One tune, one nation

Mona

The tenor is sombre, but the sentiment deep — Ae meri khaak-e-watan dekh teri shaan hoon main/ Haan Musalman hoon main/ Teri azmat, teri sarhad ka nigehbaan hoon main/ Haan Musalman hoon main… go the lyrics. As videos of recent happenings pan out in the backdrop, Waseem sings Haan Musalman Hoon Main. Shot at the home studio of primary school teacher ZuBair, who is also the composer, the song is touching emotional chords all over social media.

“CAA-NRC has been the issue of concern in our town too,” says ZuBair, from Nai Basti, Nauhawan Sadat district, in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. Written by his elder brother Nawab Khalid, Haan Musalman Hoon Main is their response to the whole scenario. “We are born in this country and will die here too; it’s here that our love and sincerity lie,” adds ZuBair, who like many in his town felt helpless that there was no other channel to put forth their views.

Hear us out

The song was recorded in the brothers’ home studio and has been sung by their friend Waseem. “All we want to bring to the notice of our country is that we feel for India,” he says. Their town, with a largely Muslim population, held one protest, but were not allowed any further by the authorities. “We wanted to be heard and so held a peaceful protest. Any harm to the country or its property is our own harm.”

Now that they have said what they wanted to, gives this group, which goes by the name of R Music, immense satisfaction.

“The song has been shared by many; I also came across a video that looks like that of Shaheen Bagh, where our song is being sung. Many people have reached out to us saying how they felt our pain.”

Lyrical power

On the lyrics that powerful — Hai meri arz vatan, na main na Irani hoon, na main Bengali hoon na main Afghani hoon/ Teri hi kokh se janmi teri santan hoon main… yaad to honge tujhe khoon bahane wale/ Teri azmat ke liye sar ko katane wale/ Haan vahin hoon vahi Ashfaqulla Khan hoon main haan/ Aise mat dekh ke jaise koi anjan hoon main —ZuBair worked for almost two weeks.

“Maintaining the mood, while also listing how Muslims have been an integral part of the journey of this country, from right before Independence to now, was tricky,” he says. A primary teacher by profession, ZuBair hopes to become a musician someday. “It’s not our first song, but definitely the first to garner this much appreciation.” ZuBair particularly admires the songs by AR Rahman and RD Burman. “I am more of old school; soulful melodies are my pick.”

While currently R Music operates from home, they hope to own a studio soon and look for more talent in their town.

mona@tribunemail.com