From a martial art player to internet music sensation, a 20-year-old amateur Kashmiri singer has come a long way to put smiles on the sullen faces in the bruised paradise.
Coming from a humble background in the border district of Bandipora, Sakeena Reshi's debut Kashmiri folk song "Hy hy Wasiye…' (Oh my friend…) has garnered 1.6 million views on YouTube in just eight days.
The video of the song, which has been professionally produced, has been widely shared on social media platforms, making the 20-year-old an overnight internet celebrity.
"Frankly speaking, I was not expecting this song to be a runaway hit and that there will so many views, likes and shares. You will hardly find anyone who has not put this video on his or her timeline. I am thankful to Almighty Allah, my papa and SMA films (producers) for making me what I am today," Sakeena told DNA.
Behind her success, however, lies the personal struggle and sacrifice of this young girl. She had to drop out after passing matriculation because there was no one at home to take care of daily chores. She even had to leave martial arts to concentrate on house chores after her mother passed away. Her passion for music, however, melted the heart of her father who brought harmonium from Delhi so that she could live her dreams.
"I was a Kabadi and Kho Kho player. Later I trained in Wushu and Taekwondo in Bandipora. While learning the sport, I developed a taste for music. There was a harmonium in our academy and I started fiddling with it. Without any coaching, I learnt to play the instrument. Later my father got one from Delhi so that I could practice," she said.
The lyrics of "Hy hy Wasiye…" had cast a spell on Sakeena to the extent that she wanted sing the song in her own voice. With no training, she was crooning the song before her talent was spotted. And when she was offered to sing this song, she could not say no.
"I have never receiving any coaching in any genre of singing. But I was always crooning this song. Later, when I sang this professionally it turned out to be a hit," she said.
While she has become this internet celebrity, Reshi regrets the lack of facilities for training in music and singing. "There is no one in my area who could teach me singing. If one has to make career in this field, there ought to be a professional coaching. Coaching is available in Srinagar, but I can't commute daily from Bandipora. I can only do it once in a week", she said.
For Reshi, singing on radio is a dream that she wants to realise. "I wish one day I will sing on radio. It is my dream and hope. In addition, my papa is a poet and I want to sing his Gazals," she said.
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 "Sakeena Reshi")
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