Rahat to Spread Message of Love in a Virtual Live Concert by Chaitali B
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ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12-13, 2021 7 Artist breaks boundaries with his music Rahat to spread message of love in a virtual live concert By Chaitali B. Roy will experience the energy of a state ing what I was doing.” But that soon try has also been badly impacted. “It Special to the Arab Times of the art live concert from the safety changed, and by the age of fi fteen, has been challenging especially for of their homes. Rahat was an integral part of his un- the live event industry and musicians, usic speaks the universal lan- “says the artist who has appeared in Legends cle’s renowned qawali group, with Mguage of love. It provides ref- which he toured the UK in 1985. four seasons of Coke Studio. “People uge in a world shadowed by fear, Rahat Fateh Ali was born in Pa- Although there was a fi rm adherence have struggled a lot, and I hope this suspicion, growing nationalism and kistan, into a family of musical leg- to classical music in his family tradi- gets over sooner than later.” When acrimony. A living legend known ends that goes back 600 years. The tion, his uncle incorporated modern asked if online events are here to stay, for his transcendental music, Ustad nephew of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali instrumentation in traditional Sufi he shares, “ We have done smaller Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s appeal is Khan, son of Farukh Fateh Ali Khan, music to synergise it with the times. private virtual shows, this the fi rst universal, and bridges divide. One and the grandson of Fateh Ali Khan, “Innovation and change have their public virtual show. The impact of of the most profound performers of Rahat became the torchbearer of initial struggle every time,” explains a live audience is unique, and I love Qawalli, a musical genre rooted in his family, after the untimely death the artist. “Qawali music is the same. that experience. I hope things get bet- South Asian Sufi sm, the maestro has of his uncle, who was described as Khan Sahib created a new genre of ter so that we can enjoy face to face transcended barriers and carved out the 4th greatest singer of all time by fusion Qawali to introduce our tradi- interaction with our audience. I am a niche as a musical giant. On Feb LA Weekly in 2016. Music is in the tional music to the global audience.” not sure of the future of this form of 14, the artist will spread the message DNA of this artist who began learn- performance, but there is great po- of love in a worldwide virtual live ing music from his uncle at the age Audience tential considering the technological concert titled ‘Worldwide Virtual of three. Did he ever think of doing The music from Ustad Rahat Fateh growth and individual usage of smart Live Concert with Rahat Fateh Ali anything else? “My family has been Ali Khan’s family is unlike any other. devices.” The artist commended the Khan’ at 8 pm. Indian Cultural Soci- performing qawali for 600 years. The sound is heavy and powerful Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform a live concert on Feb 14, at 8:00 pm. Indian Cultural Society on their work ety (ICS), an organisation known for Music is in my blood and gene. I with textured timbres, and it rever- and said he looks forward to spread- setting standards in live entertain- never thought otherwise,” he said to berates creating electrifying energy. industry, he says, “Bollywood has he became the fi rst Pakistani per- ing the message of peace, love and ment in Kuwait, will present a live Arab Times. Recalling his experi- “Some of this style is the signature of been the most effective instrument former to perform at the Nobel Peace spiritualism. “I have come to know concert by Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali ence of being trained by his uncle, he our ‘qawal bacha gharana’, and some to carry my voice to the global audi- Prize. In 2016, he was honoured with of the ICS and its contributions to the Khan, in collaboration with PME. says, “It has been one of my great- of it is individual style as well,” the ence.” Since 2003, Ustad Rahat Fateh Lifetime Achievement Award by the cultural activities of the community. ICS has a sterling track for block- est blessings. To have Khan sahib as artist observes. Rahat’s brilliant talent Ali Khan has given some of Bolly- Music Faculty of Oxford University. I must say its commendable. These buster shows featuring great enter- an Ustad, mentor, father fi gure and broke boundaries, and he became a wood’s biggest hits including ‘O Re In 2019, Oxford further honoured efforts have kept the ‘Des alive in tainers such as Adnan Sami, Amit performer was the best one could colossus in South Asia. Music