Renowned singer Hariharan recently opened up about a moment in his career that touched him deeply. He spoke about the overwhelming reverence he receives for his rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa.
He revealed that his audience from both South and North India always shower him with praise for the rendition.Hariharan about getting recognition for his rendition of Hanuman ChalisaIn a conversation on the Radio Nasha podcast, the 'Tu Hi Re' singer shared an emotional anecdote from a visit to the famous Pushkar temple. He was stunned when the temple priest almost bowed to touch his feet as a gesture of love for Hariharan’s soulful singing of the devotional track.
Jeeva rangala by Hariharan
"I once visited Brahma's only temple in Pushkar, and the priest there folded his hands in pranam and nearly touched my feet.
I asked him, 'Maharaj ji, aap kya kar rahe hain (what are you doing)?' and he said, 'Aapke Hanuman Chalisa se hum apna din aarambh karte hain' (We start our days with your Hanuman Chalisa),” he recalled.Hariharan shared how people from different regions of the country often express their gratitude. "It is such a big blessing for me. Every time someone listens to it, they would keep me in their prayers. It is the biggest thing in India," he said.
Hariharan's bond with AR RahmanThe singer further spoke about his long-standing collaboration with A.R. Rahman, with whom he worked on films like Roja, Bombay, Taal, Guru, and Rangeela.He affectionately described Rahman’s habit of working at night and sleeping during the day. He used to tell Rahman to inform him about the schedule in advance so he could rest properly before their sessions. Referring to Rahman as "raat ka raja" (king of the night), Hariharan admitted that Rahman always created a comfort zone for him to sing in.