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sitting pretty Penaz Masani

Discovered and promoted by legendary composer Jaidev in 1978, Penaz was born into a family that prided itself for its association with classical music. No wonder Begum Akhtar’s evergreen “Koi Ye Kehde Gulshan Gulshan”, is her all-time favourite.

Penaz stresses the importance of ghazal and its status in society today. “Ghazal singing has achieved a status of being classy, which is very good for us singers. Ghazal singing has been given a respectful place in society and that is what every singer looks for. There is no medley, no pop, just plain soulful singing.”

You seek her impressions on the relevance of ghazal singing in contemporary music scenario, she smiles, saying, “It is very relevant. It is not just another three-minute song. The beauty of ghazal can never fade because it is a tradition that has been kept alive through generations.” Recounting her wonderful interaction with the youth during her formative years of ghazal singing, “I can say with pride that I took ghazal to the jean-clad generation. I would perform at colleges and would always vibe with the young crowd.” Her album, “Dil Mein Ankhon Mein” was a hit with the youth for its fine blend of traditional and western music.

Reflecting on her career, says Penaz, “It has been a wonderful journey. God has been kind and the audience has been loving. My mentor Madhu Rani has been the biggest influence and source of encouragement.”

Having sung across the globe, enjoying live performances more than studio singing, Penaz confesses the quality of ghazal singing is deteriorating. “It is a matter of concern. It has been happening over the years because ghazal is being sold as a package. The album’s target is essentially the commercial market. These days we get a lot of run-of-the-mill, sub standard ghazals. But ghazal singing is gradually gaining back its old form of melody and meaningful lyrics.”

Mercifully, ghazal has been spared the obnoxious trend of remixes. “Thank God,” says Penaz. “Actually, I don’t mind remixes but I object to the way the old songs are picturised, it’s so vulgar,” adds the singer, who has been pursuing her passion for the past 25 years and has a Platinum disc to her credit.” Did she ever nurture ambitions of acting because of her good looks? She blushes. “I did. I was roped in for a serial but then I got busy with my role as a singer. I am happy this way.” And so are her many fans!

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