Ghazal singers Ahmad, Mohammad Hussain to perform at Brahmanaad today

Nagpur: Renowned Ghazal singers Ustad Ahmad Hussain and Mohammad Hussain will be performing at the Brahmanaad event organized by SCZCC on Sunday at 6.30am. Addressing the media ahead of the programme, the musicians said that it is rare for ghazals to be heard in the morning hours, but considering the uniqueness of the programme they have selected ghazals based on morning ragas and will also sing bhajans.
Always singing together, the brothers who are fifth generation of a Jaipur based family of musicians, sing ghazals in the classical style. Defending the genre, Ahmad Hussain said that the number of listeners who understand shayari has decreased. “Ghazals are still popular but is not trending like before.” Blaming many half-baked singers for this downfall of ghazal, the brothers said, “Many singers who do not even understand shayari became ghazal singers. They think it is enough to drape and shawl and start singing. But even light music requires lots of training and riyaz.” The brothers say that their effort is to give pleasure to their audience through music. “We explain tough words and select shayari which is easy to comprehend,” they add.
Commenting on the various types of music that is being experimented with these days, the brothers say that basic music remains the same, it is just the style of presentation which changes. “But we do not believe in fusion and have never tried to fidget with our format of ghazals.” The only change in their presentations is in terms of orchestration. “We have brought in the use of certain instruments which give a modern feel,” says Mohammad Hussain.
Expressing their unhappiness over the slew of Pakistani singers who are now giving playback in films, the brothers say that they have never understood this trend. “We don’t know why these singers are being presented by music composers. They are not even half as talented as our Indian musicians. Yet hype has been created around them and much better Indian artists are ignored.”