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Transcending borders

Ali Khan brings soulful music to Bollywood

He arrived like a whiff of fresh air on the Indian film music scene. He stole many a heart with his debut song Laagi tumse laagi lagan, in Pooja Bhatt's Paap, and recently with Tujhe dekh dekh sona in Mahesh Bhatt's Kalyug. Nephew of the legendary Sufi singer from Pakistan, 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 is unexpected.

"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 says 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 got him much mileage and honour in both the countries. "It feels great to be associated with a legend. I have learnt a lot from him as I grew up listening to him and being with him. This connection adds to my responsibility because he is no more," says the artiste who takes his commercial renditions to the level of soul music, read qawwali, turning it into a Sufiana kalam.

RANA SIDDIQUI

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