New heart-throb in the valley: Sikh boy singing Kashmiri songs

A singer from the militancy-infested area of Tral, some 45 kilometers south of Srinagar, has become the new heart-throb of thousands of Kashmiri music lovers in the valley. This 28-year-old Sikh man’s Kashmiri songs has taken the social media by storm

Harkishan Singh Sanam’s song Harmukh Bar Tal has been shared and liked by thousands on Facebook. Although the song has been originally sung by Ravindra Kachroo and then Shameema Dev, Sanam’s mellow tone has helped to popularise the song particularly among the young generation in Kashmir. This Punjabi-speaking Sikh belting out songs in Kashmiri has surprised many in valley.

“I was taken aback when i watched his video on YouTube. He pronounces every word so beautifully,” said Sajad Ahmad, a post graduate student, adding that Sanam could possibly be the the first valley-based Sikh, who sings in Kashmiri language.

Sanam, a post graduate in music from Shri Guru Granth Sahab World University, Punjab, had a penchant for music from his childhood. In 2009, Sanam participated in a music talent hunt, Miley Sur organised by Doordarshan Kendra at Srinagar. Sanam could not make it to the finals but he was emboldened enough to continue with his passion.

“The judges encouraged me a lot. They strengthened my resolve to become a professional singer,” he said.

Sanam would initially sing Urdu Ghazals and Bollywood Punjabi songs but over past few years he has been drawn to Kashmiri songs. “A few years ago, I sang a Kashmiri song at a singing competition in Punjab. The song was liked by both judges and the audience. I was asked to perform even after the show was over,” said Sanam. It was after this incident that he realised that he should continue singing Kashmiri songs.

Sanam is currently under the tutelage of Kashmiri folk singer Mohammad Ismail Shah, to learn Kashmiri music. “Shah sahab taught me many Kashmiri songs. He also helped me to improve my Kashmiri accent,” said Sanam enthusiastically.

Mohammad Ismail Shah said that Sanam is versatile and can quickly learn. “I am teaching him Kashmiri folk and classical songs while working on his pronunciation. He has been an extremely good student," he said.

A die-hard fan of Pakistani ghazal and qawali singer Ustad Nadeem Salamat Khan, Sanam, in 2017, went all the way to Malaysia to meet the maestro. "I came to know that he was holding a concert in Malaysia so, I went there to meet him," said Sanam.

Sanam says that Khan not only spent a significant amount of time with him but he also made him his disciple. “Ustaad liked my voice and style. He taught me some intricate nuances of music,” said Sanam, adding that he had also suggested that he should sing Kashmiri songs.

Sanam’s father Selinder Singh is happy that his son is singing in Kashmiri. "We are Kashmiri. I want him to sing in Kashmiri and make a place for himself in Kashmiri music," opined Selinder.