Farhan Akhtar is a “music-soul.” Playing the guitar and singing has always been very much a part of him. Team MissMalini had the privilege of speaking to Farhan hours before his concert at The Esplanade, Singapore last Sunday. We managed to steal a look into the rockstar’s musical “chord” and ask him about his band, his music pursuit and his perfect world.
Below are the excerpts of the interview.
Team MissMalini (Team MM): What is the objective of Farhan Live? Is it especially designed to push forward the MARD initiative or is it your personal creative pursuit?
Farhan Akhtar (FA): It is a combination of both. Music is something I am very passionate about from a very young age. I’ve been playing the guitar and singing for many years, but not at this level. When I wanted to take the MARD initiative to colleges in India, we felt that music would be a better and more memorable way to engage with the youths. That is how it started and we are still doing this. We were in fact at the MNNIT in Allahabad recently. However, we are here at Singapore at the request of our fans and it is purely for the music.
Team MM: Farhan Live currently performs songs from the movies that you’re affiliated with. Are there any plans to write and record songs independent of the film industry?
FA: Yes, it is already happening. I am already recording singles with Salim-Sulaiman, Ehsaan & Loy and Ram Sampath. I’m collaborating with these artists who are my friends. The songs are original pieces which have got nothing to do with any film. Lyrics in films are mostly related to what the character is feeling. I will be writing the lyrics to these singles.
Team MM: Which music festival or venue would you like to perform at with Farhan Live?
FA: It’s too difficult to answer that question. I would like to go everywhere. Music allows you to experience many things, meet other people and other musicians. There is a different level of connect that happens with people when you travel with music. Music is a universal language, you don’t need to know the language as long as you can feel what the emotion is. So yes, I would like to go just about anywhere that I can possibly be.
Team MM: You come across as a peaceful person. I also noticed that the description of your Twitter handle is, “I may be a dreamer, but I am not the only one,” words from the famous song Imagine by John Lennon. Would you say that the song Imagine describes your perfect world?
FA: Yes, to a certain extent. Problems are mostly very man-made because of concepts and ideologies that we have created. But I also feel there is a certain realist side in me which doesn’t allow me to imagine such an utopian world.
Sunday’s Farhan Live concert at the Esplanade was incredible. Click here to read our review, in case you missed it!
Team MissMalini wishes Farhan Live more and more success and all the best is spreading all the love and peace with the ever uniting melodies! Yowzaaa!