by Subhash K Jha

Anyone who knows Udit Narayan even remotely knows him to be a god-fearing decent soul.

The scandal that has broken out in Patna with a woman claiming to be his first wife has shattered the very popular singer's morale.

"It so sad and shameful," Udit finally breaks his silence. "I don't know how to cope with this blatant lie that has been thrust into my life. I'm a man from decent Brahmin family in Nepal. I started my career singing at melas and small entertainment joints for as little as 25 paise and 50 paise.

I'm a selfmade man, with only my wife Deepa to support me. I never courted any controversy, never had any kind of slur put on my name."

His voice quivers with emotion. "I can't tell you how this has saddened me. I've begun to feel I'm being punished for some wrong I've done in my earlier life. I've always wanted to be counted among spotless playback singers like Mohd Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor and Manna Dey.

I wanted today's generation to think of Udit Narayan as a man of integrity and honesty, qualities that I'd like to think show up in my singing."

He recollects the nightmare. "I had gone last week to Patna to attend my niece's wedding. I returned from Holland and immediately went for the wedding. I wanted to take along my friends from the film industry. But there was no time."

He categorically denies knowing the woman Ranjana Jha who claims to be his first wife. "It's been 26 years since I've been in Mumbai.Why has this kind of a scandal come my way now?

If the lady claims she's Udit Narayan's husband why did she come to the hotel where I was staying in Patna with mediapersons and goondas? Approximately a hundred and fifty people descended on the hotel where I was staying in Patna. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Udit gets discernibly upset at the horrific recollection. "I had just returned to the hotel after the wedding at 6 am. I had barely slept for two hours. My mind had stopped working. I thought the hotel was under siege. Fortunately my wife Deepa was with me.

Otherwise I'd have probably died of shock. I've always received nothing but people's love and best wishes. Nothing in life had prepared me for such an attack."

The singer totally dismisses the lady's claims. "People can stoop to such levels of deception! That lady claims she had met me two years ago. But I haven't been to my native village for six years. The area was too disturbed. Today the regime in Bihar has changed, so the situation is better."

Dismissing Ranjana Jha's pictorial evidence of their marriage as fudged, Udit remarks, "The lady has no proof that I've had any communication with her. It's very wrong of her to make such wild claims in the media."

"I belong to Mithila.Our culture and values have a special place in my heart. My parents have taught me that according to our culture, looking at any man or woman with anything but full respect and decorum, is unthinkable.

By the grace of God I've thousands of fans all over the world. I've never deceived, ditched or demeaned anyone in my life. How could this lady accuse of such unbecoming conduct?"

Udit has no clear idea why the lady is making these claims. "I can only make a guess as to why I'm being maligned in this way. Udit Narayan is the one person in the entertainment industry who has a blameless name.

Maybe some people are jealous of me. I'm a low-profile person. I never court the media. I've never had any encounter with the legal system. But now my lawyers are on the job to get me out of this ugly accusation."

Udit has many exciting things happening in his career. "I've produced two Bhojpuri films. One is Kab Hoyebi Gauna Hamaar which was shot in Mauritius. It was a period film. Now my second Bhojpuri film Kab Kahbaw Tu I Love You is almost ready.It has been shot in Gorakhpur and Darjeeling."

Udit has also been a leading man in regional cinema. "But now my career as a singer, plus such unwanted problems, give me no time. I've never demanded anything from anyone. And yet today life is making these unfair demands on me."

As a playback singer Udit seems to have reached a plateau. He disagrees. "Music has no limits. After 60 years of singing and being accepted by the whole world as the Nightingale of India , Lataji still wants to sing better. I want to sing better songs with a variety of music directors."

He admits there's an unhealthy competition among the singers in Mumbai. "But I believe in God and I believe in myself. I've never forgotten my humble beginnings. My father wanted me to become a doctor or an engineer. But I only wanted to sing. I was a folk singer for monthly fee of Rs 150 on radio. I came to Mumbai in 1978 and struggled for the next ten years."

While his colleagues have taken a cue from singing greats like Mohd Rafi and Kishore Kumar, Udit remains an original. "I'm their fan. But fortunately I didn't end up imitating the legends. Today when the Indian Idol winner Sandeep Acharya openly admits he idolizes me I feel so privileged. I've come a long way. The last thing I need are scandals and controversies."

Udit affable son Aditya Narayan is now 19. "He has just left for London for further studies. He's got an aptitude for both singing and acting. And I leave it to him to decide what he wants to do. He started singing at 5 with hit songs like But I love you daddy in Akele Hum Akele Tum where he sang with me and Chota bachcha in Masoom.

He acted in films like Pardes and Jab Pyar Kissi Se Hota Hai. He's ready for a career in acting as well. Now that he's in London I do miss him. He's my only son. And he's an angel. He can only be the results of my good karma.

To have got a son like Aditya and a wife like Deepa is indeed my biggest blessing. Please let me state, there's only one lady in my life. And that's Deepa."