Shekhar Kapur Recalls Nusrat Fateh Ali’s Demand On Set

MUMBAI (IANS -Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently recounted a unique request from the legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan during the making of his film, “Bandit Queen.”

The incident occurred shortly after the untimely demise of another musical icon, R.D. Burman.

Sharing the experience with his Instagram followers, Shekhar revealed, “There were tears in Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice.”

Describing Khan’s unusual request, the director added, “Shekhar ji… you look at your film and I will look into your eyes. And I will sing.”

They were working on the background score for “Bandit Queen.” “The scene was the Behmai Massacre and its aftermath,” Shekhar explained, “with row upon row of funeral pyres and the sound of women on the bank lamenting in high rustic voices.”

As the microphones were turned on, the ‘Mr. India’ maker penned, “I found Khan sahib looking… no, staring into my eyes… as if he could find my soul, and look deep into it. He knew how close I was to R.D. Burman too, who had created the music for my first film, ‘Masoom’.”

“His eyes and his voice arrested me,” Shekhar continued. “I was transported to a far deeper realm. For Khan Sahib was taking me closer to God and into the space where life and death merged into one.”

He urged viewers, “If you ever see ‘Bandit Queen’ again… look for the scene of the aftermath of the Behmai Massacre… that music will transport you too.”

Shekhar concluded the post by reflecting on his collaboration with the music maestro: “That’s what it was like working with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan… and that’s why I make films. To find space between life and death… For in that space exists creativity.”

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away on August 16, 1997, at the age of 48, after suffering a cardiac arrest.