showbiz

Sonu, Atif use music to bring peace

BY CARMEL DOMINIC
January 23, 2016

If you are between the ages of 30 to 40 and Bollywood was and still is a big part of your life, then Sonu Nigam would be a household name.

Now, add Pakistan’s latest and hottest export to Bollywood, Atif Aslam to the mix, and one can only expect musical fireworks.

The duo were in town for a one-night-only extravaganza yesterday at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC). Though both have been to Malaysia at different times for different occasions, they made their debut by sharing the stage in Asia right here in our own backyard.

The Malaysian Insider was privileged enough to meet both artistes prior to the concert to talk about how they feel about their Malaysian fans. At this juncture, it has to be said both artistes were incredibly down to earth, despite only landing at KLIA two hours prior to the sit-down.

Sonu, a veteran in the Indian music industry, has an unassuming air about him as he sat down for the interview. He said jokingly the heat here was much better than in Mumbai, adding that he was happy to be back.

Two days ago, Sonu made the news in India with his impromptu performance while up in the air. When asked what made him perform in-flight, he said that some of the passengers on the flight to Mumbai were crew members from the shooting that he had just done in Jaipur.

“Some of the older crew members were asking me to sing for them. So, I did. Then, the stewardess came to me and said that I can use the PA system as it would not bother the pilots in the cockpit.

"The PA system was only for use in the cabin. So, I sang. And I specifically asked everyone not to take a video or post anything on social media, but, yeah, who listens, right? I have been getting calls and text about the video ever since,” he said with a laugh.

The video has gone viral since and has reached almost 11 million views.

With more than 20 years under his belt, Sonu has seen and have been a part of the change that has taken place in the Indian music industry.

“Yes, the industry is changing. That’s what progress is about. We can’t stay in the same place all the time. So, yeah, now everyone can be a singer with auto tune and a pitch corrector, but the true litmus test of whether or not a person can really sing is when he performs at a live concert.

“So, if someone is happy by calling themselves a singer, then who am I to stand in their way of happiness? The world doesn’t revolve around me and everybody is entitled to a piece of the pie. I am not that bothered about this,” he said coolly.

The other artiste who shared the stage with Sonu at the concert was the soon-to-turn 33-year-old Atif. He said that the Malaysian fans had also left an impact on him when he performed here previously at an award ceremony.

“I felt the warmth and love from my Malaysian fans before. They were on their feet and sang along enthusiastically to the songs. And honestly, that is how I prefer my audience to be. There is more energy when they stand on their feet and sing along.”

Both Atif and Sonu agree that music is a universal language and it can bring people together.

“The duet that we composed for the purpose of the concert will showcase both our individual talents as singers but we are doing it in harmony. It’s called the Jugalbandhi,” Atif said.

Literally translated to mean “entwined twins”, Jugalbandhi is a distinctive duet that is defined by the fact that both artistes must have equal prominence during the performance with no clear definition of soloist and accompanist.

Their performance, they said, would hopefully herald a new age of peace between their countries of birth – Pakistan and India. – January 23, 2016.