Who’s Who

Who’s the singer?Atif Aslam?
No, its Mustafa Zahid.
Actually no, its Kamran Ahmed.
But surely it’s a Pakistani singer!!
These young Pakistani singers are good…that touching, hurt, heart-rending tone in the voice sets them apart from our home-grown Udit Narayan, Abhiheet,Sonu Nigam and gang.I lost my heart to Atif Aslam,once I heard Tere bin main yun kaise jiya…kaise jiya tere bin. The texture of his voice seems so honest and forlorn and reaching out.
Actually, years ago, I had this secret young girl thing about the prince of my dreams, a guy who could sing well….it was the most romantic thing for me. Well, that dream didn’t come true as the package I got as my husband has no such attributes and he isn’t even tolerable when overheard singing in the bathroom.
Anyway what I wanted vs what I got , actually what I chose to get (can’t blame anyone!!), deserves a separate blog post. For now, lemme stick to these singers.
At work, I listen to all the new hindi releases which are mentioned by someone or listed at ndtv.com or rediff.com. And my work place, office space,is not the typical serious, pin-drop silence kind of an atmosphere.Its more energetic, trendy, stimulating,brazen and what not and because of that I am blasted by this rock music or techno music whatever they like to call it at all times.And I have to take refuge under my ear plugs.
The thing is that our music directors, movie directors- Mr Bhat, Mr Pritam etc are introducing so many new voices that its difficult to discern who’s singing which song.And all these songs are so similar – the tune, the lilt, the pensive tone.
To me, a listener, songs that have Atif Aslam written all over them are actually rendered by Mustafa Zahid . So Mr Zahid’s identity in the song To phir aao… is shrouded by Atif’s while the newbie Kamran struggles to etch out a corner for himself with the song Judaai…. Its unfair to these singers and it’s a waste of talent if they seem interchangeable to the audience .So Bollywood bosses, just hold off introducing new voices for some time,please.