Ishmeet Singh Sodhi
Encyclopedia
Ishmeet Singh Sodhi was the winner of Amul STAR Voice of India 2007
. Hailing from Ludhiana (model town), Punjab
, India
, Singh had won the Star Plus show in 2007. He also participated in another Reality Show called Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar. Ishmeet's first album was a religious Gurbani album called Satgur Tumre Kaaj Savaare. Singh drowned in Maldives
on July 29, 2008.
, pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce. During his second reality show competition attempt, he had promised his mother to study up to C.A. level.
Ishmeet received training in singing kirtan
from Principal Sukhwant Singh, of Gur Shabad Sangeet Academy, Jawaddi Taksaal, Ludhiana
and from his dear uncle Dr. Charan Kamal Singh (Professor - Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana)who whole heartedly supported him during the Star Plus competition "Amul Star Voice of India". He had learned how to sing, but was not trained to sing classical Indian music. This was evident and criticised during the Star Voice of India contest.
and was crowned the winner on November 24, 2007. He was given the winner's trophy by singer Lata Mangeshkar
. He was also one of the contestants of Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar, a singing reality show on Star Plus, and represented the Champions' team. He was eliminated on June 20, 2008.
His style of singing was very similar to Bollywood
singer Shaan
. Shaan even said that when they were singing together, he could not tell which lines he was singing himself.
Although Singh was from Punjab
, his voice was more suited to Hindi
songs, and he had made a conscious effort to sing Hindi rather than Punjabi numbers.
Ishmeet was praised for his choice of songs throughout the contest, especially by Lalit Pandit in the final episodes of the show.
community that he would release a religious album as his first, regardless of his position in the Voice of India contest. He released an album with the music label BIG Music, titled 'Satguru Tumre Kaaj Savaare'. The album contains six tracks:
He sang a sikh religious hymn for a charity Punjabi film, Sat Sri Akal. The track is titled Dithe Sabhe Thanv. His voice was
described as sounding very similar to Sonu Nigam's. During the music launch of Sat Sri Akal, Jagjit Singh spoke about Ishmeet. "He was an excellent singer. He had got everything in his early age. In Sat Sri Akal, he has sung the shabad beautifully."
Ishmeet was set to release his new music album, in which Lalit Pandit, part of the Jatin-Lalit duo
, was the composer. Jatin Pandit revealed that he will try to get this album released.
Ishmeet worked with Salim-Suleiman to produce a song called 'Shukriya'. Ishmeet promoted this single with live performances.
Ishmeet toured Hong Kong, Bangkok and Malaysia, and sung in concerts with members of the Voice of India competition. He put time aside to sing kirtan, or hymns, in gurdwara
s. His last performance in a gurdwara was alongside a well-known singer amongst the sikhs, Veer Manpreet Singh.
with fellow Star Voice of India contestants Sumitra and Vyom for a concert that was to be held on August 1, 2008. He was drowned on July 29, 2008 in the hotel's swimming pool. Ishmeet Singh was staying at the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort in Male.
Webnewswire conducted an in-depth investigation on his death and suggested that there was foul play. They have published a story entitled "Was Ishmeet Singh murdered?", which raised several questions. These include: The Organiser, Post-mortom Report, Lack of witnesses, and Recent accidents.
Ishmeet's family suspect that he was murdered, and have listed their reasons on the Ishmeet Singh Foundation website. His father, Gurpinder Singh, and uncle, Charan Kamal Singh, recently paid a three-day visit to the Maldives to try and find more into the "unexplained" head injuries found on Ishmeet. His family members had earlier said that the post-mortem and forensic laboratory reports stated the reason of his death as drowning, but they are now stressing on the so-far "under noticed" injury marks on Ishmeet's forehead and temple.
According to a report by ADK Hospital, Maldives, where Ishmeet was taken after his death, a linear cut on the forehead was recorded. The post-mortem report in India also mentions a blood clot, "hematoma", under the skin behind the right eye and bloody froth in the nostrils and the mouth.
"We have inspected every nook and corner of the resort and the pool from every possible angle," said Charan Kamal Singh, a pathologist in Ludhiana. "The pool has no pointed surface that could lead to such an external injury," the uncle stressed. "His injuries show inflammatory change. Inflammatory alterations cannot take place after a person's death and nor in a swimming pool. These injuries could have taken place only when he was outside the pool. Ishmeet was living but unconscious when he was slipped into the pool," he claimed.
According to The Indian High Commission, Maldives...
