Singer Nitin Dubey elevates Chhattisgarhi regional pop to national prominence

 

 

NITIN Dubey, a celebrated composer, vocalist, music director, and playback singer, is revered as one of the region’s finest singers. 44-year-old Dubey has carved a unique niche with his distinctive musical genre, captivating audiences across over 2,500 stage shows nationwide. His journey, marked by perseverance, has solidified his position in the Chhattisgarhi film fraternity, fueled by his ambition to elevate Chhattisgarhi regional pop to national prominence. In a conversation with The Hitavada, Dubey reflects on his inspiring musical odyssey. Born in Raigarh Dubey’s musical inclination surfaced early, with his first public performance at age seven. This initial spark ignited a passion that led him through school and state-level music competitions, culminating in a win at the Inter School State Singing Championship in 1993, earning him the moniker “Junior Kishore Kumar.”

 

His mother’s devotional bhajans, his father’s folk melodies, and the iconic voice of Kishore Kumar served as his early inspirations. Despite lacking formal music training, Dubey diligently honed his skills by listening to Kishore Kumar’s cassettes and learning classical ragas from his school teacher. A detour into pre-medical studies ultimately led him back to his true calling. A moment of despair on Raigarh hill transformed into a turning point when his singing at a local temple garnered encouraging words, solidifying his decision to pursue music professionally. For the past two decades, Dubey has been immersed in the world of music, encompassing over 2000 stage performances. His specialization lies in Chhattisgarhi modern folk, also known as regional pop, and bhajans. Embracing versatility as his core singing style, he believes this adaptability fosters a lasting connection with listeners, ensuring a long and fulfilling career. Dubey’s long-term aspiration is to create songs that resonate deeply with the people of Chhattisgarh, instilling pride in their regional music. His YouTube channel stands as a testament to his popularity, boasting over a million subscribers and 450 million views, making him the first Chhattisgarhi singer to receive YouTube’s Golden Play Button Award. His debut album, “Tain Deewani Main Deewana” (2001), encouraged by Dilip Shadangi, featured his initial hit single, “Manmohini He Gaon Ke Goriya.”

 

This marked the beginning of a prolific career, with over 50 albums and 1000 songs released to date, including the popular “Hay Mor Chandni” (2005). While primarily a singer, Dubey has also penned several bhajans and Chhattisgarhi songs, including the Hindi bhajan albums “Chalo Shirdi Dham” and “Sancha Hai Maa Ka Darbar.” His collaboration with Bollywood luminaries Suresh Wadekar and Sadhna Sargam on the 2013 bhajan album “Sai Ka Sajda,” where he wrote six songs, further broadened his repertoire and led to numerous live Sai bhajan performances across India. As a music director, Dubey has lent his expertise to Chhattisgarhi films such as “Mr. Majnu,” “Dil Pardesi Hoge Re,” and the recent “Ka Ihi La Kaithe Maya.” His talent was recognized with the Best Playback Singer Award in 2023 for the song “Ka Tain Rup Nikhare Chandaini” from “Mr. Majnu.”

 

He has also contributed as a playback singer in films like “Chal Hat Konho Dekh Lihi” and “Mor Chhainha Bhuinya 2.” Dubey identifies his strength as the consistency between his recorded and live performances, enabling a strong connection with his audience. His ability to perform for extended durations is another asset. Acknowledging his tendency to make heartfelt decisions, he recognizes the importance of a more pragmatic approach in his career. Looking ahead, Dubey is set to make his acting debut in an upcoming Chhattisgarhi film, with music recording underway and shooting anticipated to begin in September for a release next year. His contributions to the region’s cultural scenario have been acknowledged with several accolades, including the Mati Ratna Award (2008), the Kala Anmol Ratna Award (2009), and the Chhattisgarh Ratna Award (2023). His message to aspiring young artists is to embrace music as a true passion, enriching both Indian and regional musical traditions.