Singer Saim Bhat in Kashmir

He is the voice behind popular Hindi song Dil sambhalja zara... from 'Murder 2' that rocked the music charts last year, but Kashmiri singer Saim Bhat says his journey was rocky as he had to be a rebel to follow his musical dreams.

 "In Kashmir there is no entertainment. The militants and the politicians have left nothing for entertainment," Saim, who also has his own band named Oak, said during an interview.

 "In Kashmir, music was not considered to be good, it was considered to be against the religion. Like any parents of Kashmir, my parents didn't love music. I got into it (music), as I was a rebel. I used to play with a friend, Humayun Mirza. I used to be a vocalist and he used to be a guitarist.

 "Humayun left Kashmir due to the circumstances that were prevalent in the state at that time and went to the UK. That was the time I decided I will create my own music," he added.

 But organising a music concert in the scenic locales of Kashmir was a far cry as people weren't interested in sponsoring his show.

 "When I did my first gig, I went to the sponsors but didn't get any money. So, I had to sell some of my own stuff to raise funds and after the performance there was a bomb blast and we were back to square one," said Saim.

 Militancy is known to have instilled fear in people in the Kashmir Valley, which forced the 28-year-old singer and his family to move to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

 "We belonged to a middle-class family and militants used to come at home and ask for money. So it was difficult to live in such conditions and that's the reason our family shifted to Riyadh. Music was not even allowed in Riyadh, but I still played. I was even caught by the cops once," he said.

 After that, the singer went to Mumbai and music composer Bappi Lahiri gave him a break in 2009 in the film 'Jai Veeru'.

 "I was in Bombay and played just for 5 to 10 minutes at a concert organised by Mushtaq Nadiadwala and there Bappi Lahiri spotted me. He gave me my first song Sufi tere pyaar mein... from the film 'Jai Veeru'," recounted Saim, who also performed at the recently concluded maiden edition of the Gulmarg Winter Festival.

 "After Sufi tere pyaar mein..., I have seen many Kashmiri bands performing. They felt that if one person can do it, then why can't we do it. The idea is to involve the young talent into it," he said, adding: "Now things are improving and people are foraying into music."

 The singer is now looking forward to his work with the Mozart of Madras, A.R Rahman. "I have worked with Rahman sahab and the tracks would be out soon," he said. Currently he is working on 'Aashiqui 2'.

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Top Ghazal singers to perform in Jammu

It will be a treat for Jammuites to watch two celebrated Ghazal singers from India performing live here tomorrow.

The function is being organised by Radio Kashmir Jammu as a part of the Republic Day celebrations.

The renowned singers, known for their soothing voice quality are Dr Roshan Bharati from Kota Rajasthan and Sakhawat Husain Khan from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.

A gold medalist in post graduation from the University of Rajasthan, Dr. Bharati has to his credit a doctoral thesis on Begum Akhter's 'life and works'. Sakhawat Husain Khan is a known figure to Jammu audience as he has many a time performed here to the amusement of Ghazal singers.

According to Ravi Magotra, Programme Head, Radio Kashmir Jammu, the element of classical music is vividly visible in Sakhawat's style of singing. Magotra said the venue for the 'Sham-e-Ghazal' will be the auditorium of Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, where the function will start at 5 pm tomorrow.

Gojri folk music Festival

In a bid to expose the younger generation of Gujjar community to their rich folk musical heritage, a State level folk music bonanza was organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at the auditorium of Gujjar Desh Trust for Cultural Heritage, here today.

Today’s program specially aimed for the city based Gujjar children, who are fast moving away from their tribal mooring in the light of present day flux of change and globalization, showcased rich treasure of folk songs that were rendered by leading groups and individuals draw from the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at the occasion, Impressed by the scintillating performance of folk artistes and the hearty response by the Gujjar children, the chief guest of the function Choudhary Bashir Ahmed Naz, Vice Chairman J&K Sate Advisory Board for Development of Gujjar and Bakerwal, said that Board will support holding of such festivals in all districts of the State. He also suggested holding of mega folk musical concerts in capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. He said Board would also give financial assistance to organizations like Cultural Academy or others to make feature films in Gojari language. Earlier, Dr Javaid Rahi, HoD, Gojri Section of State Cultural Academy, in his welcome address said that the purpose of holding such festival was to reach out to the new generation of the community and introduce the rich cultural heritage of Gujjars.He said it was first of its kind effort of the Cultural Academy to collaborate with NGOs like Gujjar Desh Trust which is working for the promotion and development of Gujjar culture and heritage.

He said Academy’s emphasis is upon audio-visual documentation of folk artistic treasure so as to preserve the heritage that stands threatened by the challenges of globalization and satellite channels.

About 50 artistes from different parts of the State performed on the occasion. Prominent among them included Bashir Mastana, Begum Jan and party, Razia Begum and party, Tasleema Choudhary and party, Rukhsana Choudhary and group, Gulam Mohammad Dansalia and party. Shameema Akhtar Janbaaz, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy presented the vote of thanks. 

