Jawahar Wattal
Encyclopedia
Jawahar Wattal one of India’s top cultural entrepreneurs, director and producer, 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 label
s 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.
, 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 announcement
s (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: Pt Ravi Shankar
and his orchestra for the Festival of France in India, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia
, Pt Bhim Sen Joshi, Pt Birju Maharaj
, Pt Kelucharan Mahapatra, Ut Amjad Ali Khan and Pt 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 carol
s, 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.
"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
"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
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
He was awarded one of India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
in 2008.
His passion for music led him to train in classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
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 label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s like EMI India. The dream culminated in his setting up a multi-track digitalized production house and an accredited advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
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
Indian pop
Indian pop music , often known as Indian-Pop, Hindi Pop, Indipop or Indi-pop, refers to pop music in India. Pop music really started in the South Asian region with the famous playback singer Ahmed Rushdi's song ‘Ko-Ko-Korina’ in 1966...
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 HondaHero Honda
Hero MotoCorp formerly Hero Honda is a motorcycle and scooter manufacturer based in India. Hero Honda started in 1984 as a joint venture between Hero Cycles of India and Honda of Japan. The company is the largest two wheeler manufacturer in India...
, 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
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
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
Corporate image
A corporate image refers to how a corporation is perceived. It is a generally accepted image of what a company stands for. Marketing experts who use public relations and other forms of promotion to suggest a mental picture to the public...
building and promotions for public and private sector companies, his clients include: public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
organisations, BHEL, MMTC and STC to name a few.
Public Service Announcements: Producer of public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s (PSAs) on social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
- ranging from primary health care
Primary health care
Primary health care, often abbreviated as “PHC”, has been defined as "essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost...
, education to sanitation and more for UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
. 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: Pt Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
and his orchestra for the Festival of France in India, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is an Indian classical instrumentalist. He is a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.-Early life:Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in...
, Pt Bhim Sen Joshi, Pt Birju Maharaj
Birju Maharaj
Brijmo Mishra popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj is currently the leading exponent of the Varanasi Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India.He is a descendant of the legendary Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, including his two uncles, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, and his father...
, Pt Kelucharan Mahapatra, Ut Amjad Ali Khan and Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma
Shivkumar Sharma
Shivkumar Sharma is an Indian santoor player. The santoor is a folk instrument from Kashmir and Jammu. Sharma is often referred to by the title Pandit.-Early life:...
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 carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
s, 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
Baba Sehgal
Baba Sehgal, a Khatri Sikh, is an Indian rapper and actor. Brought up in Lucknow, he was famous in the mid 1990s. He is credited as the first Indian rapper to jump on the Indipop bandwagon, and released an album which got frequent airplay on MTV India...
, Daler Mehndi
Daler Mehndi
Daler Mehndi , born August 18, 1967, is an Indian Bhangra pop singer.Mehndi was a student of traditional Punjabi music and his first album broke sales records in India. Since 1995 he has recorded several highly successful albums in India, and also sung as a playback singer for several Hindi movies...
, Shweta Shetty
Shweta Shetty
Shweta Shetty is an Indian pop singer known for her albums and for her contributions to Bollywood film soundtracks. She currently lives in Hamburg. She is married to a German, Christian Brandt.Her song johnny joker was a famous one....
, 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
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
Major awards
2008 National Award : Padmashri2000 Sangeet Samrat Award: the Press Club of Punjab
2000 Multi-platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
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