Rahat Ali Khan to enthrall Sufi lovers in Delhi tomorrow

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) The golden voice behind ''Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaye'' from Mukesh Bhatt's 'Kalyug' and ''Lagan Lagi Tumse Mann Ki Lagan'' from Pooja Bhatt's 'Paap', Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is all set to enthrall music lovers in the capital.

The 33-year-old protege of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan will perform at a concert at Siri Fort auditorium in the capital tomorrow evening.

On the eve of the concert, being organised by Dr R P Goenka-owned RPG Enterprises in association with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, the sufi maestro said singing is a god's gift and mere training cannot make good singers.

''One can learn about music from any academy or institute, but being a good singer comes naturally. Family plays an important role in a singer's life because that is his roots,'' Rahat told UNI in an interview.

Rahat who has, over the year, established a niche for himself through his popular songs in 'Kalyug', 'Paap' and 'Omkara' and has in pipeline several films including Vipul Shah's 'Namastey London', Farah Khan's ''Om Shanti Om'', Yashraj films' ''Aaja Nach Le'', ''Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'' and ''Lahore'', believes Bollywood has been a great platform for Pakistani singers like Adnan Sami, Ustad Nusrat Fateh and himself.

''I have recieved tremendous love and affection from all the filmmakers in Mumbai with whom I have been associated with in the last few years. Working here is like coming back to my home,''the maestro said.

Among the films Rahat is really looking forward to is Vipul Shah's 'Namaste London', starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif where he has sung a duet ''Main Jahaan Rahoon''.

''The song 'Main Jahaan Rahoon' is a semi-ghazal romantic number with simple words that carry deep meaning,'' Rahat said.

On his experience of working with popular singer and music composer Himesh Reshammiya, he said he had a good coordination with the composer.

Rahat is also ready to release his new album 'Rahat' in May.

Talking about the album, whose songs draw their inspiration from sufi music, Rahat said,''Sufi music has been popular because of the message of brotherhood, love and peace it carries with itself. Even today the 'Sufi' touch is used in all kinds of music.'' Rahat, who took over Ustad Nusrat's Qawwali party after the latter's death in 1997, has been trained in classical music and Qawwali since an early age of 11.

A singer in the Qawwali style, Rahat is the son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and nephew of the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

He has perfomed live with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and sung songs like ''Maki Madni'' for The Derek Trucks Band on 2002's Joyful Noise.

He has also sung a number in Hollywood superstar Mel Gibson's Apocalypto.

Rahat is in India for two days and will return to Pakistan on March 19.

UNI