Shakila's candid views on talent hunts

. PHOTO: STAR

I did not learn music to become a star, it's embarrassing when I see others referring to me as one. All I want is to sing quality music for the country and for my fans." A woman of substance, Shakila Zafar needs no introduction in the Bangladesh music arena.

Shakila has been on the panel of judges for the popular talent hunt show, Closeup 1. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star she reveals her experiences and opinions on talent hunts that are fast gaining popularity in the country.

"One does not become a star simply by singing melodious tunes. It demands a passion for music and a strict routine to be followed with perseverance and dedication." On a reminiscence trip back to childhood Shakila reveals how she would wake up for her morning prayers, then start immediately with her rewaaz. Twice a day, till date there has been no alteration to this routine.

"Those who manage to pass through the vigorous selection process in talent hunts become idols in their own rights." But the sad part is once a winner they discontinue with their commitment to music, feels Shakila. Just receiving the crest is not enough. Each one of the top singers in any talent hunt should immediately appoint themselves tutors and continue learning the ragas and the grammar of music. Practice makes one perfect.

However, to sustain that perfection in any field one needs adequate grooming elaborates Shakila. The spectrum of music is no exception. Ghosha maja (honing), as Shakila prefers to put it, is a quintessential part of a singer's life and any budding singer should keep that in mind.

In her experienced musical career she has come across nascent singers less gifted than others. But with sheer determination, study, practice and grooming they have clinched a place for themselves in the music world while the better nightingales may have failed.

To have good listeners who can either appreciate or criticise songs based on its merit, is critical for music to reach its zenith. Bangladesh is still veiled with covers of conservative ideas regarding music and its study is not yet accepted among many families. And hence the masses often judge songs and singers by their personality and looks rather than the grammar and ragas of the song. Talent hunts based on popular votes can lead to wrong judgment while selecting the winner. "It has often moved me to tears seeing better singers being dropped due to misjudgment," asserts Shakila.

This pretty lady, whose favorite colours are lilac and baby pink, was once a tomboy climbing trees and jumping fences. She would hop on to her uncle's Fiat car (Tagore singer Manzur Ahmed) and accompany him to various concerts. He would often tempt her with char anna (quarter of a taka ) just to hear her sweet childish voice sing for him. Her father was a conformist and not so keen on seeing his youngest daughter sing. However, seeing her talent he agreed to enroll her with a music teacher. "It was never with the ambition to become a star that he appointed a tutor for me," remembers Shakila fondly of her father. However, talent of this magnitude would not stay confined among the four walls of her house and soon spread far and beyond. She is ever grateful to her Master Moshai Mithun De without whom it would not have been possible to come so far.

Answering whether there were too many talent hunts mushrooming and ruining the music industry Shakila pointed out that through these talent hunts aspiring singers are getting a platform. It symbolises a country's cultural escalation. "But the winners have to take the responsibility of the title seriously and give the country quality music and not quantity music," concludes Shakila.