Shafqat, why did you prefer to come into popular music rather than classical music?
Shafqat: It was not a matter of preference. Aankhon ka saagar, for example, has been composed on classical lines. The improvisation in it is also classical. There is a lot of emphasis on classical raags like Madhmanti, Malhar, Khamaj, Aliman, Bhimplasi. We haven’t moved away from classical music at any stage. We have only sugar-coated it a little. Many young people these days ask us to sing khamaj. It doesn’t matter whether they understand khamaj. May be there are some who try to find out what khamaj really is. BM: What do you see as your biggest challenge in something on this? Shallum: the greatest challenge is that we should be able to maintain the respect and recognition we have received. This would be the hardest thing to do. Otherwise, we have no challenge except to play good music and maintain our style. Immu: People are following us – we are the trend-setters. Shallum: A lot of new bands are coming up. The essence of their music is the same that we started – they begin with pop
