Slow and Steady

The name Javed Ali does not yet evoke rapturous responses from music fans but mention the song Ek din teri raahon mein from Naqaab, and they will perk up immediately. Playback singer Javed Ali, the voice behind the song, has been working in Bollywood for nearly a decade, finally finds fame knocking at his door.

Bollywood is a place where instant gratification rules. Everyone wants fame and money - now. Playback singer Javed Ali is a class apart from the usual industry types. His rise to fame has been slow and steady. He doesn't regret it at all. What he wants is to be known as a good singer. He is not in the least bit bitter that although he played a part in the song ‘Kajraa re’ (Bunty Aur Babli), he was overshadowed by Shankar Mahadevan and Alisha Chinai. He admits that he got noticed only in songs where he had to 'stand in' for the final singer and dub his lines. Even in Naqaab, the original choice was Zubeen Garg. It is perhaps this very attitude that will help him carve a niche in the long run.

Javed Ali's father Hamid Husain, is a renowned Qawwali, Gurbani and Kirtan singer. He was Javed's first teacher. Later, the young man learnt music from Mallu Khan and Majid Khan as well. He says that although classical training helps, a playback singer has to be extremely versatile in order to survive in Hindi films. Javed Ali also impressed Kalyanji (of the famous Kalyanji-Anandji duo)so much that the veteran music man even suggested to Javed's father that he, Kalyanji, would foot all his educational expenses if he remained in Mumbai. However, Javed went back home to Delhi, honed his singing skills and came back to Mumbai in 1999.

The path to becoming a playback singer was carved by Kalyanji since initially, Javed only wanted to be a ghazal singer. However, when Kalyanji asked him why he did not want to sing in films, Javed thought it was a good idea and started working on becoming one. It wasn't difficult since he was already a trained classical singer. He sang his first song, a duet with Anuradha Paudwal, in Viju Shah's (Kalyanji's son) Beti No. 1. However, the film did not do well and he sang 'A ding-dang-do' in Paagalpan along with Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Harvard and Vicky. It was no surprise that he was never noticed.

His breakthrough came with ‘Ab ghar aaja’ in Haasil in which he sang his first solo. He dubbed the song for Jatin-Lalit but director Tigmanshu Dhulia liked his voice so much that Javed's voice was retained. He reasons that although the classical tag might have been a reason for the slow and steady rise in his career, he was never without work. The songs kept coming in ranging from ‘Chhalka chhalka’ (Aankhen) to ‘Bheegi hui koi shaam hai’ (Chameli). Recently he has sung in My Friend Ganesha and worked with A.R. Rahman in some regional films as well.

He is all praise for Pritam, his music director in Naqaab. He is grateful for all that the industry has given him and says that he got plenty of work to do remix along with working in TV serials. He has no qualms singing songs of any genre although he trained in classical music. He knows that in order to survive in the film industry, he needs to be versatile, talented and persevering. Javed Ali is well on his way to claiming his own spot in the spotlight.

But before he sang Jashn-E-Bahara for the Ashutosh Gowarikar film, he went through a lot hard work. It all started with a phone call in 1994 when Javed was 15 years old.

The caller was music director Kalyanji (of Kalyanji-Anandji fame). Kalyanji, who had heard Javed sing, promised to help Javed be a singer in Mumbai.

So instead of completing his graduation in 1994 in New Delhi, Javed packed his bags and headed for the city of dreams.

"It was an opportunity that I thought I could not miss," he tells us.

Born Javed Hussain, son of singer Hamid Hussain, Javed's talent was evident as a child. When he was five years old, ghazal legend Ghulam Ali happened to hear his voice and felt the boy could become a great singer. The maestro not only guided him, but also gave him a chance to sing.

Javed then changed his name to Javed Ali.

"I am a student of Ghulam Ali, who was like my guru. I changed my name in his honour," Javed says.

Besides working with Ghulam Ali, Javed accompanied his father Hamid whenever he went for stage shows.

"My father and I were good at kirtan and we sang at many places," says Javed.

Text: Syed Firdaus Ashraf | Photograph: Sanjay Sawant

"I got recognition for Bin Tere Sanam but my song Dilwale Suno Re Suno got buried among other hit songs of the film like Gunji Si Hai," he said.

His next big break was Kajra Re in Bunty Aur Babli, where he sang a few lines for Amitabh Bachchan.

"I had to sing in Amitabh's voice and I wondered if I could pull it off," he recalls. "A lot of people thought Sudeshji (Bhosle) sang part of that song with Shankar Mahadevan, but it was me."

"But my name got buried again because that song was female-oriented," Javed laughs.

