Film Directors are in charge of executing on a creative vision for a feature film. While they are responsible for everything in a movie, Brahmanand S Singh, a National award-winning filmmaker and writer falls in a different category. He makes one of the best music documentaries, from RD Burman’s ‘Pancham’ to ‘Kaagaz Ki Kashti’ portraying the life story of late ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. Historically speaking, this movie is important as it chronicles the life of Jagjit in a fascinating and moving way about the vicissitudes of his life.

While the film has won accolades from all those who have watched it, the book that comes alongwith the package ‘Lightness Of Being’ is a treasure trove for fans. Brahmanand Singh lets old footage of the golden voiced ghazal singer speak for itself in the book.

’Lightness of Being’ are words with images, not exactly a screenplay, not exactly poetry but something like a shadow between these two worlds. While keeping the narrative inspirational and insightful, Siingh, shares unique and powerful perspectives and observations on his journey, while making the film.In the process, one discovers things that aren’t in the film but become powerful recollections, insights and reflections, raising compelling questions and flowing into a meditation on life, poetry, success, tragedy, humor, love and languor.

Through a delightful narrative and a huge range of seen and unseen photographs and abstract graphics, spiced with quotes from some of his most celebrated associates and friends who knew him, this coffee-table book, explores the everyday risks and pains and delights that became part of his life due to his innovative and sensitive streak.

Pensive, lyrical and spare but also light, humorous and tangential, the book celebrates in essence, a certain lightness of being that embodies Jagjit Singh, one of the greatest artists of this century.

It would be advisable for any fan to first watch the amazing film ‘Kaagaz Ki Kashti’ which is an evocative account of a down-to-earth small-town boy from Ganganagar, Rajasthan who made it big by adding that extra something in his music, giving it a polish and a soul at the same time, choosing simple but touching Urdu poetry, setting them to simple tunes and introducing western instrumentation to make them textured, contemporary and rich. The film features celebrities like Chitra Singh, Gulzar, Mahesh Bhatt, Subhash Ghai and Ustad Zakir Hussain among others, who talk about the legendary singer and share their personal experiences.

This lyrical feature-documentary uses his music and the poems he chose to sing to tell his own story of his exciting life-journey to stardom, of love and loss, of tribulations and triumphs. In the process, the film captures the man behind the visible and the childlike artist behind his creations.

Featuring friends and family who knew him well, musicians who played with him in countless concerts and recordings and some fans and well-wishers, ‘Kaagaz Ki Kashti’ is the Jagjit Singh fans memoir to be treasured.

Published by: Mobius Biopics Pvt Ltd

Pages: 224

Book: Rs. 499/-

The Grand Collector’s Edition Pack of 3 DVDs. (Kaagaz ki Kashti – Jagjit Singh Come Alive + An Excursion – archives of Kaagaz Ki Kashti + Master’s Magic – Paris Concert 2011 + Coffee Table Book ‘Lightness of Being’ – Floating on Kaagaz Ki Kashti) -  Rs. 2599/-

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira