Playback singer Abhay Jodhpurkar, recently honoured with the National Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his Marathi song 'Navasachi Gauri Mazi' from the film 'Gharat Ganpati', has opened up about the creative journey behind the winning track — revealing it took two recording sessions to get the rendition just right. The singer spoke exclusively about the emotional and technical challenges he faced in bringing the devotional composition to life.

Why Two Sessions Were Needed

Jodhpurkar candidly admitted that the first session left him dissatisfied. “I felt the song was a little high for my vocal range and that I could have done better in a lower key. I was frustrated because I wanted to bring the key down, but Sanket had already dubbed some live instruments, so that wasn’t an option,” he said. With the key locked in, he had to work within its constraints — something he acknowledged he wasn’t entirely comfortable with at that stage.

How the Second Session Changed Everything

The breakthrough came during the second session, recorded after the song had already been filmed. By that point, Jodhpurkar had lived with the melody long enough for it to feel instinctive. “I had prepared myself to sing the entire song again in the higher key. By then, I had lived with the melody for a while, so it felt much more natural and easier. I could focus on the expression rather than worrying about the notes,” he explained. He and music composer Sanket worked on the phrasing and flow, with the shared goal of keeping the rendition effortless and emotionally genuine. “Sometimes, the simplest-sounding songs require the most attention to detail,” he added.

The Emotion Behind the Song

For Jodhpurkar, the song was never meant to come across as a routine festive number. “I didn’t want it to sound like I was simply singing a festive song — I wanted it to feel like someone was celebrating Gauri’s arrival at home,” he said. The distinction mattered to him: capturing domestic warmth and devotion rather than performative celebration. That interpretive intention, he suggested, was what ultimately shaped the final recorded version.

Receiving the Award from President Murmu

Reacting to his win at the 72nd National Film Awards, Jodhpurkar said he was still processing the moment. “I am still trying to soak in this moment. It is honestly quite overwhelming. To receive the National Film Award for a song that is so close to me, from President Droupadi Murmu ma’am, made the moment even more surreal,” he said. The ceremony was also notable for being the first time in more than seven decades that the National Film Awards were held outside Delhi.

Other Big Winners at the 72nd National Film Awards

The 72nd National Film Awards, which recognised Indian cinema from 2024, saw 'Article 370' claim the award for Best Feature Film, with Yami Gautam named Best Actress for her role in the same film. Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty was honoured with the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in 'Bramayugam', sharing the award with Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who was recognised for his work in the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion'. Jodhpurkar’s win adds a significant Marathi music milestone to an already landmark edition of the awards.