19th May, 2024
29th March, 2015Times Music presents the brand new album Muh Dikhai by Shafqat Amanat Ali, the voice behind many Bollywood blockbusters. Shafqat Amanat Ali who has written, composed and sung most of the tracks of the album, is the son of the legendary Pakistani singer Ustad Amanat Ali Khan of Pakistan, making him a part of the 9-generation-old Patiala Gharana.
Based out of Lahore, Pakistan Shafqat is extremely popular and highly respected among music lovers and critics. He has been a student of the traditional Indian and Pakistani classical music since the age of four and his command over the classical idiom and modern music has made him a name to reckon in Bollywood.
Muh Dikhai is Shafqat Amanat Ali’s much awaited album after the super success of his albums “Tabeer” and “Kyun Dooriyan”. The album being released by Times Music is a beautiful mélange of Shafqat’s inimitable and versatile style of fusing various genres to create timeless melodies and songs.
The album does not remain confined to any particular genre as it includes a couple of Sufi tracks by Hazrat Amir Khusrau and Professor Mohan Singh, a semi-classical track, a ghazal originally composed by his father late Ustad Amanat Ali Khan saheb and recreated by Shafqat in a unique style for the first time. And among these are also melodious love songs, which traverse all genres from Pop to rock and ballads.
Speaking on the album Shafqat Amanat Ali states, “This album started just like the previous ones. Compositions, which occur to me in the most unsuspecting moments as always and drive me to explore and create songs have always formed the content of all my albums. It was no different this time. The nine songs in this album have been composed by me among many other songs during this period but these 9 were collected and picked for the album for various reasons. Since I had experienced that in my previous work people liked listening to Sufiana, I specially picked up Rang and Muh Dikhai. The other two important songs for the album were Dil Dharaknay Ka Sabab and Ratiyaan. These four songs are my favourite in the album and what I would recommend to a discerning listener. The rest of the songs flowed easily once I realized that the major ones were in place.”
He adds “Every album, I feel must have atleast 3-4 “hit numbers”. Or atleast every artiste who produces his album, the strategy seems to be to work on 4-5 songs, which they think are hits and then complete the album around it. But sometimes I feel this approach can be detrimental to the true creativity of the artiste or is even proved wrong because a lot of times people love the so called “Not obvious” songs. Sometimes what the artiste may have thought of as supporting songs turn out to be the real hits. In this album, I created literally a song bank and then selected what felt like the best fit. People have been waiting for this album for a long time and asking me about it so each song has been created with the hope that it appeals to the listeners. I didn’t follow a particular subject while creating these songs, but just followed creative ideas. There were 13-14 songs initially but the best 9 which really felt right made it to the final list that is here for you to listen to. There are quite a few Punjabi numbers this time unlike my previous albums but even these have been chosen very carefully to express a unique thought. There are some love songs but given that it is the oldest theme in the world, the vocabulary used in the poetry has been selected very carefully to bring some fresh thoughts to the listeners. “
Speaking on the album, Mandar Thakur, COO – Times Music said “Times Music is delighted to work with the immensely gifted Shafqat Amanat Ali. 'Muh Dikhai ' is a landmark album loaded with hit songs and Shafqat's amazingly melodious compositions and voice are a pleasure to hear and enjoy.”
A walk through Shafqat Amanat Ali’s journey
Shafqat Amanat Ali was the lead vocalist of the popular Pakistani band – Fuzon. Their first album ‘Saagar’ was a big hit. His name got recognised beyond Fuzon, when he sang the chartbuster Mitwa, for Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. The song became an instant hit and left India wanting more of this power-packed voice. He was also the voice behind the critically acclaimed song Yeh Hausla from the movie Dor, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. No wonder then, that Shafqat Amanat Ali is extremely popular and highly respected among music lovers and critics alike. His command over the classical idiom and modern music has made him a name to reckon with!!
Shafqat has more recently sung for movies such as Jo Dikhte Ho (Kya Dilli Kya Lahore),Manchala (Hasee Toh Phasee),Allah Wariyan (Yaariyan), Teri Jhuki Nazar (Murder 3),Tu Hi Mera (Jannat 2),Phir Le Aaya Dil (Barfi), Zindagi Se Chura Ke (Raaz 3), Hello (Track – Caravan), the chartbusters Tum Mile Rock Version (Tum Mile), Tere Naina (My Name is Khan), Bin Tere (I Hate Luv Stories), Shukriya Zindagi for Nagesh Kukunur’s Aashayein, the chartbuster Kyun Main Jagoon for Patiala House, Chhayee Hai Tanhai for Love Breakups Zindagi, Dildara for RaOne, Poore Se Zara Sa Kam Hai from Mausam, Darmiyan from Jodi Breakers andvarious other tracks for forthcoming films under the music direction of Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar and Shankar-Ehsaan Loy.
YouTube link of the track “Dil Kookay”, the first video from the album is only a click away.