Narayan Swami, first secretary, Indian high commission in Maldives, was not in the country while Ishmeet's family visited the Indian high commission there. However, Mr Thomas, the official spokesperson of the high commission told us, "Ishmeet's father and two uncles had visited Maldives. They met the police authorities and have requested for further enquires about the incident. So, the Indian high commission in Maldives has forwarded the family's request for further enquiries into the matter to the government of Maldives. The letter has already been forwarded. We are taking appropriate steps now, following Ishmeet's family's request."
.
The second album, titled We'll Miss You, contains around six tracks, including the popular song Shukriya:
We'll Miss You has been released on both CD and DVD
, and is distributed worldwide.
Under the ISF banner, Principal Sukhwant Singh and Gurpinder Singh, father of Ishmeet, travelled to Malaysia to spread the message of the foundation. They stayed in the same room at the same hotel (Citrus Hotel) where Ishmeet stayed during his visit to Malaysia. They sang kirtan in Titiwangsa and Petaling Jaya Gurdwara where Ishmeet did the previous year, on the very same stage.
Amul STAR Voice of India
Star Voice of India was an Indian Television singing competition that premiered on 18 May 2007 and ended on 24 November 2007. It was the first Indian singing competition produced by STAR Plus. The show was directed by Gajendra Singh, creator of the famous Sa Re Ga Ma Pa series...
. Hailing from Ludhiana (model town), Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Singh had won the Star Plus show in 2007. He also participated in another Reality Show called Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar. Ishmeet's first album was a religious Gurbani album called Satgur Tumre Kaaj Savaare. Singh drowned in Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
on July 29, 2008.
Education
Singh received his schooling from Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. He was a second year student of the MNC College in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce. During his second reality show competition attempt, he had promised his mother to study up to C.A. level.
Ishmeet received training in singing kirtan
Kirtan
Kirtan or Kirtana is call-and-response chanting or "responsory" performed in India's devotional traditions. A person performing kirtan is known as a kirtankar. Kirtan practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tablas, the two-headed...
from Principal Sukhwant Singh, of Gur Shabad Sangeet Academy, Jawaddi Taksaal, Ludhiana
Ludhiana District
-Rainfall:The rainfall in the district increases from the southwest toward the northeast. About 70% of the rainfall is received during the period of July through September...
and from his dear uncle Dr. Charan Kamal Singh (Professor - Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana)who whole heartedly supported him during the Star Plus competition "Amul Star Voice of India". He had learned how to sing, but was not trained to sing classical Indian music. This was evident and criticised during the Star Voice of India contest.
Star Voice of India
Ishmeet Singh entered the Star Voice of India contest at age 17, making him one of the youngest competitors on the show. He spent his 18th birthday with his friends, during the show. Singh was among the top two finalists on Amul STAR Voice of IndiaAmul STAR Voice of India
Star Voice of India was an Indian Television singing competition that premiered on 18 May 2007 and ended on 24 November 2007. It was the first Indian singing competition produced by STAR Plus. The show was directed by Gajendra Singh, creator of the famous Sa Re Ga Ma Pa series...
and was crowned the winner on November 24, 2007. He was given the winner's trophy by singer Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
. He was also one of the contestants of Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar, a singing reality show on Star Plus, and represented the Champions' team. He was eliminated on June 20, 2008.
His style of singing was very similar to Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
singer Shaan
Shaan (singer)
Shaan , is an Indian playback singer, and television host. He hosted the shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs, Star Voice of India and "Star Voice of India 2"...
. Shaan even said that when they were singing together, he could not tell which lines he was singing himself.
Although Singh was from Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, his voice was more suited to Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
songs, and he had made a conscious effort to sing Hindi rather than Punjabi numbers.
List of songs sung
- Mujhe Raat Din audition stage
- Bheege Honth Tere originally sung by Kunal GanjawalaKunal GanjawalaKunal Ganjawala is popularly known as Bollywood playback singer. But he also did a very well contribution to Kanada film industry as well. Kunal began his career by singing jingles. He came to limelight with the song 'Bheege Honth Tere' form film Murder in 2004. It was his first biggest hit...
- Toone Mujhe Pehchaana Nahin originally sung by ShaanShaan (singer)Shaan , is an Indian playback singer, and television host. He hosted the shows Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs, Star Voice of India and "Star Voice of India 2"...
- Chal Pyaar Karegi originally sung by Sonu NigamSonu NigamSonu Nigam is an Indian playback singer whose songs have been featured in numerous Hindi movies, as well as films in Assamese, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada language. He has also released numerous Indi-pop albums and acted in a few Hindi feature films...
