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"My aim is to take Sufi music to the common man. I want to simplify the difficult Persian or Urdu poetry it is based on, so that the general public can understand it and relate to it," Seth said in a media interaction before the Rajasthan International Folk Festival 2011 (RIFF) here. The five-day music festival, which starts on October 12, showcases local Rajasthani folk talent alongside international artists from all over the world.
Seth, who is to give an all-acoustic Sufi performance at RIFF on October 13 this year, said she enjoys reading good poetry and singing songs based on these poems. Poems by Maulana Rumi, Kabir and Amir Khusro feature prominently in her compositions and songs. At the folk festival, Seth will sing verses by her favourite poets apart from Bharat Bhushan Pant and Ziya Alwi. "I have selected the poems closest to my heart and prepared a bouquet of songs for the audience," Seth said.
"I might just sing one or two songs every year, but they should be masterpieces. I avoid offers to sing vulgar songs and feel no joy in singing mediocre numbers," said the singer, who has won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 2010 for `Iktara`.
The singer has lent her voice to Bollywood numbers like `Mora Piya` in `Raajneeti`, `Mujhe Mat Roko` in `Gangster` and `Maula` in `Vaada` among others. She has also composed three songs for the 2008 movie `Yeh Mera India` directed by N Chandra.
Seth was introduced to music at an early age, as her father took her to dargahs where she heard Qawalis. She started learning ghazals and bhajans but found true satisfaction when she came across Sufi music. "Sufi music is usually sung in praise of the Almighty. I feel a strong connection with God when I sing Sufi songs," Seth said.
The singer has recently recorded a number for Prateik Babbar-Kalki Koechlin starrer `My Friend Pinto`. She has also recorded three songs for a Hollywood movie `Trishna` starring Freida Pinto. "I really like Bryan Adams and Elton John`s voices and it`s my dream to perform with them someday. Let`s see what God has in store for me," the singer says.
