Penaz Masani the enamored Gazal Singer with impeccable Urdu eloquence, a peerless voice, a soul so untouched ,she so childlike, having an aura dipped in simplicity. Her striking face outlined with her golden locks is bewitching, her smile a Rubato…she leaves me wondering how can one have such a perfect blend of beauty of mind body and soul.
Impromptu Picture
Penaz leaves a stamp of her unique voice and brand be it Gazals , Peppy Pop, or Bollywood. To quote Penaz “I enjoy singing pop too Lakeereh the album where I had worked with Shanatanu Moitre, he is so brilliant and talented I loved every moment of it “. Way back in 1981 Jaidev the famous music composer who spotted her talent at a musical participation, well Penaz has surely taken his vision beyond imagination. She has received many awards and performed across the globe since then.
Penaz Born into a Parsi family that had roots in Hindustani classical, “her father was a disciple of Ustad Faiyaz Khan Sahib of Agra gharana. She took lessons in classical music under the tutelage of Ustad Amanat Hussein Khan. Later learning ghazals from Madhurani. To quote Penaz “Madhurani Ji is the only artist on this planet who performs for the Gods, who is born for pure music”.
As I sat to chat heart to heart , she poured out in no hurry, she at her best and me having to catch up every time she used perfect Urdu words in the conversation, a thought crossed my mind that where we Parsis are at times made fun of our broken Hindi and we enjoy even that, it felt as if Penaz made up for the whole community across the Globe.
This one time it is not as easy for me to capture the complete essence of my chat and put it into the right words, my attempt to write about a person whom I have always admired more as a human, as a friend, as a doting and caring daughter that she is, she who is so devoid of star tantrums and airs.
Q. You have such a lovely voice, how do you maintain it and what efforts you take.
A. Really have I got such a lovely voice? You really think so ? I am so tc.ouched . No regime I am grateful to God, I do my riyaz as often but more than all this am grateful to be blessed that I have the shade, the blessings of my guru Madhurani.
Q. Where did you pick up such Chaste Urdu?
I brushed up my language under the guidance of Professor Nizamuddin Ghorekar at St. Xavier College in Mumbai. He taught me chaste Lucknowi Urdu.”Shall I share with you a little secret? It will make you smile when I was a tiny 3 year old Mom took me to Karachi and we stayed for a little over 2 months where we had a Pathan care taker and I picked up a lot of language fluency there for sure and on return my dad could really feel the difference , and was very pleased.
Q. How would you recall the time in the year 2009 when Condolence messages were mixed with congratulation messages.
A. Yes when we received a call from the Government Office informing that I am one of the recipiants of The Padma Shree , my mom heard this and was very pleased but sadly in weeks to come she was no more and I had to finish her 4th day prayers and leave for Delhi, in the ceremony I will not say I was grieved , the events had left me blank , and like in midst of claps echoing I realized that I was happy that mom knew I was getting this award. Everyone who knew me did not know whether to first offer me condolences or congratulations well this is a part of life.
Q. In 2003, a tour organized by the Council for Cultural Relations and the Indian High Commission, you performed in different countries including some African countries. How u remembers that experience & what was was the response of audience there?
A.When I was away at Ghana and other places I realized that music known’s no Genre.. The audience did not understand the language but they have enjoyed and danced to every tune every beat this left me so touched. When we visited an underprivileged school and I sang for them they were lean , frail but listening to music they had endless energy to dance, they did not tire that moment is so precious and still so very fresh in my memory.
Q. Television programs and your views on them.
A. I love COLOR channel , the programs are good, and I specially like the way they outline the character of women. The shows are entertaining and plus very meaningful. We need more and more such shows that will ignite awareness and bring about changes in the society and the way we look at certain stigmas.
Q. I do not want you to think of cords, sur taal music riyaz total unplugged answer for all my readers … you looks are awesome you have charm, your voice is mesmerizing hundreds of men must have found you attractive still you missed romancing was it due to your dedication to Gazal ? What you look most for in a man?
The room was filled with her laughter, she found my question amazing and this is what she said to me
A. ‘Nwaz brilliant Gazal singers have married not once but twice and thrice , so it is not that my gazals have kept me away from romancing it just did not happen, but who knows if I meet the right person and god has it planned then it shall happen. I think humor is a must , a person who has it can take care of many situations with ease , don’t you think so ?
Yes I do ….Amen!
I wish to say a big thanks to Yashaswi K Deepak for helping me with the questions and hope I have done well with them.
Exclusive answers only for the readers of aspiringpeople.com and fans
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The words she spoke were like pearls flowing out of her sweet mouth.
You can very well understand what must be happening when she sings Ghazals…….
I had always loved her voice and enjoyed her gazals, though I never knew her name. Good to know somebody I have admired for so long.
Thanks Nwaz.
Great work NC…………
and many thanks for letting me ask questions to arguably the finest voice & definitely the most beautiful face of Indian Music……….