Amjad Ali Khan charms music lovers

DAMMAM: Celebrated Indian musician Amjad Ali Khan was decorated with the first Prem Nazir International Award for the Promotion of Arts at a well-attended event at Dammam Sheraton at the weekend.
The award, instituted by Soorya Cultural Society of Nataraja Krishnamoorthy, is named after legendary Malayali filmstar, the late Prem Nazir.
Businessman Abdullah Al-Saihati presented the award to Amjad Ali Khan in the presence of Prem Nazir’s son Shahnawaz, Indian Business Forum President Mohamed Javed Ibrahim, General Secretary Ambarani Jagannathan and Soorya Global Coordinator Rafeek Younus.
“The award is being presented to Amjad Ali Khan for all that he has done for the promotion of music and arts and culture and universal brotherhood,” said Krishnamoorthy, the main force behind the Soorya cultural organization.
“Prem Nazir, whose real name was Abdul Qader, was a superstar; he was widely admired for his excellent acting abilities and also for his commitment to social justice,” he said. “There is no other person more deserving than Amjad Ali Khan.”
According to Krishnamoorthy, the award seeks to inspire young people to apply their talents and energies to selfless and innovative service to their community, their country and to the world as a whole.
As the evening wore on, it took on a different color with Amjad Ali Khan and his able musician sons, Amaan and Ayaan, treating the music aficionados with their lovely notes strung from sarod, a classical, northern Indian instrument.
Amjad Ali Khan and his ensemble have been performing around the globe for decades, but this was their second performance in the Kingdom, and the select audience of prominent Saudis and Indians gave him an enthusiastic response.
Initially Khan performed with talented tabla player Tanmay Bose. Then his two sons came on stage and helped him spellbind the audience with their musical prowess. There was such synchronization between the boys and the tabla player that every few minutes cheers from the audience resounded through the hall.
The performance was described as magical. “Music has no boundaries, and its language transcends everything,” said anchor Anil Madan. “It is an honor for us to have ‘ustadji’ and his sons here in Dammam,” he said, referring to the title of extreme honor that has been granted him in his homeland.