FROM TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE,HYDERABAD.........3

RESPLENDENT RAZAB ALI

                               

When the Sun God is about to sign off, that is the time, Razab Ali and his team of musicians will start belting out the popular numbers. Decorously dressed qawali singers will tighten their belts....all are versatile singers. Though all of them are from Rajasthan, specializing in Rajasthani folk songs, they can sing Sufi songs also, effortlessly. For the luxury traveler staying in Taj Falaknuma Palace, this is a high impact experience.

Mangu Khan plays Harmonium, while Dolak is played by Hayath Khan; Razad, and Gazhi Khan are main Singers along with Mangu Khan, while the voices of singers Sattar, Salim and Chottu will go as an embellishment to the whole program.

                           

6.30pm to 7.15pm is the time allotted to these singers, venue being the Gol Bungalow,  an open air F&b Venue, sandwiched between two restaurants- Adaa, 38 seater contemporary Indian Restaurant, and Celest, the 42 seater Pan Asian Restaurant dominated by the Italian delicacies.

"Oh yes, the guests do thoroughly enjoy our Music. Recently for the

Salman Khan’s sisters wedding, we sang for three hours" says Razab Ali, who claims that for the last 20 generations, their traditional occupation is singing.

These Qawali singers have been there since the grand opening of this hotel.

"Other than Rajasthani folk songs and Sufi, we are game for Ghazals, Gujarati, Punjabi plus filmy songs also" informs Razab, who also had the good fortune of singing in as many as ten films.

Music and drinks goes together. The evening hours are well spent as far as the guests are concerned. Yet another refreshing experience.

"Qawali singers are simple people. They let their talent do the talking. Most of our regular guests are very fond of them" says Siddharth Sathe, Executive Asst Manager -F&B, Taj Falaknuma Palace.

Guess the most sought after numbers? "Mast Kalander", “Chap Thilak sab Cheena", "Allahu Allahu", "Mera piya ghar aayaa"....the list goes on and on...

All the Qawali singers performing at this hotel hail from Badmer region of Rajasthan which is 200 kms away from Jodhpur. Razab has trained around 50 singers in Hyderabad. Most of them are versatile- they can sing also play instruments like Khat Taal, Morsing and other percussion/wind/string instruments.

Razab is married to Suva Banu, and is blessed with three children. He has visited Paris, China and Dubai in connection with the music performance. Most of the singers have dedicated/consecrated their lives for the propagation of music.

Text and pics by R KESAVA MALLIA in Hyderabad