Straight from the Heart

He cut his first album in style. His first attempt itself brought Altaf Raja the limelight one craves for. 15 million copies of his Tum To Thehre Pardesi were sold and he won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. "In any case, 10 to 12 lakhs is the minimum sale of every new album of mine. That’s just the least number of my fans," says Altaf confidently.

His latest album hitting the market is Dil Ke Tukde Hazar Hue. Although the line seems fir for a mukhda of a sad song, his album has no song with this line. "We have titled it so because this mood prevails throughout the album. It conveys heartbreak and emotion of sadness," he says.

An overdose of lost love and sorrowful album, does it work with the music lovers? Well Altaf is quick to defend his work. According to him, the emotion of viraha sells better than love songs with jubiliance. “Sadness is more realistic and a person can relate to it better. Everyone has gone through the feeling of loss. All empathise with words and shayari used in my albums," he stresses while authenticating his claim with the sales figures of his previous three albums, that did good business.

Secondly, as he says, he has used different moods of love and passion to give various colours to his album Dil Ke Tukde Hazar Hue. While the song Mohabbat ka iraada is a bit westernised with complete orchestra, another number Ja bewafa is very rhythmic.

One of the songs is a story of a tawaif, where Altaf has defied general beliefs and come up with a real story. "Normally we say Ghungroo toot gaye, but here I have told how her lover distrusts her and defames her. Shamed, she wears ghungroo, since there is nothing else left for her. It is a novel effort with lyrics," he explains.

Well, all is fine. But sad songs with shayari go better with slow and haunting music. Instead Altaf has given a lot of rhythm and beat to the mood of aansoo and gham. Why this contradiction? "Rhythm is added as per the need, not just for the heck of it. Then, where ever there are the standard formats, there is no clash and it does not sound ridiculous. One can be imaginative," he explains.

For Altaf, lyrics have to be meaningful and music should support the mood of the words. "I don’t make a story and create music for the scene, and then fill in the blank of lyrics. I first choose the words. Shayari or poetry is more important. Once I find the appropriate one to suit what I want, then I make music for it. That’s why it is difficult for the music video director to visualise and make videos for my songs, because I cut an album to please my listeners, not the audience," says Altaf tongue-in-cheek.

No wonder the video of the song Pehle to kabhi kabhi is pleasing to the eyes and the music is good to ears, but together they contradict since the story-line goes off-track in comparison to words in the song. "Individually, both work much better," agrees Altaf, "However, in the long run it is the music and lyrics that count, since that is the heart and soul of an album. It takes me almost three days to record one song. Besides singing, it has to satisfy the composer in me. And it takes me about six months to come out with a new album."

From lyrics to music to arrangement, Altaf gets personally involved in all so that he can give his best. "I don’t believe in churning out albums dime-a- dozen. I know music, I can’t mess with it just to get fame," he insists.

For his latest album, the singer has chosen the lyrics of Behzad Lucknowi, Naresh ‘Shaad’ Adam, Parveen Shakir, Kunawwar Rana, Abbas and Farooque Shafaq. Music has been composed by Altaf himself along with Vaishnav Deva. "You will feel the difference in the music," he says.

For the lead song, Pehle to kabhi kabhi, Vaishnav has fused Rajasthani, Gujrati and Afghani music to give it the highs and lows of music notes. "This harmony has an Arabian flavour to it, but the song is too powerful to really notice the shifts. There is no fork or abrasion in the music," he feels. But isn’t Arabian music more vocal in expressing passion? "It gives one a chance to use his voice range," he says.

Somehow, inspite of his range in music and knowledge of his work, Altaf has an aversion to films and duets. "Both restrict you as a performer," he points out, "Today in films and duets only paanch sur are used to keep a balance between pitch and low. This is frustrating. I’d rather have my independence and sing solo."

But aren’t films are better platform for popularity? "I disagree. I get recognised as easily and may be better than film singers. I put my heart in my albums. In music videos too the singer too gets exposure," he says.

Altaf has won recognition through private albums. In the melee of private albums, he waits for the verdict for his Dil Ka Tukda.

Neelam Gupta

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