Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 02, 2006
A heart for him
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's short but sonorous appearance in the Capital left an imprint, says RANA SIDDIQUI
It is an honour to be attached to my uncle's name
A HUMBLE SOUL Rahat Fateh Ali Khan greeting the audience before performing at Amity International Business School He arrived as a whiff of fresh air on the Indian film music scene. He stole many a heart in India with his debut song in Pooja Bhatt's Paap, "Laagi Tumse Laagi Lagan", and recently with "Tujhe Dekh Dekh Sona" in Mahesh Bhatt's Kalyug. Nephew of legendary Sufi singer from Pakistan, the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan kept to his reputation of an able singer at Amity International Business School in Noida, where he performed before a packed audience. The occasion was the eighth International Business Horizon - INBUSH - 2006 by Amity that provides a platform for international corporate leaders to join hands with their Indian counterparts to facilitate making managers for the future. Basically a qawwal with high standards of training in classical vocal and Sufiana music, Khan admits that the kind of admiration he receives in India was unexpected. Khan, who speaks in an unbelievably low voice, almost inaudible, which surprises one when he sings in his enviably high pitch, says, "The singers from both India and Pakistan can become a great bridge to sort out the differences between the two countries. Indian films should be screened in Pakistan and vice-versa. Despite restrictions, everywhere we go in Pakistan, we hear Hindi film songs." Bond works He admits that being the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has brought him much mileage and honour in both the countries. "It's a great honour to be attached to his name. I have learnt a lot from him as I grew up listening to him and being with him. A connection with him gives me all the more responsibility because he is no more. I have to live up to his reputation too." The singer though doesn't like the comparison that Indian singers are not appreciated in Pakistan the way their coutnerparts are in India. "You are mistaken that Indian singers do not get as much mileage there as we get in India. Wahan to sab Hindustani gaane hi chalte hain," he asserts. The singer then mesmerises the audience of all ages by beginning with "Laagi Tumse Laagi Lagan" to thunderous applause. He often launches into sargams, taking the song to the level of qawwali, turning it into a Sufiana kalam and then concluding it with the way he has sung in Paap. After singing several of his own compositions, the versatile singer closes the evening with "Tujhe Dekh Dekh" on popular demand, to a standing ovation.
Edited by dolly - 17 years ago
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