Sangam and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (was Rafi - The Immortal!)
Satish Subramanian
Ashok Dhareshwar (ADhar...@worldbank.org) wrote:
> Here's a related (and music-related) news item. It shows the
> pitfalls of politicians and government trying to control culture.
> It also shows the civic courage of a great artist from Pakistan.
> Famed Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan laments that his
> country's government does not welcome Indian artists the way their
> Pakistani counterparts are welcomed here. Khan, speaking at a
> function organized to release his cassette 'Sangam' on July 26 night
> here. said he was overwhelmed by the love and affection showered
> upon him by Indians and regretted that Indian artists visiting
> Pakistan can hardly hope for a reciprocal treatment.
While one can say that he was awfully nice and courageous (and honest)
to make such statements, but it seems a little foolhardy too. Why
create more controversies when genuinely trying to make a positive
statement? Also, I feel, these diplomatic statements have to be read
in the context of things that happened a week before the release of
the "Sangam" cassette. There were rumours (and denials) in papers,
about some statements allegedly by Nusrat:-
OUTRAGED BOLLYWOOD VOWS NEVER TO COPY NUSRAT AGAIN
Source: MA July 20, Mumbai
Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has denied making
statements to the effect that the Bollywood music directors
were bereft of talent and had blatantly plagiarised his music.
After rumours that he made this statement, Nusrat Ali Khan has
been in for a lot of flak from the industry in India.
The HMV office in Mumbai has a fax from the singer which
reads: "I have never made any statement that India lacks in
talent."
But denial or no denial, Bollywood has taken in hard. Music
directors, actors and others were up in arms when news of the
alleged statement spread like wild fire all over Mumbai.
Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas is of the opinion that Nusrat Fateh
Ali is absolutely wrong. Anu Malik said the accusation is very
insulting, adding that if Mr. Khan is of the opinion that his
music is being copied he is free to file a complaint.
--
Whether he made that statement or not, Hindi film MDs have used many
tunes that were popularized by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The most famous
one was the "tu cheez baDi hai mast mast" (Mohra) taken from "dam mast
qalandar mast mast". Then there is "jhoole jhoole laal" (Jaikishan)
based on the song of the same title. Rajesh Roshan's "har dil mein
rab basta" (Sabse Bada Khiladi) was based on "ali da malang". "Sabse
Bada Khiladi" probably never had any original song in it! Another
movie that was filled with copied songs was "Shreeman Aashiq" by
Nadeem-Shravan. In that movie, Nusrat's "kissen da yaar na vichhde",
appeared as "kissika yaar na bichhde". (The song, picturized on Anu
Kapoor, was sung by a famous classical singer. Can't remember his
name). The latest probably is "piya ghar aaya o ram ji" (Yaarana)
based on "mera piya ghar aaya o laal nee". Surely there are many
others cases (not restricted to Hindi films). Even in Tamil films
there are instances where his tunes have been used. MD Chirpi in his
greatest hit "Ullatai Allitha", has used the "kinna sohna tannu" tune
for his "maama nee maama" song.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The recording 'Sangam' has lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Would like to
> hear from nettors who have had a chance to listen to it.
>
"Sangam" is a very decent album with 7 songs. Most of the tunes are
nice, but very different as far as Nusrat's style in concerned. The
lyrics by Javed are also good (Some of the songs used in this album
may be his old poems). All compositions are by Nusrat himself, while
the music arrangements are by Uttam Singh.
The album starts with "main aur meri awaargi". Then comes a slightly
faster "husn-e-jaana ki tareef mumkin nahin, Afreen Afreen". That is
followed by a nice ghazal:
"ab kya sochen kya hona hai, jo hoga achhaa hoga
pehle socha hota pagal ab rone se kya hoga?
aaj kisine dil toDa to, hamko jaise yaad aaya
jiska dil hamne toDa tha, vo jaane kaisa hoga?"
The fourth song "jism dhamaktaa zulf ghaneri" will probably be
my pick of the album, esp. for the lines:
"bikshu daani, pyaasa paani
dariya saagar, jal gaagar"
Loved the way Nusrat repeats these lines (felt as if he was
fine-tuning them each time). After that there is "aap se milke ham
kuch badal se gaye" - a light number. "Sheher ke dukaandaaron" is one
song where the instruments and music seem to go well with the mood of
the song. The album ends with a remix version of the "afreen afreen"
song, which also was good with the added chorus part.
Expected at least one qawwali in it, but there was none. The closest
they came to a qawwali was the "Afreen Afreen" song (not really!).
One striking factor in this album was the lyrics. I felt a little odd
understanding the lyrics of songs in a NFAK's album. :)
Also very little of Nusrat's characteristic improvisations can be seen
in the album. It was as if the lyrics were tying him down. At some
places the pitch of the song is so low (in keeping with the lyrics)
that it makes one wonder if the songs were made for Nusrat at all!
That doesn't make the album a bad one. In fact, it might very well be
an excellent album for light-listening! It might require several
hearings (to get a feel for the singing and the lyrics). Would
recommend getting the cassette before going for the CD.
> Ashok
--
bye
satish
Ikram Ahmed Khan
Satish Subramanian (subr...@cs.umn.edu) wrote:
: Whether he made that statement or not, Hindi film MDs have used many
: tunes that were popularized by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The most famous
: one was the "tu cheez baDi hai mast mast" (Mohra) taken from "dam mast
: qalandar mast mast". Then there is "jhoole jhoole laal" (Jaikishan)
: based on the song of the same title. Rajesh Roshan's "har dil mein
: rab basta" (Sabse Bada Khiladi) was based on "ali da malang". "Sabse
: Bada Khiladi" probably never had any original song in it! Another
: movie that was filled with copied songs was "Shreeman Aashiq" by
: Nadeem-Shravan. In that movie, Nusrat's "kissen da yaar na vichhde",
: appeared as "kissika yaar na bichhde". (The song, picturized on Anu
: Kapoor, was sung by a famous classical singer. Can't remember his
: name). The latest probably is "piya ghar aaya o ram ji" (Yaarana)
: based on "mera piya ghar aaya o laal nee". Surely there are many
: others cases (not restricted to Hindi films). Even in Tamil films
: there are instances where his tunes have been used. MD Chirpi in his
: greatest hit "Ullatai Allitha", has used the "kinna sohna tannu" tune
: for his "maama nee maama" song.
And what about Daraar's " Yeh pyaar pyaar kya hai" ? Has anybody heard the
NFAK original (if one exists)?
Later,
Ikram.