The First...& the Most Special

"The night came…and it brought the star(s) with it..."

Being a Shafqat fan is a joy for me…but the joy had always felt a little incomplete- reason being that I had not seen him perform live. A wish that had grown stronger with two very close missed chances of attending his concerts in the past.

My fascination for live concerts began as a child, years ago. It was when my dad bought our first tape recorder- the latest rage in the market at that point in time. And the first ever tape that he bought was titled “Lata in England” – the recording of the great singing legend in a live concert. It was absolutely amazing to hear the melodious voice speak directly to her audiences, the grand sounds of a live orchestra and the applause of the enchanted listeners- an absolutely different experience from hearing the recorded song on radio.

And over the years I watched many memorable ones- Have been a part of a massive crowd listening to Jagjit Singh on the Ridge at the famous Shimla Summer festival... Have listened and learnt a lot from the college and school concerts with many a bigwigs of Indian classical music as an active member of the SPICMACAY (names like Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma and many more)... Have been a part of a small intimate gathering that kept requesting n number of songs and getting happily obliged each time by the great Ghulam Ali  (sat there till the wee hours of morning with no thought of food, water or any other insignificant thing even crossing the mind…)

But this one was really special…as it gave me a sense of totality as far as my admiration for his work is concerned.  Had booked my tickets well in advance and the fact that it was an MTV unplugged concert made me look forward to it even more as I love the concept of the show.

It was surreal to watch him walk up on stage and then after some small talk to break the ice, he started straight away in top gear with Khamaj… and with that I knew this was an evening that I wouldn't forget very easily.

The music flowed through the night…and so did the love …and the humor-Was pleasantly surprised to see the funny bone in him as he made his way around the table- nibbling at a snack from someone’s plate at one, playfully pretending to steal a whiskey bottle from another. He happily obliged people with big hugs and photo ops and even remained smilingly patient with the over enthusiastic ones. He also sang along with a few and gave them memories to cherish forever.

If Khamaj happened, could Aankhon ke Saagar be far behind? Ye Hausla, Kyun main Jagoon followed…interspersed with an impromptu Khaideyan de Naal on the request of a very vocal and persistent fan in the audience and  then Aaj Jaane ki zid na Karo- the anthem of music lovers in both countries, as he put it, happened...  and it was magical as it always is. Darbari from Tabeer was a surprise and Manmaniyan, the new song that he did for MTV unplugged India, was a treat to hear.

He also teamed up with Shilpa Rao, the other star of the evening for a very beautiful Bin Tere. And they both sang together and ended the show on a high with the perennial favorite- Dama dam Mast Qalander. It was such a delight to hear the two great voices, one earthy and mellow- the other powerful and divine, collaborate, improvise, and add a new dimension to the wonderful song, which, he said, wasn't just a song for him but an Ibadat, a prayer.

And I sat there in the audience (mouth agape all the time, I have to admit, sheepishly) taking down mental notes of little things… like his touching his ear to say sorry for slightly faltering at a note (which no one could  have known beside him), his bowing down to touch the floor of the stage each time he climbed back onto it after a round of audience interaction, his open-hearted introduction to, and generous compliments for the musicians accompanying him, his obeisance to  the spiritual master each time he sang the name of Ali in ‘Dum Ali Ali Dum ’

It was heartwarming indeed, to see that even in this day and age where music in live concerts seems to take a backseat to food, booze and cellphones he still manages to preserve some of the adab , the etiquette, of the great tradition of music in the subcontinent. I just wish we, as audiences, would learn to do a bit of the same, for that’s the least we can do to show our reverence for our artists and the art

So that’s that…my first ever Shafqat concert and hopefully not the last. And firsts are always special aren't they...

The first born of the family, the first step of a toddler, your first salary, the first ray of the sun on a brand new day, the first star you spot in the evening sky, the first time you fell in love…So this too was very, very special indeed!

Bollywood- The Story So Far

“The barriers are not erected which can say to aspiring talents and industry-Thus far and no farther."

