How Mame Khan, once a little-known Manganiyar from Jaisalmer, became a favourite with Bollywood composers

On Tuesday, Mame Khan, a musician from the Manganiyar community in Satto, a quiet village in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, graced the red carpet at Cannes as part of the Indian delegation led by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur. Adorned in a vibrant fuchsia kurta and dhoti, complemented by an intricately embroidered navy blue jacket and a traditional Rajasthani pagdi, the folk singer’s ensemble was curated by Anjuli Chakraborty, an art and music manager who has been collaborating with Khan for several years. Chakraborty played a crucial role in connecting Khan with the right people and opportunities to showcase his musical talent.

The Indian contingent at Cannes also included actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and R Madhavan, two-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej, Chief of the Censor Board Prasoon Joshi, and director Shekhar Kapur, among others. Notably, Deepika Padukone served as a jury member at the festival this year.

In the rich landscape of Rajasthani folk musicians who have left an indelible mark on India’s cultural scene, such as Lakha Khan and Bhanwari Devi, Mame Khan has taken a unique path. He ventured into a solo career a few years ago, opting to collaborate with various musicians instead of being tied to a specific folk group. This departure from the traditional Manganiyar folk group format, coupled with his extraordinary talent, has brought him increased mainstream attention. Consequently, Khan has lent his voice to several films, including Luck by Chance (2009), No One Killed Jessica (2011), Mirzya (2016), Sonchiriya (2019), and Dasvi (2022).

For many years, Khan’s life revolved around singing folk songs with fellow community members at local festivals and traditional events for his patrons, such as weddings and childbirth ceremonies. However, his journey took a significant turn in 2005 when he was invited to perform at the wedding of musician-actor Ila Arun’s daughter. This event led to a Mumbai-based musician introducing him to composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan, ultimately paving the way for Khan’s entry into the Bollywood music scene.

Raised in a musical environment by his father, Rana Khan Manganiyar, a Rajasthani musician supported by generations of landlords and aristocrats, Mame Khan developed his singing abilities from a young age. Despite coming from a family with a rich musical tradition, Khan faced financial challenges for a considerable part of his life. Nevertheless, his solo career and collaborations with renowned composers like Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy and Amit Trivedi have brought him recognition and success.

While Baawre marked Khan’s entry into Bollywood, his participation in Coke Studio @MTV sessions in 2015 and collaborations with the fusion band Maati Baani further strengthened his position as a versatile artist. Serendipitous encounters in Mumbai led him to theatre director Roysten Abel, who included him in The Manganiyar Seduction, a groundbreaking project inspired by Amsterdam’s red-light district.

Despite financial constraints, Khan pursued his dream of releasing a solo album. In 2015, faced with a lack of interest from music labels, he took the innovative approach of crowdfunding the album with the Manganiyars, making it a unique and community-supported endeavor. Khan’s recent contribution, the percussion-heavy song Nakhralo in the film Dasvi (2022), showcased his deep connection to Rajasthani folk music and garnered attention upon the film’s release.

Guru Randhawa shares pictures from ‘historic Vancouver show’, thanks fans for love and support

After a physical altercation following his concert in Vancouver, Canada, pop sensation Guru Randhawa, hailing from Punjab, faced a disturbing incident where a fellow Punjabi man struck him on the face, resulting in four stitches on his right eyebrow. Following his return to India after concluding his concert tour in the US and Canada, initial reports suggested that Randhawa had decided to abstain from performing in Canada in the future.

However, it appears that the “High Rated Gabru” singer has had a change of heart. On Wednesday, Randhawa posted pictures from what he referred to as his “Historic VANCOUVER show” and expressed gratitude, stating, “This was the Historic VANCOUVER show we did where the incident took place. And yes, I will see you all soon ❤️ Thanks Vancouver for your love and support.” He went on to thank everyone who stood by him and showered him with love in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident, saying, “And thanks to everyone who’s shown so much love from all over the world after the incident.”

The assault occurred during the last leg of Randhawa’s nine-city tour in the US and Canada. The incident prompted widespread attention on social media, with numerous Twitter users sharing a photo of the singer bleeding. In response, Guru Randhawa’s team issued a statement providing details of the incident:

“Guru is back in India with four stitches on his right eyebrow and mega-successful USA/Canada tour. The incident happened on 28th July in Vancouver when Guru told one Punjabi man not to come on stage while he was performing for the audience. That man was trying to come on stage again and again and then he started fighting with everyone backstage. He was known to the local promoter Surinder Sanghera who sent him away during the show. But at the end when Guru finished the show and was leaving the stage, that Punjabi man came and hit him hard on his face with a punch, because of which Guru started bleeding on the spot from his forehead above the eyebrow and went back to stage and showed it to the audience.”

Well-wishing messages for a speedy recovery poured in from fellow singers such as Gippy Grewal, Mika Singh, Harshdeep Kaur, and others. Despite this unfortunate incident, Guru Randhawa, known for his chart-topping tracks like “High Rated Gabru,” “Patola,” and “Ban Ja Rani,” has continued to make a mark in the music industry, having recently achieved international success with his track “Slowly Slowly” featuring Pitbull. His contributions extend to composing and singing for Bollywood films, including Hindi Medium, Tumhari Sulu, Dil Juunglee, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, and Blackmail.

