Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 14: Munir Ahmad Mir, a Kashmiri classical singer, makes a musical transition into Bollywood by contributing his voice to two songs for the upcoming movie Shikara.
Munir’s musical journey enters a new phase with the shift from traditional Kashmiri melodies to the silver screen. Munir Ahmad Mir’s poignant songs are expected to captivate viewers across the country as the buzz surrounding the film intensifies.
Srinagar-born classical singer Munir Ahmad Mir has a rich musical history steeped in Kashmiri customs. His father, Shafi Ahmad Mir, laid the groundwork for his musical career, while Prithvinath Raina helped him refine it at the Music and Fine Art Institute. “I learned the basics from my father, Shafi Ahmad Mir, who inspired me to pursue music and fine arts,” he says.
Mir joined the Radio Kashmir and engaged himself in traditional Kashmiri music, including folk, Sufiana, and light genres, despite the lack of opportunities for classical music in the region. His conception of music creation was influenced by Pandit Bajan Sopori and composer Muhammad Asraf. “Being on the radio, marked a sea change for me. I expanded my musical horizons by learning about traditional Kashmiri music, such as folk and Sufiana, with the help of Pandit Bajan Sopori ji,” he revealed.
He said that a major factor was his father’s consistent support. “I did not face problems because I grew up in a musical household. My father always wanted me to get better at music, and he is the reason for everything I have accomplished,” he added.
Munir understands the importance of following in the footsteps of the pioneers when he recalls the golden age of legendary singers like Shameema Ji, Raj Begum, and Kailash Mehra. He emphasizes the need for young singers to be creative by combining classic melodies with new components in order to keep the art form current.
Munir is concerned about the spread of Western fast music and stresses the need to support traditional music genres like Punjabi, Gojri, Pahadi, and classical. “The government needs to introduce visitors from outside to our diverse cultural songs,” he said.
Munir applauds the fusion of traditional Sufiana colors with modern influences, as seen in the work of Rashid Hafiz Saed for Bhoomi. However, he notes the challenge of maintaining cultural authenticity when presenting Kashmiri music to a broader audience.
Speaking of his most recent engagement, which involved singing for the Bollywood movie Shikara, Munir said he worked with Abhay Sopori, the son of Pandit Bhajan Sopori, exhibiting professionalism and commitment to his musical pursuits. “With a group of 15 individuals, I diligently worked on two songs for two months. The music was composed with a professional and dedicated approach by Abhay Sopori, who is the son of Pandit Bhajan Sopori,” he said.
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