-Ludwig Van Beethoven

Beginnings

Most of us know the story of Shafqat’s entry into Bollywood- it is as filmy as it gets. Imagine a top Bollywood music director driving in his car through a busy Bombay road. The car radio starts playing “Ankhon ke Saagar” and he is mesmerized. He calls up the radio jockey to find out who sang it. He then tracks the voice down to Pakistan and soon offers him a chance to sing for their next venture. Mitwa happens and Bollywood gets a new singing sensation… Someone could actually make a film out of this fairytale like success story!

It’s been over six years since Mitwa released and that’s how long Shafqat has been with Bollywood- well, officially it’s been longer because 2 songs of his album Saagar were used by Nagesh Kukunoor for his Hyderabad blues. His latest song in Bollywood is for Anurag Basu's Barfi.

So what’s Shafqat’s story in Bollywood, so far? He has been pretty choosy in the work that he has done and has worked with only a handful of music directors. How well have they used his amazing voice? Has he realized his potential with what he has done so far or is his best for Hindi movies, yet to come? The questions require a looking back at all that he has sung so far…

Soulful with SEL

SAA: “Whenever there is a combination or fusion of talented musicians, it produces beautiful music. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy has proven that time and again.”

The trio of Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy, who initiated him into Bollywood, has given 3 of the best songs of Shafqat’s Bollywood career.

1. Mitwa (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna- 2006)

What can one say about Mitwa? A landmark song not just for SEL or Shafqat but for Bollywood music itself- it still has music lovers swaying to it, half a decade later. Powerful lyrics by Javed Akhtar, but it is Shafqat’s voice that towers tall over the music, the words, and the performance on screen. This will always be a special one for all of his fans.

2. Tere Naina (My name is Khan – 2009) Expectations for a follow up to Mitwa were huge and the SEL- SAA combo delivered yet again- A beautiful number which talks of love in a way that is not too well known in Bollywood. It praises the eyes of a lover, but doesn’t talk of drowning in their intoxication like most numbers do. It’s more pure and divine- and only a voice like his could do justice to it.

3. Kyun main Jagoon- (Patiala House -2010)

A song that leaves me speechless… I think we can all relate to this because there are times in each of our lives when we have looked up to the skies and asked-Why? And when Shafqat talks to God, I think, He listens! So when you listen to him singing you start feeling closer to God.

This completed the hattrick for this singer – music director combination. I just hope this won’t end here and they will go on to complete a century

Shankar Mahadevan- “Shafqat is an amazing singer and a more amazing person”

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Splendid Melodies with Salim –Sulaiman

SAA: “.. today composers like, Salim-Sulaiman .. have taken film music to another level and I can see it progressing only.”

Salim-Sulaiman's partnership with Shafqat has given us some very memorable melodies, indeed

1. Ye Hausla (Dor- 2008) - The ultimate song for when you are feeling low-it could pull you from the deepest recesses and get you to start all over again. Best work of the Merchant brothers till date. And definitely one of Shafqat’s best in Bollywood

2. Shukriya Zindagi (Aashayein -2011) - Another Nagesh Kukunoor film, which got a delayed release- So this was probably the second time that Shafqat sang for the musical duo. A melodious song with wonderful lyrics- again very relatable and with a universal appeal

3. Chaayi hai Tanhayi (Love break up Zindagi- 2011) - The composers experimented a bit with the arrangement in this one and gave it a Qawaali feel that works very well. And Shafqat, as usual, is on the top with his in-control and powerful vocals!

4. Darmiyaan (Jodi Breakers- 2012) - A haunting number which strikes an instant chord. Beautiful lyrics, rendered skillfully by the maestro!

“Rockstar Ustad” was a term coined by Salim Merchant and is now frequently used as introduction to Shafqat

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Passion flows - Pritam Chakraborty

SAA: “Pritam loves fusion. His music is still rooted strongly in tradition but he gives it a modern spin.”

1. Tum Mile Rock Version- (Tum Mile- 2009) – “Tu hi hai meri saari zameen”, sings an out of world voice, and your heart stops for a second in anticipation of what will come next. And at the cost of sounding biased, this version out of the total three sung for this song is way, way above the other two!

2. Jaane Kyun (Always Kabhi Kabhi- 2011) - It is called the Sufi version, but it’s more appropriate to call it the softer version. Shafqat’s third one with Dharma Production carries an appeal not just for the youthful target audience of the movie, but for all romantics of all ages.