Deejay Shadow Dubai talks about his multicultural background and its influence on the tracks he creates and plays

Known for his dynamic performances and keen musical instincts, Deejay Shadow Dubai is a music producer who effortlessly gets the crowd moving to his beats. Hailing from Dubai, this artist is constantly on the move and recently showcased his talents at the ‘Bollywood Night’ in Mi-a-mi, the club at Pune’s JW Marriott. Notably, he has recently collaborated with Guru Randhawa and Pitbull on the track titled “Slowly Slowly.” Deejay Shadow Dubai is also the founder of Shadow Experience, a collective that brings together artists, producers, songwriters, and DJs to create and support Bollywood music on a global scale. Some of his other popular works include “Aaja ni aaja,” “Move your body,” “Champagne train,” “Saari saari raat,” “Rich,” and various official remixes.

In a recent interview, Deejay Shadow Dubai shared insights into his musical journey:

**Earliest Musical Memory:**

Growing up in Dubai, a melting pot of cultures, music played a pivotal role in the fusion of East and West. This environment not only forms one of my earliest memories of music but also lays the foundation for my career. The sound of “Slowly Slowly” is a prime example of this cultural blend that captivated me at a young age. Collaborating with two giants from the East and the West, Guru Randhawa and Pitbull, is a privilege.

**Decision to Pursue Music Full Time:**

Music has always been in my blood. Initially working in the events industry, I contemplated my life’s path as a teenager. My exposure to DJ sets and passion for music, cultivated during events, sparked a deep interest. Transitioning from DJing to music production was a natural progression driven by my profound passion. There wasn’t a specific moment but a gradual realization that music was my calling.

**Musical Inspirations:**

Inspiration is omnipresent, drawn from life experiences and encounters with people worldwide. Traveling allows me to explore diverse sounds that can be incorporated into my music. It strikes when least expected—sometimes waking up with a particular sound in mind. Collaborating with artists like Sean Paul, Bohemia, Jay Sean, Badshah, Guru Randhawa, and Pitbull brings unique experiences to the creative process.

**Challenges in Music Production:**

As a DJ, standing out amidst a sea of remixes and mashups poses a significant challenge. It takes time to find one’s unique sound, identify the target audience, and understand what works. The prevalence of song remakes in the market limits our sets, as original compositions are scarce.

**Evolution of Work Since the Beginning:**

My journey started with a desire to blend Bollywood and electronic music, an unconventional combination at the time. Initially, I focused on remixes, garnering positive responses and securing spots in the top 10 of the BBC Asian Network. The progression continued into mashups and now includes original music, paving the way for international collaborations like “Slowly Slowly,” “Move your body,” and “Aaja ni aaja.”

**Upcoming Projects:**

Following the success of “Slowly Slowly,” I am thrilled about touring and sharing this song with fans. Anticipate more original music this year as collaborations take center stage, uniting the world through music and bringing Indian music to a global audience. Stay tuned for some exciting projects in the pipeline.

 

I have no label and do what I like: Jasleen Royal

While the Indian music industry boasts numerous women playback singers, the realm of music composers has seen fewer female artists. In 2009, a talented 18-year-old with a keyboard, mouth organ, guitar, and tambourine captivated television audiences, making it to the semi-finals of the reality show India’s Got Talent. Today, Jasleen Royal from Ludhiana is renowned for consecutive hits like “Nachde ne saare” (Baar Baar Dekho), “Love you zindagi” (Dear Zindagi), and “Din shagna da” (Phillauri). What sets Royal apart is not just her vocals but also her role as the composer behind many of these hits. The latest additions to her Bollywood repertoire include “Teri dastaan” from Yash Raj Films’ Hichki and “Laaj sharam” from Veere Di Wedding.

In a recent interview, Jasleen Royal shared her journey:

**Origin in Indie Music:**

Commencing with indie music, her debut track “Panchi ho jaavaan” became a hit, earning her an MTV award. Despite her flourishing Bollywood assignments, Royal values her independent compositions, emphasizing that she continues to compose whenever time permits. She emphasizes the importance of never ceasing creativity and staying true to one’s passions.

**Women in Music Composition:**

Reflecting on the scarcity of women music composers in India, Royal attributes it to the lack of role models in the field. She believes that aspiring women composers need more names to admire and follow, fostering inspiration and encouragement to embark on a career path filled with challenges.

 

**Role Model and Family Support:**

For Royal, family support played a crucial role. She emphasizes the need for families to provide wings to their daughters for them to succeed. Growing up, there was no discrimination between her and her brother, allowing her talent to flourish.

**Commercial Success:**

Royal views commercial success as a gradual process rather than an instant achievement. She highlights that a song’s journey to becoming a hit can take weeks, months, or even more than a year. This gradual success keeps artists grounded and focused on future projects.

**Working on Film Compositions:**

Working on compositions for films presents a more challenging landscape as it involves catering to a storyline and a director’s vision. Royal acknowledges the cinematic medium’s power to communicate and connect with a broader audience.

**Academic Background:**

Admitting to being a “bad student,” Royal completed her B.Com (Hons) from Delhi University. The decision was primarily driven by her desire to move out of Ludhiana and pursue music in the capital.

**Upcoming Projects:**

Following her contributions to Hichki and Veere Di Wedding, Royal is set to work on upcoming projects like Gully Boy, directed by Zoya Akhtar and starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, as well as Gulab Jamun, Anurag Kashyap’s film possibly featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles.