Ayaan Ali Bangash launches debut album

Congratulating Ayaan Ali on the occasion, Narayanan expressed the hope that he would cut many more albums in future, keeping his rich heritage alive.

"I am extremely happy, but a little tense too. Although there has never been any pressure from my parents, being my father’s son, people’s expectations are high," Ayaan Ali told PTI after the release.

"I am very proud that Ayaan has launched his debut album. We have given complete freedom to our sons. But theirs is the generation of the 21st century and there are too many distractions. So we have played the role of baagh ke mali (gardeners) in grooming them with theright values," Amjad Ali Khan said.

"I listen to all kinds of music – classical as well as western pop. Celine Dion is a favourite. But at the moment I am not thinking in terms of fusion music. I want to establish myself as a sarod player and only then, maybe try fusion," said Ayaan Ali, recipient of the "Best Budding Artist" and "Soorya" awards.

Ayaan Ali started performing at a very young age and some of his memorable performances include the concert at Smithsonian Institute at Washington DC and at the Carnegie Hall in New York. He has also played with his father at the St James Palace for Prince Charles in 1997. His roots go back to Mohammad Hashmi Khan Bangash, player of the instrument known as `Rabab’, who moved to India from Afghanistan.

His son, Ghulam Bandagi Khan Bangash and grandson Ghulam Ali Khan Bangash, modified the Rabab to the Indian `sarod’.

In his solo debut album, Ayaan Ali has played a popular raga, Bageshri.