Sarbjit Singh Chadha
{{short description|Indian singer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chadha
{{small|チャダ}}
| image = Chada.jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Sarbjit Singh Chadha
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1952|06|17}}
| origin = New Delhi, India
| instrument =
| genre = Enka
| occupation = Singer, Businessman
| years_active = 1975–present
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
Sarbjit Singh Chadha ({{langx|ja|チャダ|Chada}}; born 17 June 1952 in New Delhi, India) is an Indian singer, who is the first non-Japanese enka singer.{{cite web|title=Unsung Indian, this Singh is king in Japan|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1196400|publisher=DNA India|date=8 October 2008|accessdate=10 April 2009}} He earned popularity via the Japanese television program Kinyō 10 Ji: Uwasa no Channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/58490/full/|script-title=ja:世界初のインド人演歌歌手・チャダが約30年ぶりに復帰 目標は「インドのサブちゃん」|publisher=Oricon|date=27 September 2008|accessdate=11 November 2009|language=ja}}
Career
= Early beginnings =
In 1968 aged 15 years old, Chadha was nominated by his father to undertake training for three years in Fukuoka, Japan in orange farming under an [https://oisca-international.org/ OISCA International] programme.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9mvKG5G-ro |title=Sarbjit Singh Chadha: Japan 'ਚ Enka singer ਵਜੋਂ ਮਸ਼ਹੂਰ ਸਰਬਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੱਢਾ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਣੋ {{!}} 𝐁𝐁𝐂 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐉𝐀𝐁𝐈 |date=2021-07-13 |last=BBC News Punjabi |access-date=2025-03-31 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flP89ZVT2qE |title=Guftagoo with Sarabjit Singh Chadha |date=2012-10-07 |last=Sansad TV |access-date=2025-03-31 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSKF1r8WJwo |title=Tokyo Olympics : Japan में Sikh Singer Sarabjit Singh Chaddha, जो Enka संगीत गाते हैं (BBC Hindi) |date=2021-07-22 |last=BBC News Hindi |access-date=2025-03-31 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=Courier |first=Madras |date=2024-09-10 |title=The Indian Enka Singer who took Japan By Storm {{!}} Madras Courier |url=https://madrascourier.com/insight/indian-enka-singer-who-took-japan-by-storm/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |language=en-US}}
Chadha initially learned to speak Japanese by listening to Japanese songs, developing his fluency by singing at parties. Japan's enka genre had a profound impact on Chadha.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=DNA Web |title=Unsung Indian, this Singh is king in Japan |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-unsung-indian-this-singh-is-king-in-japan-1196400 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=DNA India |language=en}} His friends encouraged him to become a professional singer.
Chadha took guidance in enka from his singing guru, Saburo Kitajima. Chadha has noted that it was the similiarity of enka songs such as Kitajima's "Hakodate No Hito" (函館の人) with the songs that he used to sing during his childhood in India that resonated with him the most. Chadha has expressed his love for enka "because [it is] full of feeling...similar to ghazals".
Given the unfamiliarity of the Japanese public with turban-wearing Sikhs, Chadha initially had to perform as a comedian for a year in a national variety programme, Kinyo 10 Ji: Uwasa no Channel. It was through this, broadcast every Friday night at 10pm, that Chadha acquainted himself with the nation.
On his second trip to Japan, Chadha was given an opportunity to record his debut enka song in 1975, the single {{nihongo|"Omokage no Hito"|面影の人}}, selling 180,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20080928-413467.html|script-title=ja:インド人演歌歌手チャダがジェロ見て復帰|publisher=Nikkan Sports|date=28 September 2008|accessdate=11 November 2009|language=ja}}
= Career in Japan =
Given difficulties posed by Japan's visa restrictions at the time which required foreigners to return to their home nation and apply for a new visa every six months, Chadha returned to India. However, with the support of his supporters in Japan, Chadha returned to Japan in 1980, starting a business and continuing his passion for singing enka.
After 30 years, Chadha released a greatest-hits album titled "Chadha Densetsu" (チャダ伝説, The Legend of Chadha) under JVC.
= Career beyond Japan =
Chadha has performed enka in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Chennai, and is regarded as a cultural bridge between India and Japan. In 2011 to express solidarity with Japan after the Tohoku tsunami, Chadha performed a concert.
Chadha has translated many of the enka songs that he has sung into Hindi.
Discography
- Omokage no On'na (面影の女) – single (25 August,1975){{Cite web |title=チャダ |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3837176-%E3%83%81%E3%83%A3%E3%83%80?srsltid=AfmBOopIKs13QQOvirnFpN4v6wsoIoGmJALTBndIf4HzHrYZ6hGzReWS |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Discogs |language=en}}
- Nagashi Komori-uta (流し子守唄) – single (1976)
- Koinyobo (恋女房) – album (29 April, 1976)
- Enka Gokoro (演歌ごころ) – album (20 December, 1976)
- Ishinomaki Burusu (石巻ブルース) – single (1977)
- {{nihongo|Chadha Densetsu|チャダ伝説|The Legend of Chadha}} – album (17 December, 2008)
- Odoro Maha Chadha (踊るマハチャダ) – compilation (19 November, 2008){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4BLp8B_e2o |title=インド人演歌歌手 チャダ 「踊るマハチャダ」PV |date=2008-12-19 |last=ChadhaKiKaku |access-date=2025-03-31 |via=YouTube}}
See also
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chadha, Sarbjit Singh}}
Category:Indian expatriates in Japan
Category:Japanese-language singers
{{India-singer-stub}}