'We won't sing Munni Badnaam Hui'

So says Ghazal singer Jagjit Singh who alongwith singer Ghulam Ali promises fans a topnotch concert tonight Expect encore performances of Aawargi and Aahista Aahista as well as other timeless classics To be able to interact with Jagjit Ghazal King Singh one has to pass what seems like a validity test set up by him He tossed a few questions about his coperformer Ghulam Ali the Ghazal legend from Pakistan and himself towards us We might have answered satisfactorily because Singh who seemed like hed got up on the wrong side of the bed finally agreed to be interviewed Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali share a light moment before the concert PicRane AshishGenerations of Ghazal listeners have been introduced to beautiful Urdu poetry by the two singers for decades now In a casting coup of sorts they have been brought together for the Fever Unplugged concert that will be held tonight at Shanmukhananda Hall We spent a few moments in the company the legendary singers before the concert Excerpts from the interviewOver the years both of you have performed Ghazals written by poets such as Mirza Ghalib Nida Fazli and Gulzar Is there a particular poet who has become a favourite Jagjit Singh I dont have a favourite poet If a poet writes a good Ghazal he becomes a favourite Personally I dont have a favourite as suchGhulam Ali I dont think I have a favourite poet But yes I do have favourite poetry because for us it does not matter who the poet is what were looking for is depth of thought Even so Mirza Ghalib or Daagh Dehlvi or Mir Taqi Mir are amongst my favourite poets Actually a poets work opens up through the singers voice How the audience react to the words depends largely on how the singer understands composes and presents the ghazalu00a0Even when a poet has penned the most beautiful words if the singer does not do justice then the Ghazal will not have the same impact Favouritism ho jaata hai aahista aahista For instance Ive performed a lot of poetry by Nasir Kazmi and Ahmed Faraz and bhaijaan Singh has sung a lot of Ghalib so theyve become favouritesJS But that does not mean only Ghalib is my favourite How will the concert be structured Have you planned something special JS We havent planned anything for the performance Even earlier we had an extempore performance We sing what we feel like It all depends on what comes to mind at that time how my throat is feeling how the audience is and so on Apart from Ghazals even your Punjabi songs are very popular Will we get to hear them at the concert JS Well include Punjabi numbers if there is a demand for the songs depending on what the crowd wantsGA If the crowd wants we can sing the Punjabi songs together But it really depends on what the public demands Were here to perform for our audience Increasingly we see the quality of lyrics and music deteriorating in films and popular songs Are you concerned with how popular music is created these days JS Why should we care about what is being created now What do we care what another person is doing Weve been brought up on good poetry so thats what we can give back to the publicGA Our Ghazals bring a sense of peaceJS Weve gone through disciplined learning and riyaaz for years With a background like that obviously we wont sing Munni Badnaam Hui Our audience has a certain expectation from us and its our responsibility to fulfil those expectationsGA Whether its a Ghazal or a film song it depends on how the sur melody comes together in a particular composition If the sur is good then it doesnt matter if the song is fast or slow Is there a particular experience you remember from your performances together GA When we sing together I become very conscious of bhaijaans presence At the same time I have to make sure the audience believes that were most comfortable with each otherJS When we perform together its his responsibility to take care of me and mine to take care of him On Tonight 630 pmAt Shanmukhananda Hall J Yagnik Marg near King Circle Sion E Call 24092211Other musicu00a0events in the cityDeutsche Philharmonie MerckDeutsche Philharmonie Merck Merck Philharmonic Orchestra Germany is named after the Merck family of pharmacists The company Merck in Darmstadt Germany is the orchestras main sponsor The ensemble was founded in 1966 initially as an orchestra for employees called the Merck Instrumental Groupu00a0 The concert will mark the opening of a 15 month series of events Germany and India 20112012 Infinite Opportunities that is being organised to commemorate the Year of Germany in IndiaOn Tonight 630 pm At Jamshed Bhabha Auditorium NCPA Nariman Point Call 22824567 Ray Ban Never Hide SoundsRayBan Never Hide Sounds is the firstever nationwide Rock band hunt that is targetted at young musicians who have never had the opportunity to perform in public before The editors of Rolling Stone magazine will help prepare the short list of bands from which a jury will select five winners On September 25 930 am to 1100 pm At Phoenix Mills Lower Parel Bands can register by emailing entriesneverhidesoundscom