has no Piya’, ‘Jag Soona’ ‘Sajda’ ‘Dagabaz him with an Honorary Doctorate in Pardes’. I will specially mention Ash- Kumar, Papon, Harshdeep Kaur, wish for.” After six years of rigorous boundaries. Our message is love and Re’ and many others. Over the years, Music. faq Bhai for his efforts and support Hariharan, Mohit Chauhan, Meet training, young Rahat gave his fi rst peace for the world,” says the artist he has released over 50 albums, sung COVID-19 has had a devastating for this project. Thank you, Kuwait!” Brothers, Himesh Reshammiya, performance at the age of nine. “I who made his debut in Bollywood in more than 100 fi lm songs, performed impact on the arts and creative sec- For information on Rahat Fateh Ali Daler Mehendi, Shreya Ghosal and was just spewing out what I learned 2003 with the movie ‘Paap’. Speak- in concerts worldwide and worked on tors, with millions losing out on their Khan’s Feb 14 show, check out www. many others. Fans in 40 countries and practised without actually realis- ing of his work in the Hindi fi lm international collaborations. In 2014, livelihoods. The performance indus- icskuwait.org. Area 19 Annual Speech Contest on Feb 12 MaceSprings conducts ‘Battle of the Titans’ KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: When such an event as the Annual Speech Club Contest of MaceSprings Toastmasters Club takes place, the quotes on team- work, professionalism, perfection etc. are one too many. On Jan 15, 2021, from 3pm onwards, when most tend to enjoy their afternoon nap, the Toastmasters Fraternity in and outside Kuwait, were wide awake and excited to be in front of their comput- er screens as they didn’t want to miss the opportunity to witness the much awaited ‘Battle of the Titans’ the an- nual speech contest of MaceSprings Toastmasters Club, to be held for the Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani with His Excellency Ambassador Abdulaziz Al- fi rst time virtually. The members who Sharekh, Director-General of the Kuwait Diplomatic Institute at the Kuwait fondly call themselves the Maceans Diplomatic Institute. were all excited to cheer their fellow A Zoom photo from the event. members who were all set to compete with all zeal, fun and enthusiasm. Dr Shareefa enjoys shared discourse The contestants TM Rahul Di- nodia, TM Tabassum Ali, DTM Alka Kumra,TM Kapil Kumra,TM AUK’s CGS director conducts one-week Murugaiyan Subbaraylu,TM Ele- na Rezuchova and TM Srinivasan Gandhi proved it with their ter- course at Kuwait Diplomatic Institute rifi c performances that they were powerful,unique and gifted in their KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: AUK di- diplomat-scholars, such as condens- own way. To ensure the contest fl ows rector of the Center for Gulf Studies, ing the material to fi t within a week, smoothly and effi ciently, a bunch of Dr. Shareefa Al-Adwani offered a presenting the material through his- talented toastmasters from various short course titled Kuwait Foreign torical, pragmatic, and diplomatic renowned Clubs in Kuwait stole the Policy at the Sheikh Saud Nasser lenses, and adjusting the material for show by their meticulous planning, Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Insti- a post-graduate level audience. organization and leadership skills. Chief Judge at the Annual Speech Club Contest of MaceSprings Toastmasters Club. tute. The course was at the invita- Commenting on her experience The powerful team for the contest tion of His Excellency Ambassador teaching the course, Dr. Shareefa starting from the chief judge and his are empowered to develop their com- test and they did marvelously well. nodia-Winner of MaceSprings Toast- Abdulaziz Al-Sharekh, Director said, “The diplomat trainees are panel of judges, the contest chairs and munication and leadership skills that Well done! Khalid Abdulla, DTM, masters Club (who will represent the General of the Kuwait Diplomatic some of our best and brightest post- the role players made this contest one results in greater self-confi dence and District 20 Club Growth Director club for International Speech, Humor- Institute. graduate youths in Kuwait. They of the most memorable, superb, scin- personal growth. It was the fi rst time I was partici- ous Speech, Evaluation Speech and The one-week distance-learning tillating and superlative online club Feedback from our guests: pating in the club level contest, I had Table Topics Speech Contests) for the are passionate and pragmatic about contests witnessed so far that the au- course involved eight lectures, a re- Kuwait’s foreign policy, and would As a beginner in toastmasters, it mixed feelings but the people around Area 19 Annual Speech Contest “En- view, and an exam. Among the stu- diences will cherish and reminiscence engage in high-level discussions for years to come.