MUMBAI: Composer Salim Merchant is collaborating with iconic Qawwali singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for a unique project. Merchant, who was speaking to Radioandmusic.com on the sidelines of his lecture to students of Whistling Woods International, Mumbai on Thursday, refused to divulge details. Merchant surprised the students of Whistling Woods as he shared never-heard-before stories, made honest confessions and jammed with the students.

Merchant, who mastered the piano at the Trinity College of Music in London, has recently recorded a number with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, we learn. The Salim-Sulaiman music duo is also working on a movie called ‘Purna’ directed by Rahul Bose and is waiting for their first composition for Hollywood movie ‘Sold’ to be released this May.

About the partnership with Rahat, Salim said that this was a qawwali project which is out of the ordinary. "Classical music is the foundation of all different music. It doesn’t matter whether you are doing film music, non-film music, qawwali, or rock, pop, jazz, blues, it is essential to become skilled at classical music. I feel Indian classical and western classical is a must for music enthusiasts to be trained. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a brilliant singer and it was a phenomenal experience to work with him.”

Salim spoke more about his Hollywood experience here.  Read on here:

Sold's music is very different from the movie: Salim Merchant

Magical 2 hv witnessed d iconic legacy of #Nusrat Sahab through d legendary @RFAKWorld. Special collab coming soon! pic.twitter.com/p3FAaOxAgo

— Raj Pandit (@rajpandit17) April 30, 2016