With more than thirty C.D.'s under his belt, and a fan following which is increasing by the minute, the slimmer and trimmer Hans was in Chandigarh this week to tie up his latest video song recordings with Varinder Arts. He is also worming on-remixes of Gur Nalo Ishq Mitha and Long Gwacha. A flamboyant stage artist, he likes to cover the entire stage with his band of 15 instrumentalists, and chorus. ``I no longer play any instrument, but I like to use the authentic Punjabi sounds and rhythms. From the synthesiser, mandolin, tabla, dholak, drum, guitar, flute, harmonium and toombi. Hans's repertoire is a combination of rhythm, dance and poetry. Hans is deeply rooted in tradition. These days folk is no longer a commercial hit, but I have still not left my base of classical music and poetry of Shah Hussain, Sultan Bahu, Waris Shah, Gkhulam Farid. Even at international shows and recordings I do not compromise on my style and essence''. Hans believes in a judicious mix of tradition and modernity by way ofrhythms.

As a young child Hans was completely fascinated by his uncle Giani Piara Singh, a wandering faqir, singer, and a researcher.

While his uncle sang with a dotara, Hans picked up the `ek tara' as his instrument of choice. He became a disciple of Puran shah Koti, a traditional singer of the Patiala `gayaki'. Hans Raj took to wearing totally black clothes and would sing sitting down with a harmonium. Till the age of twelve he sang only `Sufi' songs. During his years of internship, he stayed at the house of his guru whom he calls his `dataji'. His house was his `darbar'. Hans's formative years were soaked in `guru bhakti,' in assimilating the `Sufi' traditions, in absorbing the lyrics and style of Baba Bulle Shah, Shah Hussain and Baba Farid, which he sings even today in his `Riyaas' which is very rejuvenating for along being a part of his practice. ``Wherever I maybe, however busy I may be, I must do kharaj bharana it is meditation it is nit naam''. Naive and a puritan in his style of music, Hans is comfortable with his status as a pop star.

His magic ingredient is that he has not left his base. His music is a blend of the Shyam Chaurasia gharana to which his guru Puran Skhah Koti belongs and he is a `mureed' of the Patiala Gharana.

At fifteen he realised the importance and use of money. He discovered that his `data' whom he venerated did not even have money to buy medicines for his ailing mother and that there was not enough money to buy food. For the first time the questioned his `ustaads' style and music. There after he decided to move onto a commercial standard of work. He found his dress and his form of singing were not conducive to making money.

It was at this time he also got his first major break through the Jalandhar television producer Harjeet Singh. ``I am willing to change my style, my clothes anything to earn money.'' Singh asked him if he would dance. Hans shook his head from side to side and said ``Meinoo nachna nahi aanda'' (I do not know how to dance). And that became his trade mark. ``Even today I do not really dance while I sing. I just shake my head from side to side. Till date I have not sung anything vulgar, that is one area where I am not willing to compromise. If the performer cannot get the audience to break into a dance he is finished. When I used to sit and sing, I could not even get a single programme on television, and today when I shake my head and dance, I am plagued by performances world over,'' says Hans Raj Hans.

``I was amazed that people would want my autographs and shocked that many commercial artists would tell me that I have finally learnt to sing''.

Hans looks back at the at ten years with wry humour. Nowadays people are crazy about the trend of fusion and ethnic modern music. Folk is no longer a commercial hit. The people prefer rhythm to melody. These days the trend is of re-mixing the original and modernising the ethnic. The song which catapulted him into fame was kaedi gallo sadae kolo dur dur raendae o. The cassette was called Tera mera pyar and was launched in 1986. Since 1986 he has had many hit songs like Hall Weh Rabba Lutti heer, Nachi Jo Saade Naal, Jogian De Kanan Wich, Kehdi Gallon Saade Kolon, Asan Ik Cha Puchni, Bach Bure Halatan Ton and lal gharara. Credit must go to Hans that all his popular numbers are deeply rooted in a classical meter and still manage to mesmerise the crowds.

Working with the man of magic melodies Jawaha Wattal of the Tips Company was an enervating experience for Hans. ``Wattal is a very dedicated director. I like working with him. for me it is just not luck, it is hard work and it is important to be versatile and being down to earth,'' says Hans Raj Hans.

Commercial success aside Hans tries to stick to tradition and purity of Punjabi folk. I am the first singer of Punjab who has picked up compositions of prominent contemporary writers of Punjab and I am also trying to bring in contemporary social themes into my songs.''

Hans is greatly impressed by Michael Jackson. He praised the efforts of the singer who was so concerned about the world he lived in. ``I have composed one song Kukian ni kudian which highlights the evils of dowry, female infanticide and feticide as well as condemnation of the tandoor victim Naina Sharma. Deep down Hans is hankering for his first love, the music of his unsuccessful days. When melody and lyrics reigned supreme. Like everyone he wants his cake and wants to eat it too. ``I would be happiest singing the unadulterated music which I learnt from my guru Puran Shahkoti. What I sing today is mainly guided by the current trends. I am quite happy with my work, says Hans. He is a vegetarian and a teetotaler, and very fond of listening to classical music and exercising by habit. He relaxes by listening to Nusrat Fateh ali kahan and the compositions of lqbal.

``I will remain a performer all my life. A singer should think only about his music that is the only way to survive'', says increasingly busy Hans Raj Hans.