- Dard E Dil originally sung by Mohammad Rafi
- Deewana originally sung by Sonu Nigam
- Dil Keh Raha Hai originally sung by Kunal Ganjawala
- Gustakh Dil originally sung by Sonu Nigam
- Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaae originally sung by Kumar SanuKumar SanuKumar Sanu Kumar Sanu Kumar Sanu (alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya , born in Kolkata, is a leading Indian Bollywood playback singer. He was awarded the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award over five consecutive years. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009....
- Jab Se Tere Naina originally sung by Shaan
- Jab Se Tum Mile Ho originally sung by Shaan
- Kal Ho Na Ho originally sung by Sonu Nigam
- Kisna originally sung by Sukhwinder Singh
- Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe originally sung by Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan and KK
- Main Hoon Na originally sung by Sonu Nigam
- Main Shayar To Nahin originally sung by Shailendra Singh
- Masha Allah originally sung by Kunal Ganjawala
- Mauja Hi Mauja originally sung by Mika Singh
- Meri Duniya Hai Tujhmein Kahin originally sung by Sonu Nigam
- Mere Maa De Hathan Diyan Pakiyan Rotiyan originally sung by Malkit Singh
- Na Ja Kahin originally sung by Mohammad Rafi
- Pehla Nasha originally sung by Udit NarayanUdit Narayan-Career:King of melody, Udit Narayan Jha was born on 1 December, 1955 in a village called Bhardaha in the Saptari district , Nepal. His father was Hare Krishna Jha and his mother was Bhuwaneshwari Devi.Narayan studied at P.B...
- Rama Re originally sung by Shaan
- Saawariya originally sung by Shail HadaShail HadaShail Sturm is an Indian playback singer born and brought up in Rajasthan.-Early life:Shail has got his initial training in Hindustani Classical music from renowned vocalist and his father Shri Jaswant Singh Hada.He studies in St. Pauls Mala road, Kota. Later on, he went on do his M.A...
- Sitaron Ki Mehfil originally sung by Kumar Sanu
- Tumse Milke Dil originally sung by Sonu Nigam
- Yeh Hawaaein originally sung by Shaan
Ishmeet was praised for his choice of songs throughout the contest, especially by Lalit Pandit in the final episodes of the show.
Post - Star Voice of India
Ishmeet had promised the SikhSikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
community that he would release a religious album as his first, regardless of his position in the Voice of India contest. He released an album with the music label BIG Music, titled 'Satguru Tumre Kaaj Savaare'. The album contains six tracks:
- Satguru Tumre Kaaj Savaare
- Mera Maat Pita
- Mitar Pyare Nu
- Ram Japo
- Naam Japat Dukh Jaae
- Ek Noor
He sang a sikh religious hymn for a charity Punjabi film, Sat Sri Akal. The track is titled Dithe Sabhe Thanv. His voice was
described as sounding very similar to Sonu Nigam's. During the music launch of Sat Sri Akal, Jagjit Singh spoke about Ishmeet. "He was an excellent singer. He had got everything in his early age. In Sat Sri Akal, he has sung the shabad beautifully."
Ishmeet was set to release his new music album, in which Lalit Pandit, part of the Jatin-Lalit duo
Jatin Lalit
Jatin-Lalit are a Bollywood film composer duo consisting of Jatin Pandit and his younger brother Lalit. They have written the scores for films such as Khiladi, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Khamoshi: The Musical, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Yes Boss, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,...
, was the composer. Jatin Pandit revealed that he will try to get this album released.
Ishmeet worked with Salim-Suleiman to produce a song called 'Shukriya'. Ishmeet promoted this single with live performances.
Ishmeet toured Hong Kong, Bangkok and Malaysia, and sung in concerts with members of the Voice of India competition. He put time aside to sing kirtan, or hymns, in gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
s. His last performance in a gurdwara was alongside a well-known singer amongst the sikhs, Veer Manpreet Singh.
Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar
After releasing his initial religious album, Ishmeet joined a show titled Jo Jeeta Wohi Superstar, which would pit champions of Indian musical reality shows against each other.List of songs sung
- Jashan-E-Bahaara originally sung by Javed Ali in the film Jodha Akbar
- Bulla Ki Jaana originally sung by Rabbi Shergill
- Gulabi Aankhen originally sung by Mohammad Rafi
- Mera Dil originally sung by Shaan in the film Salaam-E-Ishq
- Tumse Hi originally sung by Sonu Nigam in Jab We MetJab We MetJab We Met is a 2007 Hindi romantic comedy film directed and written by Imtiaz Ali. The film, produced by Dhillin Mehta under Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd, stars Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor in their fourth film together...
