MELODY IN MUSIC

Mixing modern melody with prose and poetry, Kashmir’s new age singers and musicians have resurrected folk songs in a different way. Creating their own platforms, this new breed of artists is reaching out to audiences using social media. While keeping alive art and culture of the place, they are finding success as well, reports Khalid Bashir Gura

- Khalid Bashir Gura

1. MAHARAZA HO Basit Maqbool Sheikh, 21, popular as Sanam Basit, a resident of Batmaloo, belonged to a family of singers. His five uncles and his father are professional singers. Though he used to hum Kashmiri songs since childhood, he never dared to sing publicly. In 2015, when he was studying in tenth class, his friend asked him to sing at his cousin’s wedding ceremony. They knew about his talent. Persuaded by elders at the party, Basit sung two numbers and the praises showered.

Soon, Basit started dreaming of singing at other platforms. One day his phone rang. It was an unknown voice from an unknown number. “How much do you charge for one night of singing?” he asked. He had watched him sing on YouTube. Baffled, Basit retorted: “Rs12000”.

To keep his promise, Basit told his parents he is attending a friend’s wedding. They expressly asked him not to sing.

Few years later, his secret was splashed all over social media. His folk song on YouTube, a feet-tapping number, Maharaza Ho, streamed in February 2019 has now 20 million views. It remains the most viewed Kashmiri song ever since virtual media took over the real one. Featuring Basit and company, its lyrics were written by his friend Nawabazar Basharat. His YouTube channel, Kashmiri Sound World Production, has more than 200 thousand subscribers.