* Featuring strong singers like Javed Ali, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Keerti Sagathia, Zubeen, Chitra

MUMBAI: Music Today has announced the launch of Arrk – a collection of Sufi rock tracks. The album is an effort to revive the popularity of the dying breed that is non-film music and music that does not sell..., says a company statement that avers: The belief behind the album is that good music will sell.

Sujith Nalini Chellappan, composer and producer of Arrk, says, Music cannot be restricted, all its forms have to be explored; classical, non film and film. Anything becoming extinct, threatens its further creativity. Non film music will make its way back to becoming an industry all over again. We believe there is a way....

Artistes on the album have shared their views about Arrk. Javed Ali, who shot to fame in 2000 with Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein from the movie Naqaab and is today an experienced and accomplished playback singer in Bollywood, says: The style is very interesting and different as it uses all the three octaves very well....

Son of popular Qawwali singer Ustad Hamid Hussain and student of famous ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, Javed had begun by singing jingles and title tracks for TV soaps before gradually moving into films. Some of his biggest hits include Jashne Bahara from Jodha Akbar, Guzarish from Ghajini, Arziyaan from Dilli 6 and the title track from Tum Mile. He believes that the albums uniqueness and intelligent composition patterns are what distinguishes it from other offerings in the market.

Zubeen Garg, a singer and composer from Assam, popular for songs such as Jaane Kya Chahe Mann (Pyaar Ke Side Effects), Ya Ali (Gangster) and Dilruba (Namaste London), says I really liked the concept of the album. It was so different and unique. The composition was fascinating and working with a new composer was never really a problem for me. It has a lot of variety and different shades of Sufi rock. I think it will be really well received amongst the public as a lot of fabulous and popular singers have come together and produced a new non-film music album with different qualities to what you see in the market these days....

The album also features the melodious voice of Keerti Sagathia, a young singer out of Gujarat, who started singing in mainstream Bollywood some four years ago. He started his career associated with icons such as A.R. Rehman and Shankar Ehsaan Loy – the biggest contemporary music directors in Bollywood. Some of his biggest hits include Beera from Raavan, Maiya from Guru and Mareez-e-Mohabbat from Short Cut  He is the first singer to be featured on this album and although originally called in to lend his voice to one track, he ended up singing four. Keerti says This album is very special to me because it allows me to portray my versatility. Also, when I was called to sign for this album, I was seriously ill,  but I didn't want to pass up this opportunity. Despite extreme weakness, I sang as if I was singing my last song, and this would be the work that the world remembers me by....

Keerti too feels that this album will be well received by the Indian public because whereas most albums have either pure or light Sufi, this is an exception to the rule being the only pure Sufi rock album in the market.

I was approached in Mumbai by Sujith for Pakhida,... says Shafqat Amanat Ali, who was recently nominated for Best Singer in the Filmfare Awards 2011 for his track Bin Tere from the movie I Hate Love Stories. What struck me most was their enthusiasm and perseverance. They explained the concept of the album and the track to me and wanted me to sing the track just with �Sa' as the base note. I told them to work out a scratch track, which they did and sent it across to me in Pakistan. I felt the track was unique and had a lot of energy. It had an interesting quality as it was exceptionally high in its pitch and this was a consistent element throughout the track, which I took as a challenge. It's a very powerful song and I'm really happy with it. I hope the listeners enjoy it as much.... he concludes.

Also featured on this album is the melodious voice of K.S. Chitra, who has made her name as a playback singer in the Indian film industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil (Little Nightingale) of South India, she is the recipient of the Padma Shri, 6 National Film Awards and 5 Filmfare Awards. Some of her most popular songs include Kehna Hi Kya (Bombay), Ye Hasin Vaadiyaan (Roja) and Yaaro (Rangeela).

The stellar list of stars featured on this album are also backed up by equally famous and prominent lyricists and technicians. Lyricists such as Gopal Tiwari (a comedy actor who has featured in films such as Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai and Tere Naam and stars in the famous talk show on CNN IBN The Week That Wasn't), Noor Aslam (lyricist for the album Sunoh which features the critically acclaimed track O Sanam by Lucky Ali), Sanjeev Sharma (lyricist for the popular band Indian Ocean) and Karthik Chandan (lyricist for the band Aurko) grace this album.

The team of sound engineers who have worked on this album are the ones who work for A.R. Rehman. Ashish Manchanda, an internationally acclaimed sound engineer, has done the mastering and additional programming for Arrk. He has worked for such blockbusters as The Chronicles of Narnia, No One Killed Jessica, Dev D and Khosla Ka Ghosla amongst others.

This hard-hitting, upbeat music CD featuring a stellar line-up and background is available for Rs. 199.

TRACK LISTING

1 Marhaba – Keerthi Sagathia

2 Pakida – Shafqat Amanat Ali

3 Dum Ali – Keerthi Sagathia, Syed Ali Hussaini, Kshitij Tarey

4 Sunle Rahi – Zubeen Garg

5 More Meet – Javed Ali, Keerthi Sagathia

6 Umde Umde – Keerthi Sagathia, Kshitij Tarey

7 O Piya – Supriya Acharya, Keerthi Sagathia

8 Agayi Re – K S Chitra