17 July,2023 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia Lulla
Mukti Mohan features in the song (left) Harshdeep Kaur
It is a song's lyrics that eventually [determine] if it is a Sufi song or not. The way it is packaged is upon the artiste. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was traditional, [the band] Junoon employed electric and rock music to make Sufi music. So, music can be moulded to cater to the younger generation," says Harshdeep Kaur on the day of the launch of her latest single, 'Wah Sajna', a Sufi number that features actor-dancer Mukti Mohan.
"Because this song is about self-love, the word sajna is used to reference oneself. We are flooded with articles about people in search of their true selves. There are stories of youngsters who commit suicide if they don't do well in exams. They are not grateful for life. This is when I felt that we needed to talk about this subject. We need to be thankful for what we have."
Mohan, she says, was roped in early on in the project. "She was involved at the conceptual level. I wanted an artiste who had the grace and the class to complement the song. Because I've seen Mukti's work, I knew she would fit the bill. Not only is she a flawless dancer, but I also love how she expresses herself on camera. I thought she would be perfect for this part, and I'm glad she agreed."
Given Mohan's prowess as a dancer and performer, one would assume that Kaur would have encouraged the creation of a high-octane dance piece. Ask her why the choreography was rather subtle, and she says that the song required "no defined step". "It was natural for a dancer like her to execute the Sufi whirling. We did what we felt was correct."
July 17, 1972: A bomb exploded under The Rolling Stones equipment van in Montreal, believed to be the work of French separatists. Angry fans rioted throwing bottles after 3,000 tickets for the show turned out to be fake.
