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Born to
Kunjbihari and Mayuriben Desai, Ashit inherited music from his parents.
After a degree in Commerce, Baroda-born Ashit took a Diploma in vocal
music from M.S. University and left for Mumbai to realize his dreams.
Ashit rose to the aspirations of his parents and in no time carved a
niche for himself in the world of music. At 18, he won the All India
Radio's Best Singer Award in 1969. Thereafter, awards, accolades and
distinctions followed him. He received the Gujarat State Award in 1976 &
1989.
Ashit
has been a playback singer for more than 25 Gujarati films and has
received the best playback singer's award for his song in the film 'Sonbai
ni Chundadi'. He has performed in a number of
concerts all over the country, and his programs are regularly
broadcasted on AIR and Doordarshan.
His
association with Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar paved way for greater
name and fame. Ravi Shankar assigned music composing task for the Asiad
& placed him in charge of overall coordination of cultural events.
Ashit's efforts were rewarded by the coveted Asiad Jyoti Medal by the
President of India. In 1988, he conducted Pandit Ravi Shankar's
orchestral compositions at the closing ceremony of the Festival of India
in Moscow. As the maestro's assistant, orchestra conductor & singer, he
toured the U.K. & India in 1989 with Panditji's ballet, 'Ghanashyam'.
Ashit also sang for Attenborough's film 'Gandhi'. He got wide acclaim
for his music direction in the Doordarshan serial 'Chanakya'.
Ashit is
married to Hemangini Desai, an equally talented singer. Together, they
have groomed their son Aalap, as a fine singer and tabla player. The
trio have hit foreign soil many times and have enthralled the audiences
with their impeccable music and heavenly voices.
Their
contribution to Gujarati music have compounded manifold with the
composition of albums like Saral Gita, Pooja na Phool, Vande Sadashivam highlighting Yogeshwarji's poetic masterpieces. Music world is
looking forward to them in coming years for hitting even greater
heights. |
