Allah O Ali - Vishal-Shekhar's 'qawalli' in 'Tathastu'

  • IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,April 18 2006]

Vishal Shekhar have always been known for their peppy youthful tunes courtesy score for films like 'Jhankaar Beats', 'Salaam Namaste', 'Dus', 'Bluffmaster' and 'Taxi No. 9211' to name a few. Now get set to hear a new sound as the composer duo change tracks by coming up with an authentic 'qawalli'.

The 'qawalli' in question is 'Allah O Ali' for the film 'Tathastu'. Incidentally it is the sole track for this Sanjay Dutt-Amisha Patel starrer social and has an immense situational appeal.

When we spoke to Vishal a few weeks back about the music of 'Tathastu', this is what he had to say - "Watch out for an intense 'qawalli' in 'Tathastu'. It is sung by a man called Humsar Hayat who is a chief qawall at Nizamuddin mosque, New Delhi. It's a traditional composition that is completely different from what you have heard in the past from Vishal-Shekhar. It has some really gorgeous lyrics by Panchi.

One of our friends had the collection of Humsar Hayat in a CD and we happened to hear it. Even Anubhav Sinha [Film's director] was there when we heard it and it was decided there and then that this guy had to be there in film's music. From here started a long process of searching him but luckily we traced him!"