Luckily for him, the film industry recognised his talent.

"I have to thank music director Pritamji for giving me the biggest break of my career. I sang Ek Din for Naqaab, which became a big hit. It was a turning point for me," Javed says.

What would be his advice to other struggling singers? "Believe in yourself and stay on course," he says. "Never give up. I think this is the only attitude that saw me through."

Beti No 1 to JWM, Javed Ali is the Next Big Thing

Somen Mishra / CNN-IBN

Published on Fri, Feb 01, 2008

SUCCESS AT LAST: After Javed Ali's first song with A R Rehman congratulatory calls have been pouring in.

Soul of the song

Musical journey

Feb 12, 2012

Having sung some popular numbers for Indian films, Javed Ali is an established playback singer in the music industry today. Juanita Kakoty speaks to the singer on how he’s literally sung his way to the top.

It’s as if music has not only shaped his life but also his bearing. Poised and humble, Javed Ali, one of the much sought after singers in Bollywood today, told me that music is what he lives for. And that music is what has been around him from the very beginning. 

“I was born into a musical family. My father has been a classical singer and as a child, I used to accompany him during his performances. Besides, I’ve grown up listening to legends like Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hasan, Lata Mangeshkar, Farida Khanum, Mohammed Rafi, etc. Hence, an interest in music naturally came to me.”  Ali has been a disciple of maestro Ghulam Ali.

But what many people might not know is that he became a disciple even before he met the legend. “I used to train by listening to his songs. I was from a middle class family in Delhi and there was no way to meet him or approach him. Then once, by good fortune, my father and I had a chance meeting with him.

My father told him that I was his fan and that I considered him my guru. Ghulam Ali sahab made me sing a song or two and agreed to take me as his disciple. After that, every time he came to India, he made me stay with him and learn from him. All this was some 20 years ago, when I was about eight or nine years of age.”

Ali is blessed with a voice that can render with ease, songs of any genre. Kun fayakun (Rockstar), Jashn-e-Bahara (Jodha Akbar), Ranjha ranjha (Raavan), Nagada nagada (Jab We Met), Tum mile (Tum Mile), Kilimanjaro (Robot), Guzarish (Ghajini), Tu hi haqeeqat (Tum Mile) are some of his songs that have been very well received by the audience.

He has also sung songs in Tamil, Telegu and Marathi that have been popular with the masses. Yet, there are a few songs from his repertoire that did not do too well, but which he personally liked. He particularly mentioned Kaise kahe alvida (Yeh Saali Zindagi) and two songs from Haasil – Ab ghar aaja (incidentally, his first solo in Bollywood) and Tu hi tu. But, he has no regrets. “The audience knows best. I believe in just one thing — to give 100 per cent to my work!”

Successful struggles

Ali bears the humility of a sufi soul. Ask him about his achievements and he says, “My achievements are blessings that have come my way. I have been lucky to sing the kind of songs I have sung; to be around people who have given me much love and affection. I am thankful that god has always shown me the way.” Recollecting past experiences, he spoke of the time when, once, hearing him perform as a child, prodigious Pt Bhimsen Joshi personally commended him highly.

Ali also fondly remembers when Lata Mangeshkar heralded him as “the most deserving new talent”. The young singer is obliged to everyone for the acknowledgement and recognition, but believes that he still has a long way to go.
As the conversation progressed, Ali’s fleeting remark about a period of struggle in the talent series Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, where he featured as one of the judges, propped up. And what followed was the obvious question — Has that somehow affected his take on music and life?

“I was about 13-14 years of age when I came to Mumbai,” narrated Ali. “Kalyanji and Anandji heard me at someone’s house and brought me here from Delhi. I started training here and lived in many places — houses of relatives and non-relatives. I didn’t have money and worked in these houses for food. There were times when I was ill but had to work. Or times when I had to go without food.” At times, he looks back on those days with anger; but in his own words, “I never allow myself to forget those days. This is important for me to stay grounded.”

As the tête-à-tête came to an end, he spoke about a soon-to-be released album by Sony Music — Teri Rehmaatein, where he sings the track, Tera noor, composed by Harpreet Singh. “The composer is a close friend and when I heard the song, I said I’ll sing it.”

“It’s been some four years or so that recognition from all quarters has started coming to me.” Yet, Ali is in no hurry to reach anywhere. “I hate fast paced lives. I like to accept things and opportunities that come my way and give them my best. That doesn’t mean I am averse to challenges. I face challenges with a zeal that I, perhaps, draw from my passion for music.” And listening to him, I get the feeling that Javed Ali is like a wise soul who meditatively treads on his path, letting music and God guide him.