- Tenu Leke originally sung by Sonu Nigam in Salaam-E-Ishq
- Suno Na originally sung by Shaan in Jhankaar Beats
- Soni De Nakhre from the film Partner
- Un Ke Nashe Mein originally sung by Sukhwinder Singh in the film Shootout at Lokhandwala
- Bheegi Bheegi originally sung by Adnan SamiAdnan SamiAdnan Sami is a British-born Pakistani-Indian- Canadian singer, musician, pianist, actor and composer of Pakistani origin. He currently holds Canadian citizenship and works and lives in Mumbai, India...
Death
In July 2008, Singh went on a visit to the MaldivesMaldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
with fellow Star Voice of India contestants Sumitra and Vyom for a concert that was to be held on August 1, 2008. He was drowned on July 29, 2008 in the hotel's swimming pool. Ishmeet Singh was staying at the Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort in Male.
Suspected manslaughter
Many believe that there might be a possible manslaughter as his accomplices watched him drown, or the failure of an event management company to "manage" the event. The family have demanded a probe. The final post-mortem report will not be released before the viscera results are received. The Punjab government has ordered a police probe.Webnewswire conducted an in-depth investigation on his death and suggested that there was foul play. They have published a story entitled "Was Ishmeet Singh murdered?", which raised several questions. These include: The Organiser, Post-mortom Report, Lack of witnesses, and Recent accidents.
Ishmeet's family suspect that he was murdered, and have listed their reasons on the Ishmeet Singh Foundation website. His father, Gurpinder Singh, and uncle, Charan Kamal Singh, recently paid a three-day visit to the Maldives to try and find more into the "unexplained" head injuries found on Ishmeet. His family members had earlier said that the post-mortem and forensic laboratory reports stated the reason of his death as drowning, but they are now stressing on the so-far "under noticed" injury marks on Ishmeet's forehead and temple.
According to a report by ADK Hospital, Maldives, where Ishmeet was taken after his death, a linear cut on the forehead was recorded. The post-mortem report in India also mentions a blood clot, "hematoma", under the skin behind the right eye and bloody froth in the nostrils and the mouth.
"We have inspected every nook and corner of the resort and the pool from every possible angle," said Charan Kamal Singh, a pathologist in Ludhiana. "The pool has no pointed surface that could lead to such an external injury," the uncle stressed. "His injuries show inflammatory change. Inflammatory alterations cannot take place after a person's death and nor in a swimming pool. These injuries could have taken place only when he was outside the pool. Ishmeet was living but unconscious when he was slipped into the pool," he claimed.
According to The Indian High Commission, Maldives...
Narayan Swami, first secretary, Indian high commission in Maldives, was not in the country while Ishmeet's family visited the Indian high commission there. However, Mr Thomas, the official spokesperson of the high commission told us, "Ishmeet's father and two uncles had visited Maldives. They met the police authorities and have requested for further enquires about the incident. So, the Indian high commission in Maldives has forwarded the family's request for further enquiries into the matter to the government of Maldives. The letter has already been forwarded. We are taking appropriate steps now, following Ishmeet's family's request."
Funeral
Thousands of people, including commoners and celebrities, attended Singh's journey from his home to the cremation ground on July 31, 2008. Shops in the area closed out of respect for their star.Posthumous Events
BIG Music released two albums in tribute to Ishmeet Singh, both of which contain songs that were recorded prior to his death. The first album is entitled Mool Mantar, and contains the first hymn of the Sikh holy scripture, Guru Granth SahibGuru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
.
The second album, titled We'll Miss You, contains around six tracks, including the popular song Shukriya:
We'll Miss You has been released on both CD and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, and is distributed worldwide.
Under the ISF banner, Principal Sukhwant Singh and Gurpinder Singh, father of Ishmeet, travelled to Malaysia to spread the message of the foundation. They stayed in the same room at the same hotel (Citrus Hotel) where Ishmeet stayed during his visit to Malaysia. They sang kirtan in Titiwangsa and Petaling Jaya Gurdwara where Ishmeet did the previous year, on the very same stage.
External links
- Ishmeet Singh Foundation
- A tribute to Ishmeet Singh
- Remembering Ishmeet Singh
- Ishmeet Singh on PeopleForever.org