'Rahman should popularise ghazals'

After his comment made in an interview to DNA, ‘What does Rahman know about ghazals?’ Jagjit Singh seemed to be a bit upset as he felt it had been misunderstood by a section of die-hard AR Rahman fans. He referred to the reaction to his remark at the release of cricketer Kiran More’s wife, Raavi More’s ghazal album, Ishq Mein Aksar which has bhajan samrat Anup Jalota  staging his ‘comeback’ in the realm of ghazals. 

Jagjit clarifies, “Actually what I meant was Rahman, being an innovative award-winning composer who connects with today’s Gen-Next, should also include ghazals written by stalwarts like Gulzar in his film repertoire.  Of late, he has been confining himself to jazzy and folksy-fusion Indi-pop.  Since he is versatile enough, he should be able to come up with fabulous ghazals and popularise them.”

But would the ghazal maestro be ‘game’ to record  filmi ghazals for Rahman? “Surely, why not? If that happens, it would emerge as a milestone track,” smiles Singh who had religiously resolved not to record any more bhajan albums. “That’s a self-imposed embargo for about two years, as I felt I had already released enough devotional music in the audio market,” he informs.

Meanwhile Jagjit has recorded a soulful number under the baton of young singer-composer-guitarist Vasudha Sharma (formerly of Asma band) for actor-director Makarand Deshpande’s  upcoming movie, Shahrukh Bola Khubsoorat Hai Tu. “I rarely sing for Hindi movies but I made an exception because Makarand convinced me and I found Vasudha very promising,” he explains. And complimenting Raavi on her debut album, he says, “Your ghazal scores must have surely ‘stumped’ your cricketer hubby, Kiran.”