In a heartfelt Instagram post, Indian composer Salim Merchant recently celebrated his deep bond with the renowned Pakistani singer and qawwal Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. As one half of the Salim–Sulaiman duo, Salim took to the platform to share a carousel of pictures encapsulating their journey, spanning various shows and casual get-togethers.
While the specific locations were left unspecified, Salim emphasized the significance of the “last picture in this sequence,” revealing it as the moment when they recorded the poignant track, Aafreen.
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The caption of the post conveyed Salim’s gratitude for both collaborating with and knowing Rahat closely. “We share a special bond and brotherhood with Rahat bhai,” he wrote. Salim went on to list some of their notable collaborations, including Ore Piya, Saaiyaan, Dillagi, Mujhko Teri Zaroorat, Padharo Maula, Aafreen, and various joint performances. He expressed his immense happiness at having known Rahat so closely.
The diverse musical repertoire of Rahat and Salim showcases the richness of their artistic partnership. Salim’s post serves as an inspirational reminder for artists to create boundary-defying masterpieces, fostering unity through the universal language of music, rather than using art as a tool for propagating hatred or nationalistic agendas.
Despite existing complexities between nations, the enduring bond between Salim and Rahat underscores the transcendent power of music to foster understanding and unity. Salim’s post resonates with the enduring nature of artistic connections, untouched by political differences, offering solace to fans of both Bollywood films and Pakistani music who yearn for such collaborations.
In response to the post, a user expressed disappointment at the deprivation of Rahat’s talent in their region, advocating for art to be free of political constraints. Others reminisced about the days when songs from across borders were more prevalent, highlighting the sentiment of missing legendary collaborations like those involving Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in Bollywood.
