NRI IN-FOCUS: LUCKY ALI

Son of the immensely talented actor Mehmood and nephew of the legendary Meena Kumari, Maqsood Mehmood Ali, also known as Lucky Ali, has carved a niche for himself as a soulful singer. Based in New Zealand, Lucky Ali has won fans all over the world with memorable albums including "Sunoh," "Sifar," "Aks" "Gori Teri Aakhein," "Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai," and Bollywood songs including "Ek Pal Ka Jeena," "Naa Tum Jaano Naa Hum," "Oh Sanam," "Jaanaa Hai," "Ahista Ahista,"and all of his songs in M. M. Kreem's "Sur." Here follows an in-depth interview with Lucky Ali in which he discusses his album "Xsuie," online music distribution, performing live, memories of his father, upcoming projects and more. Read away!

Your latest song ‘Beqaraar' from "Paathshaalaa" is getting a good response…
Amhed Khan directed this film starring Shahid Kapoor called "Paathshaalaa." Hanif Sheikh wrote this song and I think this is his first break as a music director. When I heard the song I liked it and I said I'd do it. Of course I didn't really like the Bollywood version of it, the one that's being used as the promotional song. We've just generally worked on a different version, not to release but for our performances and stuff. It's a heartfelt song and I think Hanif wrote it in a moment of angst.

You've been traveling a lot lately…Dubai now Bombay. Do you enjoy traveling and wandering a lot?
No, I wander with purpose not just aimlessly. For me it's about purpose. I like to go places where I can do something. For example, I like shooting the culture of different places in my video whether I'm in a different part of India or a different part of the world.

You're one of the first Bollywood celebrities to meet with Twitter fans…
It started out with this new album I released just on the internet. It's called Xsuie. It's a different kind of release, not a hard release but a soft release. So no paper, no carbon footprint. It's an attitude. We feel with technology advancing this is the way to move—online, mobile, not any CDs. We've shot videos and are doing concerts just like for a normal release but there won't be a CD in stores.

That's environment friendly. So, how do you feel about the way music distribution is handled in India? A lot of CDs aren't even properly released and distributed.

My distribution is out of the United States. They had the online solution, the solution I was looking for. There are lots of big artists on that forum. It's a progressive space and empowers artists to not worry about other people's overhead. You're just making good music and letting other people have access to it.

Being primarily based in New Zealand are there any challenges of being an NRI artist? Do you think you ever miss out on opportunities not being permanently based in Mumbai?
No. I think I'm doing as much as I can handle. I like being away from Bombay because it's not the greatest place to live, not really healthy. I come here to do work and I've been here for a while now because of the release. I don't think I have to be here because my release is out of the U.S. and will also release in Dubai. I've got a great team of technicians and musicians and we've started a cooperative, which is for any musician who thinks they are worth it and have no access to a music company. There is so much new talent man, every day but they don't get their time of day. So we feel that cooperative works best in India because people are in charge of their lives here and it's an empowering feeling.

How do you zoom in on which assignments to take on? You seem to be quite selective.
The project I do at the present time is the project I do. I don't really plan for future projects. I move along currently. Sometimes we become quite ahead of our time. I'm experiencing a total freedom of not having to worry about going to a music company and waiting for them to give me royalties. You can experiment and get as creative as you want.

Anyone you'd really like to collaborate with in India?
I think I've worked with everyone at the top here in India. I've worked with a very good producer in New Zealand for a long time. I've come to a point where I need to explore other forms…sometimes it's not about the music itself, sometimes it's not about the music and you find the music within that. Philosophical thought…but if you know what I mean…I do meet music producers. I am a music producer myself. I like collaborating with new talent, too.

You've dabbled in lots of other activities whether it be breeding horses, farming, acting or being an oil rigger in Pondicherry. But music has always been constant for you.
Music has always been a part of my growth given my family background. My father helped the industry grow and was always open to new things and we got to see that growing up. Dad was a teacher in a way…

You also recorded a song for your father's film, "Dushman Duniyaa Kaa." Was that the first song you recorded?
No, I recorded some songs earlier, too. They were simplistic—not simple, but trying to be simple. I can't say I was too pleased with it but it was a growth thing and that's something I'm still trying to do…to keep tracks simple. It's a thin line to tread.

Do you have any memory of your earlier days, like maybe the first time you ever walked into a recording studio?
(laughs) I remember this one time I performed on stage and I sounded completely besuraa and everyone looked at me and very respectfully without telling me to stop…the person who got me on stage was so embarrassed. It was the worst thing ever that happened in my life and there I was trying to be a singer (laughs).

