Partap Sharma: playwright, author, actor, director and commentator

Songs by Partap Sharma

One of the great voices of India, Partap Sharma has a debilitating condition called emphysema. For the last few years Partap has had to rely on a continuous supply of oxygen. With great courage and determination Partap does not allow this to prevent him from leading a full life. Despite his lung condition, he recorded several of Shakespeare’s plays in 27 different voices.

Now this distinguished playwright, author, actor, director and documentary film maker has reinvented himself as a musical composer and singer. With his characteristic sense of good humour Partap describes how these songs came into being:

'These songs were initially recorded as personal presents from me to loved ones. Sometimes, when I couldn't attend a function, such as a birthday party or a wedding, I would send a song instead.

Children have often delighted me by dancing spontaneously and effusively to the trochaic cadence of the music and the loving simplicity of the lyrics. What has surprised me even more is the request for copies of the songs. That is why I have put together this small selection under the heading Home Songs.

Though I was well known for my speaking voice all over India, it is only now that I have begun to sing. I do not consider myself a singer or musician. It is merely that some inner compulsions have coalesced and burst into flower. My own excuse for publishing these private indulgences is that I wish to share with you the thrill of the fulfilment they have brought me.

As a playwright I did write songs for the theatre (e.g. Song number 6 "This is a road with nowhere to go" from the play A Touch of Brightness) but I didn’t have the courage or training to sing them myself.

In 2004, in order to offset the ravages of emphysema and strengthen my lungs, I began taking lessons in Hindustani classical music from Pt. Manohar Vinayak Bhagwat of the Gwalior gharana. When he passed away, his son Pt. Makarand Bhagwat was kind enough to take over as my teacher. The lyrics are given below.'

Partap Sharma

Home Songs (Audio CD) by Partap Sharma

Raag	Song	Download
Dev Giri Bilaval	Wake up, little baby	MP3 clip
Tilak Kamode	The humble Bumble
Dev Giri Bilaval	Namrita, sweet Namrita
Tilak Kamode	Cheers, cheers for all the years	MP3 clip
Dev Giri Bilaval	The sun is shining, the sea is blue
Dev Giri Bilaval	This is a road with nowhere to go	MP3 clip
Kamaj	Dear Tahira, congratulations!	MP3 clip

Click here to order Home Songs by Partap Sharma

HS1 Lyrics

HS2 Lyrics

HS3 Lyrics

HS4 Lyrics

HS5 Lyrics

HS6 Lyrics

HS7 Lyrics

Please click an image to read
about Partap's work and awards.