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Power of Sufiana

Nishaan (Times Music)

We have heard Pakistani singer Rafaqat Ali Khan in films like “Krrish” and “Awaarpan”. We have also read the rave reviews that the prodigal son of renowned Nazakat Ali Khan and nephew of Salamat Ali Khan gets in the Pakistani press. But this is the first time we are witness to the power of his voice. He gives an entirely new lilt to the oft-heard Sufiana poetry of masters like Amir Khusro.

At a time when it is almost compulsory for every singer to have the best song as the opening offering in the album, he has dared to break the mould. Kahein ye akhiyaan, kate naa ratiyaan cannot be called the most promising by any stretch of the imagination. But the album begins with it.

Things pick up a bit with the next, Ishq da kadi na chadhe bukhaar, kisi tatdi nu. But the real magic unfolds only after that with Allah, tera shukriya, which is not only sung majestically but also has powerful music. This is the song which had inspired the Indian hit Mera piya ghar aaya. If one line is in Hindi/Urdu (Tune to masla asaan kar diya, mere piya ko, mere hi ghar mehmaan kar diya), the next is in Punjabi (Peer manavan, shakkar vandaan).

And after it, there is sheer crescendo of Sufi frenzy. Chhap tilak sab chhen li re mose naina milayke forces you to get up and start dancing uncontrollably. The same holds true of the ever-popular Duma Dum mast Qalandar.

Heyy Babyy (T Series)

The success of a film lifts up its music sales and vice-versa. This is happening in the case of Heyy Babyy as well. The music may be no great shakes but it is selling fairly briskly.

Don’t get me wrong. It is not as if the creation of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is below par but it is getting more buyers after the film started making waves.

In keeping with the character of the film, it is peppy and varied. If some songs are out and out western influenced, like the title song by Neeraj Sridhar, Raman Pervez Quadir and Loy, which figures again featuring Girl Band (DJ Akbar Sami), there is also the purely Indianised Mast Kalandar to which film’s director Sajid Khan also lends his voice (the others being Salim Shehzada, Rehan Khan and Shankar Mahadevan).

Remix is the order of the day here. Four songs have been given this special treatment. Wonder why Meri duniya tu hi re (Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan) was left out.

Lyrics are by Sameer. — ASC