Love unites, but separation too is a part of it. Lovers are wedded in souls and when they part, the pangs of separation are profound. This is what one feels when one listens to the song, ‘Laagi tumse man ki lagan’ by Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and nephew of late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the successor to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, carrying forward his legacy with sheer reverence and devotion. Rahat isn’t just a singer or an interpreter; he is also a composer and a creator. Soul Curry shared few moments with him on his recent visit to India.

• SOUL CURRY: Just like your name, your voice casts a spell of rahat, please tell us about your inspiration?

• RAHAT FATEH ALI KHAN: My inspiration has always been my Guru, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saheb. As a child, I wanted to learn music and Nusratji gave me the right training to understand the intricacies involved. When I was just seven, he gave me extensive exposure to live performances with the ensemble – no verbal lessons. It is indeed a blessing of Allah that Nusratji adopted me as his son and successor for spreading the message of love and brotherhood.

• SC: What has been the essence of your training under Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan?
  

• RFAK: I would like to answer this by sharing with you what I learnt from my master. Nusratji never used to get angry. Whenever somebody would criticize his work, he never retaliated. On the contrary, his performance used to be his answer, and I noticed the same people coming back to him to express apologies after the show. He gave me this key to accept criticism positively and invest time and energy in riyaaz. He said that whenever your work is criticized, analyze it yourself, practice more and that’s all you need to do. Your performance should be your answer.

• SC: Do you ever face criticism?

• RFAK: Several times! After the untimely demise of Nusratji, listeners were just not ready to accept any new voice leading the group. But I was determined and I kept on singing. Then came the time when my voice found its way into the people’s heart and they were charmed. It’s all Allah’s grace that now listeners have accepted my singing.
• SC: Does it make any difference, if people accept your voice or not?

• RFAK: Yes, it does. The purpose of all this work is to spread the paigam of love to one and all. Now, if people would not accept me and my voice, the whole purpose gets defeated. How else will I be the messenger and spread the message of peace, love and brotherhood. Indeed the acceptance is really important in this journey.
• SC: Your singing casts a spell of devotion, how do you relate to spirituality?

• RFAK: I seek spirituality through my music. When I’m singing, I feel like I’m one with God. ‘Uske bina nahi chain piya, ro ro beete meri rain piya’.
• SC: What’s the magic in music that elevates the listener?

RFAK: It is all about the atmosphere that is created with the help of kalaams i.e. sufi poetry and ragas which entrance the listener. When we go overseas for performance, we often ask this question from our audience there. Foreigners don’t understand our language but still they enjoy our qawallis. It’s all in the alaaps, the ragas that the listener experiences the strides of feelings.