A Composer called Raja
It was Ismail Darbar who first mentioned it. After a Saregamapa performance in one of the early rounds, when Raja Hasan put in his trademark variations to the song, Ismail did comment that Raja could do very well as a composer as well. Not many of us gave that a serious thought. And then it in the Salman Khan episode, Raja did mention that he tried to meet Salman - saying he was a music director, but ended up meeting his brother Arbaaz Khan. But my guess is, Raja was actually looking for work as a composer when he tried to meet the Khans. And it wasn’t just an excited fan wanting to meet a celebrity, as Raja had claimed.
The confirmation came in a Rediff article a few days later - when Raja said that he had tried his luck at composing music in Mumbai, but it didn’t work out. And finally, when we got to see Raja’s father’s Rafiq Sagar’s profile, who has composed for so many songs, we knew that there’s more to Raja Hasan than just a singer - he is an extremely talented composer as well.
And that reflects in his stage performances. So often he seamlessly jumps from one song to another - like from Allah ke bande to Piya re. Sometimes he even inserts Bheegi Bheegi from Gangster into his songs. One of my favorite variations has been the Teri Dewani performance where he includes a few lines of his own: Deewane Ki Nazron Ko Jahaan Dekh Raha Hai… Pata Nahi… Deewana Kahan dekh raha hai..
The point is - all the above wouldn’t be possible unless Raja has a strong background and ability in composing.
And if there is one thing I would love to hear apart from Raja’s singing - it would be his compositions. And if it is in his own voice, even better.
But Raja isn’t the first singer-composer. If you have a look at each one of the top singers today, each one is a composer too. Sukhwinder Singh has composed for a number of movies. Kailash Kher is a quite capable composer, who might be making is film debut with Nikhil Advani’s next movie. Sonu Nigam himself had composed the songs of his last private album - Chanda ki Doli.
The difference between good singers and great singers, is simply their understanding of compositions. When you know what a music director wants, what the needs of the composition are, you can churn out your best. And in Raja’s case, he scores very heavily in this regard. Just because he is a composer at heart. And that makes things easier for music directors he sings for.
I am pretty sure that there are a number of Raja composed songs lying somewhere. Thanks to Raja’s resurrected singing career and busy schedule, these might be gathering dust. But someday, surely we will hear songs that Raja has composed. It might be for a movie, a private album or something he casually sings for a fan, but a Raja composed song isn’t far away from us.
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I really hope that day is not far away from us.
For now the good news is as many will be knowing.. Raja will be on best of Saragamapa in Zee Music Next week. 23rd and 24th Jan.
Wow that would be amazing!!! We all have such a good choice na?
Hey pls pls do upload Raja’s thing from Zee Next and upload it for us.
RHB……….. such an awesome article…….. thank you soooooooooo very much!! It was a total delight reading it. You are so awesome. God bless you!!
It would be really amazing to hear Raja’s own compositions. I really hope we would get to hear soon. May Raja’s understanding and knowledge of music make him the number 1 in bollywood along with his golden voice and attitude and may we hear him sing and compose all the superhit numbers soon.
Raja agar aap pad rahe hai toh hame aapki awaaz mein ek aapka compose kiya huya geet sunaayiye pls….
kaha hai aap? hume visit kab karne waale hai aap yaha?
hum intezaar karenge tera qayamat tak, Qudaa kare ki qayamat ho aor tu aaye …. love u lots raja
@RHB AND JAGAL BHAI, I HAVE RAJAS PERFORMANCE FROM ZEENEXT. BUT I DONT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD THIS .I ALSO HAVE RAJS ANTAKSHARI PERFORMANCE. I WANT TO SHARE THOSE WITH ALL OF YOU. CAN YOU HELP ME TO UPLOAD VDS.
@Priya can you upload the files to youtube.com and send the link here?
Oh yes! Oh yes! New Raja videos.. yohoooo…
Fantastic news we all will definitely love his own composition and hope to hear soooooooooon.
thanx alot Manish ur article made my day. the day will definetly come and it’s not far away when we all RAJA HASAN FANS will be enjoying RAJA’s compositions.
hey you guys i have a big big big annoucement for you guys if
you are a raja fan and you live in america or the united states watch disney channell raja our rajas video is suppose to play
. this is playing becuase disney is haveing a all around world showing videos of india china japan and uk , and other great countreies. for india you goes already know raja sang for a highschool musical 2 so disney is showing raja s video of ajj a nachle . so you goes please watch i am so happy for raja. it is a blessing for raja . other people would listen to rajas vioce that is relly great. do watch it please????????
@ Thanks RHB. I will try to upload vds.
@sudha, hi … is it 8pm on23rd &24th in zee music ?
[…] favour. It was not just the singer in Raja that got him the Ustaadon ka Usataad tiltle - but the composer in him that made his task a lot […]