Grammy Awards nominated Shujaat Husain Khan makes his debut as music composer in Bollywood

Published on June 8, 2010 by News Desk · 4 Comments

INVC,,

Delhi,,

hujaat Husain Khan, world renowned sitarist and Grammy award artist gives music for his first ever Bollywood film Mr Singh Mrs Mehta. Shujaat however is not alone from his family to venture into giving music for films. His father, Ustad Vilayat Khan had composed music for Satyajit Ray’s masterpiece Jalsaghar.

Mix of ballads, ghazals and sufiana songs, the music of Shujaat Husain Khan guarantees to take you back to good old days of melodious music backed by heart stirring lyrics. Shujaat has not only composed the music but has also lent his voice to the song – E Khuda.

“The soul of Mr Singh Mrs Mehta lies in its music. And who better than Shujaat Hussain Khan, the Grammy awards nominated sitarist to create the music for the film,” says Pravesh Bhardwaj, the director of the film.

“I had heard this particular track of Shujaat Khan Sahib Lajo Lajo on the internet which stayed with me for a long time,” he says. “When I connected with Shujaat Bhai for the film he asked me what kind of music I wanted. I had told him that I would like the music of our film to belong to my father’s record collection. Shujaat Bhai gave a hearty laughter,” he adds.

“People having been approaching me to compose the music for their films for a very long time but they expect me to compose item numbers without having the respect for the kind of music I am known for,” says Shujaat Husain Khan. “And here came a first time director who said that he wants my kind of music. There was no way I could say no,” he says.

“Mr Singh Mrs Mehta is a film about relationships,” says Shujaat Husain Khan. “Through its music I have tried to capture the mood and the unsaid emotions of the characters,” he says.

In keeping with Hindi film music tradition, Shujaat Husain Khan has actually composed music to pre-written lyrics, a rarity in current times where tunes precede words. Amitabh Varma (Metro) has penned the lyrics for the film.

“I’m very proud of my work for Mr Singh Mrs Mehta. It is easily the best work I have done till date,” says Amitabh Varma, the lyricist of the film. “I got a chance to write a sufi qawwali, a ghazal, a romantic ballad, a sad song… you name it. This film is special to me for two reasons. One, this is the kind of music (and lyrics) I have always listened to and liked. The other reason is that here I got to write the songs first and then they were composed, a rare phenomenon these days,” he says.

.”I love the music of the film, and I think Shujaat has done a remarkable job in setting up the entire tone of the film, and of course Amitabh Varma’s lyrics are outstanding. It is an emotional film and the songs are just apt to the ears in this film,” says Prashant Narayanan.

Starring Aruna Shields (Prince) and Prashant Narayanan (Waisa Bhi Hota Hai, Chhal) Mr Singh Mrs Mehta is the story of Ashwin Mehta and Neera Singh who find that their spouses are having an affair. Drawn together by shame and anger, they find comfort in their growing friendship even as they resolve not to be like their unfaithful mates. The film releases June 25^th.