Indian singer Sharmishta Chatterjee on collaboration with Mekaal Hasan Band and other Pakistani artists

Singer revealed working with Mekaal Hasan Band gave her an opportunity to see Pakistan from a different perspective

KARACHI: With the constantly shaky relationship between the two countries, it has lately been challenging for local artists to work in India and Bollywood artists to come to this side of the border. Yet, there are still some who don’t let such political issues hinder artist exchange. Sharmistha Chatterjee is an Indian singer who has visited Pakistan thrice in the last two years.

Known in the country for her collaboration with the Mekaal Hasan Band (MHB) in Coke Studio season eight, Chatterjee has also toured with the band in several countries as its lead singer. Moreover, she also sang for the band’s latest record Andholan and will be featured in their next album, set for a winter 2017 release.



As the only Indian female singer to be the lead vocalist of a popular Pakistani act, Chatterjee confessed it was a dreamlike experience and thanked Mekaal for the opportunity. “People of the subcontinent would know that an Indo-Pak collaboration is the most difficult thing, given the current times. But I am glad it happened, thanks to Mekaal and his effort to venture into something worthwhile in music,” she told The Express Tribune.

She believed that she fit in with the band’s style of music. “I felt the music of the band was tailor made for me and my sensibilities as an artist. I had training in Indian Classical music and that definitely helped,” Chatterjee added. “But I had to work hard on the language, especially Punjabi and Persian, since I never sang in these languages before. Also, the compositions are often challenging which is my great point of interest.”

Apart from her experience in playback singing in Bollywood, Chatterjee has also trained in Indian classical music. With her ever-increasing exposure to different genres, she has tried to incorporate the world folk styles of Africa, South Eastern Europe and Flamenco among others, into her performances.



However, she said, “Sufi [music] was something I never delved into before but while learning and performing specially with the band, I could connect to the essence of the music spiritually. I guess the spirit existed in me, the process of learning and singing with the band help me discover it to a large extent. I’m still learning.”

She said working with the band also gave her an opportunity to see Pakistan from a different perspective. “It allowed me to connect with my audience and some very talented musicians in general. I have made some very good friends there. The food, the hospitality and culture is really wonderful.”

Chatterjee also praised her Pakistani fans, who started following her after the track Ghunghat from the album Andholan released. “The audience reception was pretty amazing in Pakistan. The following further increased after our Coke Studio performances and especially the song, Kinaray. Most of the shows I did there with the band were full house; fans were very loving, supportive and wanted to connect. They still follow me on my social network,” she said.



“It’s pretty amazing. I have performed with MHB in North America as well and the Pakistani audiences there have also showered overwhelming love. I feel very humble and grateful.” She emphasised the power of Indo-Pak collaborations and exchanges saying that they only help us grow with the knowledge of what we have.

But apart from MHB, she has collaborated with two other Pakistani artists so far. “I’ve done a track with Khumariyaan and another collaboration with Faraz Anwar. Both the music is under production at the moment. MHB and Sounds of Kolachi (SoK) jointly did a couple of live gigs in Karachi and Lahore where I got the opportunity to work alongside Ahsan Bari and his wonderful band SoK.”

Although Chatterjee does not have any plans to return to Pakistan in the recent future, she would love to come and perform again, if the opportunity arises.

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