03 August,2026 08:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ Panchal
(L-R) Zaman Khan and Salman Khan Niazi. Pic/By Special Arrangement
A big part of Salman Khan Niazi and Zaman Khan's love for traditional music has stemmed from their admiration for Jagjit Singh's ghazals and Punjabi folk. So, the Sufi duo, better known as Salman-Zaman, has paid tribute to the late singer in a manner they know best - they have revisited Singh's timeless Punjabi classic with Kurti Mal Mal Di (Dhai Din Na). In a chat with mid-day, they discuss the importance of preserving the original song's "purity" and creating their own musical identity.
Excerpts from the interview.
Your rendition of Kurti Mal Mal Di pays tribute to Jagjit Singh while introducing your own musical identity. How did you strike that balance?
Salman: Kurti Mal Mal Di (Dhai Din Na) is a timeless melody with a beautiful rhythm pattern that keeps you grooving. That's exactly what we wanted to preserve. We could have made several changes to modernise it; instead, we added a couple of lines in the introduction and kept the song simple. Our top priority was ensuring we didn't ruin the purity of this masterpiece.
How much do trends and algorithms influence your creative process?
Zaman: Trends are like flowing water. No matter how hard you try to hold on to them, they eventually move in a different direction. As artistes, we believe the best approach is to focus on creating a good song rather than worrying about algorithms or virality. A good song may not trend today, but one day it becomes part of your musical legacy. We don't feel any pressure to chase what's trending.
Do you think today's listeners are becoming more receptive to classical and folk influences?
Salman: We believe this is the best time for every classical musician to release their music because listeners are increasingly drawn towards authentic sounds. When we transitioned from being a rock band to becoming a Sufi duo, we were sceptical about whether the younger generation would embrace this style. Thankfully, people have appreciated our blend of Hindustani classical and contemporary music.
In that case, why have qawwalis become so rare in Bollywood today?
Zaman: Bollywood soundtracks are driven by the story and script. If a film demands a Sufi composition, composers and filmmakers are more than willing to include one. Naa Toh Karvan Ki Talash Hai [Ishq Jalakar from Dhurandhar] has been one of the biggest hits this year, proving there is still an audience for the genre. If the right scripts call for it, Bollywood is ready to experiment with qawwalis again.
Jagjit Singh had composed and voiced the song, âDhai Din Na Jawani Nal Chaldi', for the 1986 film âLaung Da Lishkara'