So do you really enjoy doing live shows?
Oh I love performing live and doing massive concerts in India, up to 200,000 people, in Delhi we had 80,000 people! They take in your music and give you such positive energy. They give you so much love man and that's a blessed position to be in yaar. It's a lot of fun, in India people sing your songs and it becomes interactive. It becomes an emotional experience, not the crying emotional but like a brotherhood, a connection….and it only happens at certain times…you just can't explain it. It becomes a magical moment.

Will you be doing any concerts abroad?
Yes. In fact we are looking at doing things in England, Africa, Asia Pacific, New Zealand. It has to fall in the journey of things. We'd like to take our music to as many people. But, I could never do these Bollywood shows where it's about something else and really not about music. I could never do that, I'd be so damn embarrassed with that and horrified to do something like that.

I read somewhere that you haven't been formally trained in music. Do you think formal training in music helps when composing?
If one thinks hard then they can sing and do anything. I wasn't formally trained. But, I was a choirboy in school (laughs). I never thought I'd turn out to be a singer.

Oh? You never thought of being a singer?
Like it just happened naturally given my background and Dad made movies and was open to our creativity and helped us develop our talent.

Speaking of your dad, any favorite film of his?
Oh I love lots of movies of my Dad. His earlier films in '62 and '67. He used to do three shifts a day and was churning out lots of films. Like '67 was his glory time. He was so brilliant. I've watched his earlier films and he was a brilliant artist and stood out to other actors in the film. There was a time when they didn't want to work with my father because people flocked just to see him. He was very talented. You know he actually failed the 5th standard many times and I tried to do things, to design my life in a similar fashion and he gave me the opportunity to do that. I got demoted from 8th standard to 7th (laughs).

Oh wow. (laughs) Yeah.
I did all these crazy things like running away from home and everything I think a prodigal son would do and learned from that and he allowed me to do that.

So he gave you your space…
Yeah. I've grateful to the Almighty for what I have and also for what I don't have.

You taught yourself how to play the guitar. Any tips for people thinking about learning how to play the guitar?
I'm still learning. But I think learning a theory helps—the way you move your fingers on the fretboard. You have to work at it. If time is important for you you'll work hard and if time is of no value to you you'll procrastinate.

IMDB mentions you worked as an Assistant Director in 1987 on a film called "Susaman." Did you really work as an AD?
Yeah! I assisted Shyam Benegal. You've heard of Shyam Benegal, right?

Oh yeah. Absolutely!
Yeah, I assisted him for four years and studied filmmaking under him while also doing music. And, it struck me that if I did films they'd have to be a particular kind and I didn't want to limit myself so stuck with music. And at that point I even worked as an oil rigger.

Yeah, you've certainly done different things…
I'm a happy man. The growing up pain… like…the payoff has been a lot more than I expected.

Is acting something you still want to do?
I like to act. But I wish films were made in one day.

Short films is the solution for you then.
Acting takes so much time and days of your life. Music takes just that much and gives back so much more and you can keep listening to it. Acting takes away from your personality because you try to bring in some other personality and that's a hard act to follow and a difficult life. If something good comes I'll explore it but if it doesn't then it doesn't really matter.

You've recorded a few songs in Tamil and Telugu? How'd that happen?
Yeah, I was trying to express myself to other sub-nationalities part of our nationality. It's a beautiful experience. I've lived in South India though I grew up in North India and went to school in West India and my mother's side is from North India (laughs). It's important for me to be able to express myself. I'm even doing a Punjabi song with a guy from Punjab.

Yeah, it's important to be able to express yourself as an artist… so, is there any song in particular which was the most challenging?
All my Bollywood songs that I sing for other artists, other music directors is a big challenge because it's not my style—I have to adapt to a different style. But it's an enjoyable challenge.

Any song really close to your heart?
Out of the new songs I've recorded there is a song by a new music director called Balraj and the song is called "Pal Pal"—it's about moments. I really like that song. And there is a new guy called Anand and I recorded a beautiful song for him. I enjoy collaborating with new music directors and artists. There is so much talent here yaar.

How have you seen yourself evolve as an artist over the years?
I hope so…I hope I've progressed. I think I have. I think I'm very peaceful.

That's good.
Yeah. I have this feeling of peace, strangely. You go through hardships, like Dad died and my brother died. And it sets you back emotionally and you don't know how to tell others your feelings and just go away and then you realize you have to bring yourself back and it's all a part of growth.

Any plans of reviving your father's production company?
No. Not really. I don't have the energy to make films.

Any upcoming projects you'd like to tell us about?
At the moment I've released my album on LuckyAli.com. It's a slow and steady journey and my boat sails very well that way. I have two films, a comedy and a psychological thriller, which I finished shooting two years back but didn't release yet for whatever reason. And on the music front I'm working with new music directors on projects.  

[ BY AMANDA SODHI ]