Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia unveils Anup Jalota, Sumeet Tappoo’s album Legacy – Beyond Bollywood

The legendary flautist expressed his wish to have a guru like Jalota in his next life. Legacy is a blend of ghazal, classical, devotional, and Sufi music. The first song, Chaturang, went live on 18 December.

By Our Correspondent

Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota and his protégé Sumeet Tappoo mark 40 years of their association with an album titled Legacy. The album was launched by legendary flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia at a musical evening in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Though aged 86, Chaurasia was thrilled to grace the occasion and do the honours. He heaped praise on the guru-shishya duo and even remarked that he wished to have a guru like Jalota in his next life. Tappoo, who hails from the Fiji Islands, hailed Jalota as a God-like figure, while the modest Bhajan Samrat felt that his disciple had surpassed him in this album, which is the desire of every guru. The duo launched their first song, Chaturang, a classical track that has been well received so far. Actor Prachi Shah Paandya has performed Kathak in it.

The album, a symphonic celebration of seven tracks spanning classical, devotional, spiritual, ghazal, Sufi and geet genres, is a tribute to the enduring power of music and the sacred Guru-Shishya bond.

Speaking at the event, the inimitable Anup Jalota reminisced about the origins of his relationship with Sumeet Tappoo. “I’ll never forget my first trip to Fiji, where I met Sumeet’s family. Young Sumeet, a toddler then, attended all my concerts, soaking in the music. I saw in him a spark, a connection that was unmistakable. Today, witnessing his growth as a world-class artist fills me with immense pride,” said Jalota.

Sumeet Tappoo, visibly moved, expressed his heartfelt gratitude. “Meeting Anupji was life-changing. The bond we share is not confined to this lifetime — it feels eternal. This album, ‘Legacy,’ is a reflection of the guidance, love, and inspiration he has given me. This album is unique in many ways and I am sure it will enthrall music lovers the world over.”

The album’s tracks exemplify the duo’s unparalleled artistry. Highlights include Chaturang, a classical gem rooted in the Shyam Chaurasi Gharana, and Prabhuji Tum Chandan Hum Paani, a devotional track enhanced by a live symphony orchestra. The emotional ghazal Raabta and the vibrant Sufi track Meherbaniyan showcase the duo’s range and harmony. Tracks like Shaayad and Safar bring contemporary energy, while Hari, a meditative offering for world peace, closes the music album on a spiritually uplifting note.

The unveiling ceremony was made even more poignant with the display of a nostalgic photograph from four decades ago, capturing a young Sumeet in the arms of his Guru on a sunlit beach in Fiji — a moment that symbolized the start of their extraordinary journey.

‘Legacy’ is more than an album — it is a timeless celebration of music, devotion and an unbreakable bond. As Anup Jalota and Sumeet Tappoo bring their opus to the world, they invite listeners to experience a symphony of emotions, a testament to the beauty of tradition and evolution in music.

The evening was graced by an illustrious gathering of celebrities and luminaries from the world of music and cinema, including Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Hinduja family, Anuradha Paudwal, Jaspinder Narula, Talat Aziz, Pt. Bhavdeep Jaipurwale, Penaz Masani and A. Balasubramanian (MD, Aditya Birla Group), along with Ashok Khosla, Chandan Dass, Ghanshyam Vaswani, Pratibha Singh Baghel, Anveshi Jain, Vipin Aneja, Akriti Kakar, Meenal Jain, Sudeep Banerji, Ram Shankar, Kshitij Wagh, Priyanka Vaidya, Mayuresh Pai, Sraboni Chaudhuri, Narayan Agarwal and many others.