Mohammed Rafi, Nazia Hassanmesmerise music lovers in Tajikistan

Siblings named after veteransingers Mohammed Rafi and Nazia Hassan have mesmerised music lovers in Tajikistan through their renditions of Indian classical and Bollywood songs. The artist duo is inspired by their musician father late Karmatullah Qurban

Siblings named after veteran singers Mohammed Rafi and Nazia Hassan have mesmerised music lovers in Tajikistan through their renditions of Indian classical and Bollywood songs. The artist duo is inspired by their musician father late Karmatullah Qurban and perform regularly on various occasions in the country and abroad.

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24-year-old Naziya learnt classical vocals in New Delhi and is fluent in Hindi. She also remembers lyrics of various classical and Bollywood songs. "Indian music is great... My father inspired me to learn Indian classicals. He was also an expert in Indi.n music among others. That is why he kept my brother's name as Mohd Rafi (after the late Indian veteran singer) and mine as Naziya Hassan (after the celebrated late Pakistani artist Nazia Hassan)," she said.

Naziya, who is fond of India and Indian music, has spent over four years in New Delhi to learn music, completing her training from Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra besides pursuing studies in Lady Sri Ram College. "India is like a second birth place to me. I am fond of Indian singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Alka Yagnik. I also like to watch Indian movies, especially those starring Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan," she said.

She was also appreciated by Vice President Hamid Ansari who is on a four-day visit to Tajikistan. Dilafrur, who aspires to work in Bollywood, said, "We like Naziya's songs a lot. She is a talented singer". Naziya has also learnt Kathak, a form of Indian classical dance from the Indian embassy here. "I have also been a disciple of known Kathak dancer and choreographer Kumudini Lakhia," she said. Naziya, her brother and mother are so fond of Indian culture that they talk to each other in Hindi, she said.