Kamal Khan
Winning Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2010, getting his first break in Bollywood with Wallah Re Wallah (Tees Maar Khan)and having given hits like Ishq Sufiyana(The Dirty Picture)& Naina (Gori Tere Pyar Main),the 25-year-old from small-town Patiala has come a long way. He tells SANGEETA YADAV about his experience in Bollywood and plans to give tribute to Sufi legend and qawwali maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at Delhi’s Flying Saucer Cafe on June 4
‘My mom is my true inspiration’
How are you preparing for your live concertIJ
From sufi songs to qawwalis, I’ll be singing all of Nasrat Fateh Ali Khan’s hit numbers and my earnest effort will be to bring his charisma into the concert. His style of singing, the mukhras, antras, sur, taal etc are very difficult to copy. But I’m doing a lot of riyaz to make the concert a hit.
Tell us about the present music scenario in BollywoodIJ
Bollywood lacks good, meaningful lyrics and soothing tunes. Nowadays, the focus is on dhinchak music than on soulful songs. Numbers like Tamanche pe disco and Sheila ki jawani send a wrong message to impressionable minds. The 60s and 70s songs are still loved. The other problem plaguing our music industry is that sufi and other classical genres are getting extinct.
Who has been your inspirationIJ
My mother is my greatest inspiration. She is a fantastic singer as well. She suffered from problems after my birth and I always blamed myself for that. But my mother would console me by saying that it was only God’s wish. She used to tell me that for a singer to sing, he has to feel the song first. My father was not supportive and we used to have huge arguments. I left home in disgust. To eke out a living, I used to make plastic moulds of broomsticks and sing in concerts and competitions in spare time. Then Sa Re Ga Ma Pa happened. My parents are proud of me today.
Is it difficult for budding singers to get projectsIJ
Without recommendation, nobody gets work in Bollywood. To get a project, one has to be patient and not lose hope. He/she should constantly work towards achieving one’s dream. Once a person comes to Mumbai, struggles double up. The city makes you realise your weaknesses. It’s up to you to conquer them. When I interact with Bollywood people, I realise I have a long way to go and create a place for himself with hard work.
Do you have a GodfatherIJ
Vishal-Shekhar have taught me everything there is to know about the music industry. They held my hand and walked me through to where I stand today. When I was in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and hardpressed for money, I got my first song Wallah Re Wallah.
Any singer or music director you would like to work withIJ
I would love to work with AR Rehman and sing a duet with Sunidhi Chauhan or Shreya Ghoshal someday. I would also like to give my voice to SRK.
Any album or Bollywood songs you are currently working onIJ
I’m working on two Punjabi movies and some Bollywood films as well. My Punjabi solo is in the pipeline.