It was recently revealed that singer Tachnabat Yomudova from Turkmenistan appeared as a special guest on the popular Russian television show “Hello, Andrey!” hosted by Andrey Malakhov. The episode was dedicated to the 65th birthday of the renowned singer and composer Viktor Korolev, while the invitation to Moscow came as a complete surprise to the Turkmen singer.
Back home in Ashgabat, Tachnabat has already become well known for her unique ability to perform songs from famous Indian films. She often performs at concerts together with professional musicians and takes part in cultural events organised by the Embassy of India in Turkmenistan, captivating audiences with her enchanting vocals.
It is noteworthy that Tachnabat has never studied at professional music schools. She developed this skill independently through constantly listening to songs in Hindi. Mastering such a distinctive style is not easy for a foreigner, as the main difficulty lies not so much in vocal technique as in the complex phonetics and Eastern musical traditions.
The owner of a clear and enchanting voice herself remains modest about her abilities, but her performances truly transport listeners into the atmosphere of Bollywood.
— It all started with Indian films, — recalls Tachnabat Yomudova. — Since childhood, I was fascinated by the musical sequences performed by the characters and imitated their intonations. And although music runs in our family — my mother is a bakhshi, my brother plays the oboe in an orchestra — I am a teacher of preschool education by profession, and singing remains my favourite hobby. I never expected that my work would be appreciated so highly.
At first, she sang for herself and a small circle of acquaintances, but her natural talent eventually made itself known. Her family background also played an important role. Tachnabat’s mother is People's Artist of Turkmenistan and renowned bakhshi Shemshat Hojayeva.
— When I was invited to the programme, I initially did not believe it and thought it was some kind of prank, — recalls the singer. — Then the editors of “Hello, Andrey!” really called me, and all the necessary documents were arranged within a very short time. That was how I flew to Moscow for the first time and found myself under the studio spotlights.
As it turned out, Viktor Korolev has also loved Indian cinema and music since childhood, so Tachnabat’s performance became the best gift for him. Moreover, the singer presented the birthday celebrant with a traditional Turkmen dutar, which sincerely delighted the musician.
During the filming, Tachnabat arranged a traditional Turkmen sachak on the table with traditional treats — chorek and pishme — and presented the guests with national headdresses, tahyas decorated with elegant embroidery. She placed a traditional Turkmen don on host Andrey Malakhov’s shoulders, tied a kushak around his waist and completed the look with a telpek, saying: “Now you are a real jigit!” The television host was touched by such attention and was absolutely delighted.
The atmosphere in the studio was incredibly warm. The guests and participants were happy to learn more about the culture of Turkmenistan. Tachnabat performed the legendary Indian song “Mera Joota Hai Japani” from the famous film “Mr. 420” by Raj Kapoor.
And, of course, the participants of the programme could not let their guest leave without hearing songs in her native language. Tachnabat delighted the audience with a performance of the national chant kushtdepdi. It is the vocal foundation of an ancient Turkmen ritual dance whose musical and poetic roots go back centuries. The Turkmen national art of singing and dancing “Kushtdepdi” has been officially included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Tachnabat’s greatest dream at present remains a trip to mysterious India — to the place where Bollywood stars dance and sing their touching songs. For now, the artist is preparing for her next concert, which will take place in Ashgabat on September 28.
Participation in the “Hello, Andrey!” programme has been an invaluable experience for her. The episode has not yet been broadcast, and viewers are eagerly awaiting it. It should be recalled that Andrey Malakhov’s popular evening entertainment show airs on the Rossiya-1 television channel on Saturdays at 5:50 p.m. Moscow time.
