New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) Mumbai, 2005. Singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan spots a 鈥渟lim boy鈥 at the wedding of actor Ishitta Arun, effortlessly belting out Rajasthani folk tunes that even impressed virtuosos like Ghulam Ali.
That chance encounter was to lead Rajasthani folk music sensation Mame Khan into the spotlight.
In a virtual interview with PTI, Khan recalled his meeting with Mahadevan and his journey from Jaisalmer鈥檚 Satto village and why it is important for artistes like him to understand 鈥渟ocial media, distribution and music labels鈥.
鈥淲hen I sang, Ghulam Ali sahab came and hugged me鈥擨鈥檒l never forget that. Shankar ji heard me that day. After the wedding, Shankar ji asked Ila ji, 鈥榃ho was that slim boy singing?鈥 That was me,鈥 Khan said.
The singer was a regular at national and international performances of Rajasthani folk music by the early 2000s while working with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), but he was a largely unknown voice in the mainstream.
Mahadevan invited Khan to sing 鈥淏aware鈥 for Zoya Akhtar鈥檚 鈥淟uck By Chance鈥 after their meeting at the wedding.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know it (meeting) was for a film. We went in full traditional attire鈥攖urban and dhoti. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were sitting in front of us, and we just started singing,鈥 the singer said, adding that the composers were so engrossed that they forgot the actual purpose of the meeting.
鈥淭hen suddenly Loy reminded Shankar, 鈥榃e鈥檝e called them for recording!鈥 And that鈥檚 how I did my first professional studio recording. That song turned out to be a huge hit. I鈥檓 thankful to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for it,鈥 he said.
After 鈥淏aware鈥, Khan sang for movies 鈥淚 Am鈥 and 鈥淣o One Killed Jessica鈥 but he shot into limelight with another chance encounter with Amit Trivedi in Jaipur during a new year鈥檚 party.
After listening to 鈥淏aware鈥 live at the party, Trivedi told the singer, 鈥淜han sahab, we must work together soon.鈥 鈥淭hen came 鈥楥haudhary鈥,鈥 Khan said.
The blockbuster song in Coke Studio Season 2 turned Khan into an overnight celebrity on social media.
With lyrics that spoke of Rajasthani culture and playful romantic moonlit nights, Khan rose to the heights of his career and horizons opened up for more collaborations with national and international artistes.
鈥淭hough it鈥檚 an original composition by Amit Trivedi, the arrangement鈥攔aag, rhythm, and instruments鈥攑uts it in the Rajasthani folk space. It represents Rajasthan. Even the lyrics鈥斺檇aal baati kha le aa ke mhare gaon鈥欌攔eflect that tonality and cultural flavour,鈥 Khan said.
Coke Studio season 2 had another song by the Khan-Trivedi duo, 鈥淏adri Badariya鈥, that became popular.
Since 鈥淐haudhary鈥, Khan has given his mellifluous voice that carries the taste and texture of Rajasthan to songs in films and shows, including 鈥淢irzya鈥, 鈥淪onchiriya鈥, 鈥淏andish Bandits鈥, 鈥淒asvi鈥, and 鈥淐handu Champion鈥.
The 47-year-old also collaborated with Dhruv Ghanekar for 鈥淢itho Laage鈥 in The Dewarists season 5, affording him further recognition as a singer.
Speaking about the importance of visuals, Khan said that it has become imperative for the younger generation of artistes to be seen along with being heard.
鈥淏eing an artist is not enough today. You must understand social media, distribution, music labels. Today, I work with Global Music Junction and Warner Music India. Why? Because if my song used to reach 100 people, now I want it to reach at least 1 lakh. Our generation must understand that just being an artist is not enough鈥攜ou need this knowledge too,鈥 he said.
JetSynthesys鈥 Global Music Junction powered Hari Prem Films (HPF) recently announced an exclusive partnership with Khan for a three-year collaboration that spans music, brand partnerships, and international performances.
鈥淚n a country like India, with 1.6 billion people, even if 1 crore recognize you, it鈥檚 huge. People recognize me on the streets, at airports, while eating at roadside dhabas. They say, 鈥極h, that鈥檚 Mame Khan.鈥 It feels great that people know me because of my music. And it鈥檚 all because of music,鈥 he said.
Under this partnership, HPF will exclusively manage Mame Khan鈥檚 YouTube presence and digital rights.
鈥淎t Global Music Junction, our vision is to connect India鈥檚 rich musical legacy with today鈥檚 global audience. Mame Khan is the perfect blend of tradition and modernity, staying true to his roots while connecting effortlessly with contemporary audiences,鈥 Rajan Navani, founder and CEO of JetSynthesys, said.
This partnership also includes performance management across two of Khan鈥檚 key live acts, the famous band RockNRoots Project (nine-piece band) and The Folk Orchestra of Rajasthan which features over 40 musicians. PTI MAH BK BK