Backstage Drama: RFAK - The Conqueror of Hearts
Contributed By - Satish Kosuri
For a change there was absolutely NO drama at backstage this time around when Desi Jhatka organized the much talked about musical show called Just Qawwali presenting none other than Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Fondly known as Khan Saab, he is probably one of the countable world-renowned singers with ‘humble’ as his middle name. An instance I’ll cite here to show his humility. It was during his interview for Diorama, the sitting arrangement wasn’t getting right in the first place and he was asked to get up so that his cushion can be readjusted, he calmly acted in accordance to the cameraman’s heed without even questioning the cameraman to adjust the camera instead of making him get up a couple of times. After all, his dil toh bachcha hain ji.
It is very common for artistes of such caliber to have an obsession, like smoking in RFAKs case, because the deep rooted passion they have for their art needs a momentary relief from the stress - usually during the opening of a full house performance - at the same time help them get into the singing groove. When inquired by our organizers, they said, it is to build the base. Yes, they made sure to use the smoking area for their sutta time.
Unlike the demanding performers, Khan Saab had just one specific request during interval and that was of Chai Latte from Starbucks which was to be brought in a venti (French for large) ceramic mug. The volunteer misinterpreted the instructions and bought him a Venti Chai Latte to which he exclaimed abashedly, “Who’s going to drink so much of Chai?” He had only wished to drink regular chai latte in a large mug, that's all.
All singers and musicians of his group are from Pakistan with only one exception, which is their Indian sound engineer. Being a visitor to India several times in the past, they had a great deal of respect for India and her culture and India was constantly there in their conversations. They also expressed very high opinion about their new PM, Imran Khan for whom they all had proudly voted too. A true to core deshbhakt no doubt.
Sakina, who was entrusted by AZIndiatimes with the task of interviewing this legendary singer had also been in touch with his manager for the background narrative, ended up providing me with some lesser known facts about this Ala Qawwal.
Ustad RFAK, who himself started singing at the age three and was a trained singer by age seven, is very particular about the fact that his own children - one of which is already a child singing prodigy showing his wizardry with singing and a lot of promise - should complete their education first before switching to a career of their choice. Here we get the glimpse of a very down to earth and responsible father stressing the need of education for his wards.
She also relayed that although Khan Saab performs all year round and has a hectic travel schedule, he has this unshaken rule of non-participation in any public shows on the ten days of Muharram (the mourning period in Islam remembering the Battle of Karbala) out of sheer veneration for the martyrdom.
It was during Meet-n-Greet that this nek Banda showed his true character - his ever smiling mien was the most inviting thing for the visitors who went all over him - trying to touch him, fall over him - but the smile never diminished. Neither did he show even a small speck of concern in his words or in expression. Because the show was at late evening, the meet-n-greet went all the way into the midnight. In spite of the fact that they had a flight to catch at 4 AM, on top of that the exhaustion from the three hour long high energy performance, RFAK’s impeccable manners and the time he gave his fans charmed one and all. In fact his cordial behavior made more fans out of the crowd that night. All we can say is, here we stood face to face with a true gem from the ‘Land Of The Pure’.