Amjad Ali Khan, Krishna Das Team Up For ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’
MUMBAI-Sarod maestro Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan has described his latest collaboration with Grammy-nominated musician Krishna Das, featuring Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, as a humble offering towards peace and compassion.
The track, ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’, features Krishna Das on vocals, with Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash on sarod.
“Music has always been a language beyond boundaries and Om Mani Padme Hum is a beautiful expression of that belief. It was a privilege to collaborate with Krishna Das, whose voice carries such sincerity, devotion and spiritual depth. I have always believed that when musicians come together with an open heart, music becomes much more than sound tracks, it becomes prayer,” Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan said.
The track is part of the album ‘Chants for Unity’, which brings together sacred chants, shlokas, stotras and kirtan with the sarod.
Krishna Das said, “‘Chants for Unity’ comes from a very simple place, the understanding that music and prayer can take us beyond all the things that seem to divide us. When we chant together, something deeper awakens, something that belongs to all of us. I feel grateful to be part of this beautiful offering. My hope is that these chants bring peace, love and connection into the hearts of those who listen. Ultimately, we are not separate. We are one”.
The album features nine tracks and also marks the vocal debut of Subhalakshmi Borooah Khan, who has sung five of them. Bhajan singer Nina Rao performs ‘Sankat Mochan Hanuman Chalisa’, singer Jai Uttal provides vocals for ‘Lotus Feet’, while Pandit Vijaykumar and Pandit Narayanan and their team have chanted the ‘Mahamrityunjaya Mantra’.
Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash said, “When Krishna Das was recording Om Mani Padme Hum it felt as though the Bodhisattva of Compassion himself had descended at our studio”.
“It was an enriching experience to collaborate with him and bring this entire album to life. Professionally this album will always be close to our hearts as we could finally convince our mother for her vocal debut,” they added. (IANS)
