‘Awarapan 2’ singer and composer Akhil Sachdeva has praised legendary ghazal singer Jagjit Singh for his extraordinary ability to command an audience during live performances, describing the quality as one of the most remarkable aspects of the late musician’s artistry.
In a recent interview, Akhil spoke about his own musical journey, live performances and the unique relationship between an artist and the audience. Reflecting on his experiences on stage, he referred to Jagjit Singh as an example of how a performer can go beyond simply singing a song and create a powerful connection with listeners.
According to Akhil, Jagjit Singh possessed a rare ability to control the atmosphere of a live performance through his presence, gestures and music. He recalled how the singer could create complete silence among the audience with a simple movement of his hand and, moments later, inspire the same crowd to erupt into applause. For Akhil, such an immediate and profound response demonstrated an exceptional understanding of the emotional bond between a performer and the people listening.
Akhil believes that this ability was not merely about stagecraft. It reflected Jagjit Singh’s deeper understanding of music and his audience. His performances allowed listeners to become emotionally involved with the songs, making the experience feel personal rather than simply theatrical.
Akhil, who has himself spent years performing in front of live audiences, considers stage work an important part of his musical career. Alongside singing for films, he has continued to perform directly before listeners, an experience that has helped shape his approach as an artist.
Speaking about music more broadly, Akhil said he believes it has no fixed language. When a performer sings with sincerity, the emotional quality of the music can cross linguistic boundaries and reach listeners regardless of the language in which the song is performed. For him, the ability of music to create an emotional response remains one of its greatest strengths.
Akhil also reflected on his own journey in the industry. He has been associated with music for around 15 years, during which live performances have given him valuable experience in understanding audiences and developing as a performer. He considers one of his greatest achievements to be the possibility that his music might inspire another artist or someone from the younger generation, while also leaving an emotional impression on listeners.
The singer is currently attracting attention for his association with Awarapan 2, particularly the song ‘Piya Ghar Aaya – Homecoming’. The film is the sequel to the 2007 romantic action drama Awarapan and once again features Emraan Hashmi as Shivam Pandit.
The original Awarapan did not emerge as a major commercial success upon its release, but its music and performances gradually earned a strong following. Its songs, in particular, continued to resonate with listeners long after the film’s theatrical run, helping the soundtrack develop a lasting place among audiences.
With Awarapan 2 carrying the legacy of the earlier film, interest in its music has also grown among listeners familiar with the original soundtrack. Akhil’s involvement has added further attention to the musical side of the sequel.
His comments about Jagjit Singh also underline the distinction between simply delivering a song and truly performing it. A singer’s influence on stage can depend not only on vocal ability but also on timing, expression, confidence and the ability to understand an audience’s mood.
Jagjit Singh, whose work helped bring ghazal music to a much wider contemporary audience, became particularly renowned for the intimacy and emotional depth of his performances. Akhil’s recollection of his command over live audiences highlights another dimension of that legacy: the ability to make hundreds of people feel connected to the same musical moment.
For an artist such as Akhil, who continues to move between film music and live performance, Jagjit Singh’s approach offers a lasting example of how music can establish a direct and powerful relationship between performer and audience.
