Deepali Wattal from India holds captive music lovers of Atlanta -Atlanta Dunia -

Bollywood Songs, Ghazals
and Kashmiri folk songs
Deepali Wattal from India holds captive music lovers of Atlanta

By : Subash Razdan
Pictures: Vinod Karia

Atlanta, Georgia, August 24, 2009 – Deepali Wattal gave scintillating musical performances on Saturday August 22nd and Sunday August 23rd in Atlanta, regaling the local music lovers. Ms. Wattal, a leading exponent of music from Jammu and Kashmir State in India, and a lecturer of music at Jammu University, is on a visit to the United States at the invitation of Kashmir Overseas Association (KOA).

For approximately three hours on August 22nd, at the Banquet hall of Royal Indian Cuisine, Deepali enthralled an audience that had gathered in large numbers to enjoy her maiden concert in Atlanta. Her renditions of the classic Kashmiri songs such as, “Lalas Vantay”, “Bhoomro Bhoomro” and “Rind Poshmaal” were excellent.

Deepali also demonstrated her range of voice and her versatility as a vocalist by singing Urdu Ghazals by Mirza Ghalib and other famous poets including K.L. Saigal.

The audience stepped into involuntary dancing and later into spontaneous ovation at the beat of her fast numbers from Bollywood. Her rendering of classic Geeta Dutt songs such as, “Babu ji Deere Chalna” in her mellifluous voice was spellbinding.

Deepali (in the middle) is flanked by her admirers/fans.

Accompanying Ms. Wattal on Tabla was the familiar Dr. Shekhar Pendalwar, a favorite Atlanta musician. Dijjotam Raina and Dr. Rajinder Singh took charge of the audio/PA system for the entire concert.

It is noteworthy that Deepali also sang at the benefit concert for the Senior Citizens Program (SCP) in Atlanta and at the Shiv Mandir of Atlanta on Sunday, August 23rd.

“At the Senior Citizen’s concert, she took the elders down the memory lane with nostalgia of ‘Old is Gold’”, reported jubilant Raj Razdan, Executive Director of SCP.

Deepali sent the devotees of Shiv Mandir to rapturous delight with her Bhajans.

“It was a real treat and our good fortune for a singer of her fame to grace our Temple on the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi and Teej”, exclaimed Surinder Dhar, President of Shiv Mandir of Atlanta.

“Deepali brought us good news of the approval of the City Permit for the start of Construction of our new Temple for which the ground breaking is being planned in the immediate future,” said Veena Gouri, an active co-founder of Shiv Mandir.

Drs. Divya Raina and Rakesh Raina (Director of Atlanta Chapter of KOA), who coordinated Deepali’s Atlanta performances, were appreciative of Deepali’s humility of acceding to numerous requests despite of her busy schedule.

Dr. Raina observed, “Beautiful Deepali Wattal is a unique and real talent. She sings in many languages and dialects including Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Sindhi, Himachali and Gojri and has given her voice as a play back singer to many television serials and documentaries as well as Punjabi and Himachali movies. Her songs and performances are often featured on radio and television programs in India.”

For more information:: Subash Razdan, 770-365-6516