About the Album

“Yaara - The Album”

Music Today proudly presents the album of the year – YAARA. The raving new album marks a turning point in music as well-known ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas sings to the masterful compositions of legendary Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan for the first time ever. The album is a unique amalgam of Love songs or geet presented in a contemporary style.

The legend Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s compositions in this album are reflective of his genius as a composer. He has not played the sarod in the album, but composed the music for the album.

The music video of the album has been shot on the title song Yaara where the music is pregnant with the poetic significanace of the song. The video captures the mood of a longing lover seeking his beloved. Set in the mid 1950s the video brings alive the life of those times and the love that brings two souls together and the pain of separation.

The album is a grand celebration of the coming together of a maninstream, popular singer Pankaj Udhas, and the Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan for the first time. The poetry has been written by Sufi scholar Shri Madan Gopal Singh and musically arranged by Hitesh Sonik, the man behind the music of the award winning film ‘Omkara’.

The Album:

The name ‘Yaara’, meaning ‘the beloved’, which is also the name of the first track of the album, is a strikingly different piece that sets in the mood for the album. The beautiful interplay of the poetry with the rustic beats and percussion lends a romantic and yet melancholic appeal to the song.

The 2nd track in the album ‘Bolo Ji Bolo’ is a song that evokes the emotion of early love, where one can almost experience the lovers teasing each other, engaging in frivolous flirtation and garnering each others’ attention. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan brings out the musical brilliance in the song with his composing genius.

The next track is ‘Jagi Jagi Raaton Mein’ which is characterised by an interesting combination of the guitar and other soft instruments keeping with the feel of the poetry. The music is so touching that it establishes an immediate connection with the listener.

Other tracks include ‘Haule Haule’ which is a soft love ballad that describes the feeling of loneliness being away from a loved one with superb instrumental interludes and ‘Chalte Chalte’ – a song that aptly captures the mood of romance. The music has an innovative and invigorating appeal.

The track ‘Woh Baat’ in the album is a soulful song set to a haunting tune. The artiste has exhibited his versatility in this song by lending a baritone voice that explores the mood of melancholiness.

‘Yaara’ as a whole, is a new sound in the realm of contemporary love songs. The album brings in music for every generation. Listeners of this album, regardless of their musical background and tastes, should find something that they can relate to and enjoy because of the various influences and the greateness of the composer and the artiste.

“Yaara - A Musical Harmony”

AMJAD ALI KHAN:

“Being a performing artist, composing has always been an integral part of my life. From composing for Philharmonic Orchestras, Ghazals, and Dance Ballets to popular songs, I have always been deeply inspired to take up projects that deal with composing. I feel that it’s a very natural phenomenon for a musician to have this side. Sometimes, while maintaining the traditions of classical music, one is unable to take certain liberties due to the rigidity and concern for the purity of Ragas. However, as a composer, you can take liberties and end up painting a beautiful portrait.

Two types of music exist around us. One is pure music that is based on notes, melody and harmony and the other is music based on language, text, story or lyrics that are set to a melody to form a song. I live in the world of sound. I can appreciate and admire a symphony or any appealing music from any country or system. For me, all music is simply appealing or non-appealing.

Yaara is an album that is very close to my heart. These songs had been wandering in my mind for quite sometime and I only feel very happy and satisfied that I was able to create this album together with Pankaj Udhas. It has truly been a pleasure to have Shri Pankaj Udhas lending his appealing voice to all the songs. An artiste par excellence, today, he has his own unique style and has made a great contribution to the world of Ghazal singing. He has executed all the compositions in the most beautiful manner. The songs have been written by Shri Madan Gopal Singh with great sensitivity and feeling. I strongly believe that a lyricist is at his best when there is feeling for music and in this case, Madanji himself is a fine singer! The arrangement has been done by a very talented and brilliant arranger Shri Hitesh Sonik, who has already gained much popularity with movies such as Maqbool and Omkara. He has brought out the true essence of both the poetry and the music through his masterful strokes as an arranger.

I would like to thank all those who have been a part of this project, especially Music Today and hope that the music lovers enjoy this unique bouquet of songs.”

PANKAJ UDHAS:

“It was during my early years of training in music in Rajkot that I was introduced to this wonderful sound of Sarod which fascinated me then and it fascinates me even today. Obviously the artiste associated with this instrument was none other than Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Saheb. Occasionally I saw a young and very handsome Khan Saheb’s picture with his Sarod in The Illustrated Weekly which my father read very passionately. I always had this great desire of meeting this maestro personally. It was only in the mid 80’s that I had an opportunity to meet Khan Saheb when he was composing a ghazal album and he was very keen that I sing for him. Unfortunately I was travelling overseas and hence could not sing for this album.

After this I would meet Khan Saheb either in Mumbai, Delhi and various airports in India and abroad and I always expressed my desire to work with him.

Early this year when Khan Saheb asked me to sing for an album composed by him I was only too happy to do so. When I met Khan Saheb in Delhi with the lyricist Shri Madan Gopalji I was excited and in awe of this great maestro but he made me comfortable within few minutes. He sang all the compositions with so much of passion and simplicity in spite of the fact that these are intricate tunes based on classical ragas.

When the time came for recording this album he arrived in Mumbai and the session started with the song ‘Chalte Chalte’ from this album. He would explain and sing each and every difficult part of the song and would insist that I try and sing it with lots of emotions and simplicity in my rendition. A project which I thought would take long was surprisingly wrapped up in four days. I dubbed all the songs in these four days. What I admired the most about Khans Saheb was his patience, encouragement, down-to-earth attitude and respect for a fellow musician.

Over a period of time and especially after working together on this album we have developed a special bond which is of mutual respect, admiration and love. A relationship which is above any commercial or business relationship – a true friendship and that is why very aptly this album is called ‘Yaara’.”