Muslim girl steals the show at puja pandals

A MUSLIM girl?s devotional songs have cast a bewitching spell on Hindus, making her the most sought after artiste in puja pandals across the Mahakoshal region. The teenager, Shahnaz Akhtar (19) herself is observing Ramzan fast. At Ganesh Utsav too, her songs, particularly ?Bhola Nai Mane Re? , were a major hit.

A MUSLIM girl’s devotional songs have cast a bewitching spell on Hindus, making her the most sought after artiste in puja pandals across the Mahakoshal region. The teenager, Shahnaz Akhtar (19) herself is observing Ramzan fast. At Ganesh Utsav too, her songs, particularly ‘Bhola Nai Mane Re’ , were a major hit.

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At Narsinghpur, Shahnaz’s Devi Jagran programme had to be abandoned after a clash between public and the police on Wednesday night.

No, do not get it wrong. It was not over a Muslim girl singing devotional songs. The trouble erupted when some devout went unruly while demanding to hear a particular song from her.

The police had to use mild lathi-charge. In retaliation, the unruly crowd roughed up some policemen. The BA (part 1) student has attained a celebrity status of sorts.

The T-Series recently came out with her new audio CD ‘Maa Tera Dwar Aiye’. Invitations are pouring in from all parts of the region. She has already performed at Mandla, Betul, Gondia, Narsinghpur and Jabalpur.

The 19-year-old girl, a native of Seoni, says her being Muslim did not ever pose a problem in singing at Devi Puja pandals. “Neither Hindus nor Muslims have objected to my shows.”

Unlike many others, Shahnaz had not undergone any training in vocal music. When she was in Class VI, she sang Vande Matram in her school at Barghat. Her mellifluous voice enthralled her teacher Azaz Khan. “He encouraged me to sing and since then I have been practising singing on my own,” she says matter of factly.

Azaz Khan says Shahnaz has an extraordinary voice and she will become a great singer one day.