Himalaya Darshan,' 'Newsline,' S'anjha Choolah,' 'Ruba Ru,' 'Saas Pe Sawa Saas,' 'Quiz Time.' He has also scored for musicals like 'Mira' and telefilms such as 'Kanjoos Makhichoos.'

In-flight Music: He was an early pioneer in creating in-flight music with compositions for Indian Airlines.

Live Recordings: Known for his high quality live recordings, he has recorded a veritable Who's Who of artists including: Pandit Ravi Shankar and his orchestra for the Festival of France in India, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Bhim Sen Joshi, Padit Birju Maharaj, Pandit Kelucharan Mahapatra, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pandit. Shiv Kumar Sharma among others.

Original Albums: Wattal has composed, directed and produced 73 albums in a span of six years out of which, fifteen went platinum. These have included everything from Punjabi bhangra, Rajasthani folk, Christmas carols, Sufiana repertoire and ghazals, to a pop album in Tamil. As a result, some of today’s best-known Indi-pop superstars like Baba Sehgal, Daler Mehndi, Shweta Shetty, Hans Raj Hans and Shubha Mudgal, to name a few, were launched.

Top Selling Albums

"Dilruba"

"Bolo Tara Ra Ra"

"Dardi Rab Rab"

"Ho Jayegi Balle Balle"

"Ali More Angana"

"Deewane To Deewane Hain"

"Jogiya Khalli Balli"

"Mahi O Mahi"

"Jhanjhar"

"Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain"

"Punjabi Munda"

"Mera Dil Bole Piya Piya"

"Wallah Wallah"

"Yaari Yaari"

"Haule Haule"

"Naag Ishq Da Laddya"

"Sajnaa"

"Jalsa (Re-Mix)"

"Paaro"

Film Music

"Silence Please… The Dressing Room"

Latest Releases

"Deadly Dance Mix" - P. K. Srivastav

"Hari Om" - Alok Sehdev

"Majajane" - BabuChalla Lakhwinder Lucky

"Ankhiya"n - Susheel Baba

"Jat Luteya Gaya" - Ravinder Ravi

"Chane Ke Khet Mein" - Gauri Saksena

"Rang Dey" - Arjun

"Shri Amarnath Ji Ki Yatra" - Suresh Wadekar

"Sharana" - S.P.Balasubramaniam, K K , Suresh Wadekar, Vinod Rathod

International Releases

"Divine Inspiration"– Aruna Sairam

Major Awards

2008 National Award : Padmashri

2000 Sangeet Samrat Award: the Press Club of Punjab

2000 Multi-platinum Award: Mera Dil Bole Piya Piya

1999 Multi-platinum Award: Mahi O Mahi

1999 Multi-platinum Award: Punjabi Munda

1999 Multi-platinum Award: Piya Se Milke Aaye Nain

1999 Multi-platinum Award: Jhanjhar

1998 Channel V Award: Best Music Composer

1998 Multi-platinum Award: Ho Jayegi Balle Balle 1997 Multi-platinum Award: Deewane to Deewane Hain

1996 Multi-platinum Award: Ali More Angana1996 Multi-platinum Award: Dardi Rab Rab

1995 Multi-platinum Award: Bolo Ta Ra Ra

External links

* http://www.jawaharwattal.com/ Jawahar Wattal website
* imdb|1901098

Category: Indian composersCategory: Indian pop composersCategory: Padma Shri recipientsCategory: Kashmiri people

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