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Graceful Penaz Masani has 25 years of singing and a Platinum disc to her credit

“This is just a sound test,” she quips, and the audience settles down to an evening of enchanting melody at the Purani Dilli Ka Ehsaas, organised by the Delhi International Arts Festival, held here recently.

Is she an actress, a youngster wonders aloud? “Not really,” admonishes her elderly escort. Penaz introduces her colleagues on the stage and takes the audience on a nostalgic trip, her singing flawless as always. She confesses she is in love with singing simply because it allows her some unforgettable interaction with her fans. It is indeed laudable that this gorgeous singer has cut more than 20 discs.

Discovered and promoted by legendary composer Jaidev in 1978, Penaz was born into a family that prided itself for its association with classical music. No wonder then that she heralds the evening with Begum Akhtar’s evergreen “Koi Ye Kehde Gulshan Gulshan”, her all-time favourite.

Penaz stresses the importance of ghazal and its status in society today. “Ghazal singing has achieved a status of being classy, which is very good for us singers. Ghazal singing has been given a respectful place in society and that is what every singer looks forward to. There is no medley, no pop, just plain soulful singing,” Penaz speaks her heart.

She blushes right through the conversation. You seek her impressions on the relevance of ghazal singing in contemporary music, she blushes, saying, “It is very relevant. It is not just another three-minute song. Ghazal can be nice and crisp and its beauty is still there. I don’t think it can ever be tainted because it is a tradition that has been kept alive through generations.” It is also fashionable to listen to ghazal.

Penaz does not blush when she recounts her wonderful interaction with the youth during her formative years of ghazal singing.

“I can say with pride that I took ghazal to the jean- clad generation. I would perform at colleges and would always vibe with them delightfully.” It must have been a pleasant experience for a jean-clad audience to be held spellbound by a mellifluous jean-clad ghazal singer. Her album, “Dil Mein Ankhon Mein” was a hit with the youth for its nice blend of traditional and western music.

Reflecting on her career, Penaz, with that infectious smile, confides, “It has been a wonderful journey. God has been kind and the audience has been so loving and caring. After God, my mentor (Madhu Rani) has been the biggest influence and source of encouragement. She told me to remain humble and keep my feet on ground. I sing because I love to sing.”

Having sung across the globe, enjoying ‘live’ performances more than studio singing, Penaz confesses the quality of ghazal singing is diminishing. “It is a matter of concern no doubt. It has diminished over the years because ghazal is being sold as a package. The album’s target is essentially the commercial market. These days we get a lot of run-of-the-mill, below average ghazals. But ghazal singing is coming back to its old form and melody is gradually gaining importance.”

Mercifully, ghazal has been spared the obnoxious trend of remixes. “Thank God,” Penaz sounds so gleeful. “Actually, I don’t mind remixes but I object to the way the old songs are picturised, so cheap,” says the genial Penaz, who has 25 years of singing and a Platinum disc to her credit.

Did she ever entertain ambitions of acting because of her good looks? A performer par excellence, she blushes, “I did. I was roped in for a serial but then I got busy with my role as a singer. I am happy this way.” And so are her countless fans!

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