3. Poore se zara se Kum- Band Mix (Mausam, 2011) - This version sung by Shafqat was not used on screen and Ustad Rashid Khan's is the better known. (Thank you, Ehtisham Amir for directing me to this gem)

4.. Tu hi Mera (Jannat 2 -2012) - Shafqat breaks from his pensive, Sufi mode in this one and gives a spirited love song. Pritam stepped a little beyond the comfort zone that all composers felt with Shafqat till date and gave him room to showcase his versatility. I read somewhere that Shafqat had a bad throat while recording this one- I can imagine some singers having nightmares when they get to know of this.

5. Phir le Aaya Dil - Redux  (Barfi- 2012) - Feel really proud to see Shafqat's name in the credits of this wonderful album. This song is my favorite from the list of some really high quality numbers that the album offers. Pritam's best probably and definitely the album of the year so far. The song deserved to be sung thrice over- each version is great, but Shafqat's stays on with me

With these 5 wonderful tracks Pritam becomes the composer that Shafqat has done most work with , in Bollywood!

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Vibrant Notes by Vishal-Shekhar

SAA on his rapport with Vishal and Shekhar: “It was friendship at first sight.”

1. Bin tere (IHLS- 2010) – O boy! What do I say about this song?  It is just perfect. Vishal of the Vishal – Shekhar duo wrote the lyrics for this one and I am a fan of the words he pens (He has also written Allah ke bandey and Aankho mein teri ajab si, by the way) and there couldn’t have been a better choice of a singer to convey the pain of separation, that is the song. I prefer the male part over the female one – ok I AM biased!

2. Dildara- (Ra One 2011)- What happens when Ben E King meets Shafqat? Magic!  Additional vocals by Vishal, Shekhar and Clinton Cerejo make it even more wonderful!

Only nominations that Shafqat has received for cine awards in Bollywood have been for these two songs

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Stellar tunes- Sajid-Wajid

SAA: “They are friends first and then co-workers”

1.Tishna Tishna  (Zindagi tere naam- 2008) – Probably the closest Shafqat comes to singing regular Bollywood fare. A song set up in fast tempo that he sings along with Sunidhi Chauhan. Will rank lower when we look at his other work but still among the better ones from Bollywood

2. Carvaan ( Hello -2009) – A beautiful composition. The song gives you a feeling of the journey of life, for which, no one can predict the outcome.  A song in the same league as his Kyun main Jagoon, but lesser heard.

The song Caravaan never got used in the film Hello!

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Et al

• Tere Bin for Sajid and Afsar in Love possible (2012) doesn’t really stand out, but it is a sweet song which you won’t mind listening to every now and then. 

• Ya Maula for Maximum (2012) composed by Vikram Sawan brings to fore the Sufi side of Shafqat beautifully again- the sounds of the waves in the background is beautiful. 

•  Zindagi se for Raaz 3 (2012) composed by Jeet Ganguly-The music of Raaz 3 has received somewhat mixed reviews- probably because the expectations were very high for the album considering it comes from a production house whose success largely rides on its music. But still Shafqat’s song is one of the two that stand out in an album which is otherwise pretty mundane.

And, next…

It’s a pity that in an industry that churns out hundreds and thousands of songs every year, the singer of Shafqat’s stature has sung only a handful of songs. Why, I wonder? Is it because he is picky? Is it because his immense talent doesn’t fit into the quick –success formula in this age of item numbers?  Is it because he is based across the border? Questions that best can be answered by him or the composers in the industry. But I do hope that he will get a chance in the future to showcase his talent with more composers, and the ones who have already worked with him, will challenge him with something even more exciting and fulfilling.

As a fan, I do lament the fact that he has done very select work in Bollywood  but am also proud that he has more or less always met the expectations and maintained a standard in singing that is worthy of his family name. His trademark aalaaps are a stamp of his ownership on songs of the Bollywood composers that he made his own. Each time you listen to him singing you are delighted to discover delightful nuances that you had missed before, and that’s what gives his songs such a long shelf life, unlike your other average Bollywood numbers.

Shafqat has always maintained that he prefers to sing his own compositions, but also admits that Bollywood has provided him a wider reach to his listeners. Maybe someday he will write and compose for a Hindi film. I hope Bollywood is paying heed!