FM Radio Sharda in Jammu

Minister of Relief Revenue and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today announced that his Ministry is ready to help the migrant youth who are interested in launching the community welfare programmes.

Addressing a function after inauguration of Sharda Radio 90.4 FM at Buta Nagar here today, the Minister said "Department is fully behind them who work for the betterment of the displaced community and promotion of its culture and ethos. Who so ever takes initiative in this regard the Government and his ministry will be with them’’ he added.

The function, which was organized by Peer Panchal was also attended by Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, Vinod Koul, as guest of honour.

Fully agreeing with Director Doordarshan Jammu, Shabir Ahmed Mujahid, who termed the Sharda Radio as Awaz-e-Dard (voice of pain), Mr Bhalla expressed the hope that Sharda Radio will come to the expectations of the displaced community and the other people living in peripheral area by promoting their culture, ethos and language.

He also expressed the hope that with the passage of time radio will also increase its broadcasting timing and run the programmes for greater duration. "Through the community radio stations the traditional art can be transmitted from generation to generation’’. This station can provide a platform to the budding artists and one can hear the radio while traveling in car or other vehicles, he added.

Mr Bhalla said "let us join hands and work for the unity and integrity of all three regions of the state though these centres’’. The Government is all ready to help in boosting such activities and it will have no hesitation in providing a cultural center at Jagti township’’, he added.

Maintaining that language is not the property of any body, he said the FM 90.4 will highlight the plight of displaced Pandits and also help in promotion of Kashmiri and Dogri languages.

Speaking on the occasion Director DD Shabir Ahmed Mujahid said that this FM technology is the American concept to take the radio to farflung rural areas but Sharda Radio really speaking should have been named as Awaz-e-Dard (voice of pain). He assured all help and cooperation to the Radio management from his side.

He said the FM concept has become so common in the country now that sponsorship bids for it are increasing day by day.

Brij Betab a renowned broadcaster also spoke on the occasion and assured all cooperation in running the FM 90.4.

The president Peer Panchal, Ramesh Hangloo, read the welcome address as well as proposed the vote of thanks. He highlighted the objective behind setting up of the Sharda Radio. He said the radio would be available on 90.4 FM in and around Jammu City. It involves community participation and among other things, will promote Kashmiri and Hindustani language and preserve cultural values.

Others who spoke included ASKPC chief Amarnath Vaishnavi. The stage was conducted by Manoj Jad secretary Peer Panchal while Vijay Koul and others. 

SaMaPa Awards 2011

SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts) has announced the names of the recipients of this year’s SaMaPa awards.According to a statement, the prestigious ‘SaMaPa Vitasta Award’ carries cash honour of Rs 50,000 each. The award is being conferred upon Vidushi Zarin Sharma and Begum Parween Sultana.

The prestigious ‘SaMaPa Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Award’ which carries cash honour of Rs 25,000 is being conferred upon the veteran Kashmiri folk musician Ghulam Nabi Bulbul. Prof. C.L. Das is being honoured with the ‘SaMaPaAcharya Abhinavgupt Samman’ which carries honour of Rs. 5,000. While Vidushi Zarin Sharma is being honoured for her lifetime contribution in the field of Indian Classical Instrumental Music - Sarod (Mumbai) and Begum Parween Sultana is being honoured for her lifetime contribution in the field of Indian Classical Music – Vocal (Mumbai) with the prestigious ‘SaMaPa Vitasta Award’, Ghulam Nabi Bulbul (Kashmir) is being awarded the ‘SaMaPa Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Award’ for his lifetime dedication and contribution in the field of Kashmiri folk music as a singer and Sarangi player.

Prof. C.L. Das (Patna) receives the ‘SaMaPa Acharya Abhinavgupt Samman’ for his lifetime contribution to Indian music as a musicologist and critic. This year SaMaPa has introduced another award for those individuals who go beyond the conventional areas of working promoting the art and culture of the country. The first ‘’SaMaPa Kala Vardhan Samman’ is being conferred upon Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism and Culture, for promoting the art and culture of Jammu and Kashmir State.

The award announcement was made by the internationally acclaimed Santoor maestro and composer Abhay Rustum Sopori in New Delhi declaring that the name was selected by the great music legend Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Chairman SaMaPa, and the award selection committee headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Padmashri Shameem Azad, Pt. Vijay Shankar Mishra, VP SaMaPa and senior musicologist and critic, and other committee members.

The award will be presented on the occasion of 7th Annual ‘SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan 2011’ in New Delhi at Kamani Auditorium on the November 19. The two day festival, acclaimed as the top most music festival of Delhi and one of the most prestigious festivals of the country, SaMaPa Sangeet Sammelan will be held on the 19th and 20th of November 2011 featuring Begum Parween Sultana and Vidushi Shubha Mudgal (vocal), Vidushi Zarin Sharma (Sarod), Ragini Rainu (Sufi), Abhay Rustum Sopori (Santoor), amongst others.