Freewheeling chat with noted Singer Waheed Jeelani

Gazala Hassan
It is interesting to know your inspiration behind this musical career.
My mother and my elder brother used to sing in a very casual atmosphere among family members. They sung well and I used to listen to them keenly. I was quite influenced .I started singing ghazals by Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali when I was just a small chap. My family, relatives and friends would enjoy listening to me. Meanwhile my elder brother took me to Late G.N sheikh so that I could get proper training in music. In order to attain professional training in this musical genre, I completed my diploma in music from Radhika School of Music, in Mumbai.
My brother had friendly terms with Dilip Dutta who was in the process of making a Hindi film ‘Pyar ka Safar’. After my interaction with such a renowned film personality, I appeared for audition test.  I remember very well how  I sung Talat Mehmood’s ‘Yeh hawa,yeh raat ,yeh chaandni’ which was   highly appreciated by Dutta.This way I got a break  to sing as solo as well as  duet with Udit Narayan in his film.
However, I could not pursue my career there because of family obligations.  Way back in 1991, I qualified audition test in radio Kashmir. This way radio Kashmir became a good platform for me to tap the opportunities and excel in the music.
Let’s know more about this ambition
I want to serve Kashmiri music every way I can. Few years back I could feel that Bollywood music was spreading in our lives rapidly. We would listen to Bollywood songs frequently whether in buses, restaurants; vehicles or autos. Thanks to Almighty, to some extent I have achieved success in developing taste for Kashmiri music among people. The need is to modernize Kashmiri music .The melody and poetry needs to be presented with more technical proficiency so that it is able to attract our younger generation.
Your maiden attempt as a music composer
My maiden attempt as a composer was ‘SZolha ma roshay roshay’ and Mehmeet Syed, a very young budding singer of our valley had a very good break.
What about the musical talent in Valley?
We have enormous talent in our valley which has also come up in this period of turmoil. Whenever I get chance I organise talent hunt programmes to promote budding singers as was done in the year 2001_ ’Kashur saray gama ma’. Seven budding singers who qualified this “Talent hunt show” are doing pretty well in field. Our budding singers need a professional environment wherein their talent can be groomed. Unfortunately we lack it; presence of a single College of music and fine arts is a testimony to this fact.
What about the technical proficiency and the support from state government?
We certainly lack the best technicalities despite many audio visual studios set in valley. Government is also not giving it a serious thought. Government has not so far come up with any kind of awards to the artists so that art and culture of Kashmir is promoted. Also, the people who want to choose music as career do not have many opportunities.
Comment on the mal- treatment given to Kashmiri poetry with obscene and low quality production
To some extent I do agree with your statement, but at the same time it is partial truth. Poetry of great poets like Rasool Mir, lal ded, Haba Khatoon is shot in ways which do not suit them. We must have a sensor board to check this kind of trash and save our rich heritage of Kashmiri poetry from ill- treatment.
Your immediate plans
I am coming up with a new album of Kashmiri songs with Bashir Dada. I shall be singing the lyrics written by Basher Dada. Our motto is to bring forth the trauma and agonies of the enforced disappearances. Everyone is talking about them and this is the humble way of serving our brethren in trouble.