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Transcending borders
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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan brings soul music to Bollywood
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Rahet Fateh Ali Khan
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, a qawwal with high standards of training in classical vocal and Sufiana music, admits that the kind of admiration he receives in India was unexpected.
"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," he observes in an unbelievably low voice, almost inaudible, which surprises one when he sings in his enviably high pitch.
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," says the artist who takes his commercial renditions to the levels of soul music, read qawwali, turning it into a Sufiana kalam.
The singer though doesn't like the comparison that Indian singers are not appreciated in Pakistan the way their counterparts 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.
RANA SIDDIQUI
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