The no-nonsense rock star from Pakistan has become Bollywood’s most favoured voice in the last few years and, needless to say, a singer Calcutta just loves. Mitwa, Tum mile, Tere naina, Tu hi mera, Phir le aya dil, Teri jhuki nazar and the hit of the moment Manchala.… Shafqat Amanat Ali has enough songs to keep you rocking. The former Fuzon man spoke to t2 before his Calcutta date.

The Hindi film music space has been your ground for several years now. Have you learnt anything new here vis-a-vis in Pakistan?

One can’t compare Bollywood with the Pakistani film industry. At the moment, the Pakistani film industry is not as strong as Bollywood; there are very few films that people are working on. But I am a person who is a very quick learner. I always keep my senses on high alert and this helps me pick up things that I may not be aware of. Every time I work with a new producer or song, there is something new to learn.

And you manage to keep your songs so refreshing…

Honestly speaking, the melody and the producer literally tell you what needs to be done with a song… what tone to use and what improvisation to do. What I believe is my secret is doing my work with honesty.

Are you a musician who cares about musical instruments that are dying and need to be revived?

I am definitely concerned… well, I would say it’s a disaster… many of our major instruments are dying out and we should revive them. In fact, back home I had given this idea to different TV channels that I’m interested in hosting a programme around musical instruments that are dying on the subcontinent. If it works out, I might be hosting a programme where I would go out and look for artistes who are out of work or doing other work… perhaps work they don’t like. I want to bring them in and compose a song with them to tell people how we can incorporate all those musical instruments into contemporary music.

Coke Studio @MTV, MTV Unplugged and The Dewarists have changed the music scene in Pakistan and India by focusing on presenting music with a twist. What’s your take on it?

Well, what the Pakistani version of MTV Coke Studio has contributed to music is that…. Bollywood, like in rest of the world, has taken over all the channels. And artistes who were doing studio albums, individual projects or producing things not for films, their names were getting placed on the backburner. But after MTV Coke Studio, there is a hunt for musicians who are not in the limelight… and many beautiful discoveries have been made. Now all those artistes, folk songs and classical-based songs are finding space in mainstream music. The same goes for India as far as Coke Studio, MTV Unplugged and The Dewarists are concerned. Some of these artistes have not had a break in Bollywood and now they are getting noticed.

At this point in your career, any artiste you look up to or identify with?

I have always wanted to sound and sing like my father (Ustad Amanat Ali Khan)… right from the start. So, the biggest compliment for me is when somebody says ‘you sound like your father’. This comment always makes my day and I feel like I am on top of the world. Other than that, I have a very good ear for music. So, all the artistes I have heard till date, I have picked up something or the other from them. It’s about mixing and matching…

What about a new album?

Absolutely, I am working on an album. I have just received a scratch (track) which I will go back and dub. Technically, it’s the third track. The album will have 10 songs and should come out middle of the year.

Do you perform these songs live to gauge audience reaction?

Sometimes when the song is complete. So far what I have received is incomplete. Definitely we sometimes feel like sharing incomplete songs with the audience to see their reaction. And we have done it a few times. Let’s see if I do that in Calcutta!

How often do you improvise during your gigs?

Sometimes. Songs that have sentimental value or people have nostalgic connect with, we normally don’t change those songs. But there are a few songs which we definitely rework and they sound very different from what it sounds on albums.

For some, music is a form of escape. How about you?

Well, I bring the other world to reality… to our world through words and melody. Whatever I want to see, I choose a raag or melody to express the thought.

What are the downsides of being a musician?

The good things you can well imagine. The only downside, I feel, is that when you want to stay at home and not do anything you can’t, because you have to travel and perform. Sometimes you don’t want to sing but you have to sing. So there are things that go against your will at times.

Do you like being surprised by fans?

Well, all I can say is that they keep surprising me. And every day they have a new surprise. But the way they love and respect me, it’s so heart-warming that I can’t tell them not to do it.

What are you listening to?

When I get time to listen to music… that’s mostly when I am driving, I listen to my iPod. My all-time favourite is a fusion of RD Burman, Kishoreda, Lataji, Ashaji, Bappiji and all the retro songs… it’s a deadly combination!

Mathures Paul
Which song do you want Shafqat Amanat Ali to sing on February 23? Tell t2@abp.in

Shafqat Live, presented by The Telegraph and 91.9 Friends FM, at Netaji Indoor Stadium on February 23 begins at 6.30 pm. Television news partner: ABP Ananda. Ticketing partner: indianstage.in. Hospitality partner: Swissotel. Outdoor partner: Artage

Calcutta connect

Shafqat hopes Swastika will be in the audience at Netaji Indoor Stadium on February 23

Since you keep coming back to Calcutta, it must be a city you really love...

I can’t pinpoint why but somehow the audience response in Calcutta is very different from the rest of the country. They understand every note and improvisation.

You also have a soft corner for Bengali music. Any particular aspect of Bengali music you want to explore?

I have a very old connect with Bengali folk music. I know for a fact that a lot of popular Bollywood songs are inspired by Bangla folk, including my favourite O sajna barkha bahaar aayee... (breaks into the song). This is home to such powerful melodies. I would love to explore that.

And your set list...

I think there is one song that I know I won’t be singing there but that’s the song they (the people) will be singing (laughs)!