Ustad Amjad Ali Khan: “You Need Courage To  Do What Karan Johar Has done”

Eyebrows were raised when Karan Johar, who has as much link with Hindustani classical music as the Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan has with tabloid gossip, released Ustad’s new book Master On Masters on the 12 great legends of Hindustani classical music known personally to the Sarod maestro.

When asked , why Karan, the softspoken Sarod maestro became sentimental. “My family I have always shared close ties with Karan’s parents Yashji and Hirooji. All of us have in my family have the greatest regards  for MrKaran Johar. In such a short of his life he has achieved so much. Barely in his 40s he is  a multi-dimensional  multi-faceted personality. He has produced and  directed so many successful films carrying his father’s legacy forward.”

The Ustad is all praise for Karan’s autobiography An Unsuitable Boy. “You  need tremendous courage to share your most private thoughts. He has tremendous courage of conviction This is why we all love and respect him in our family.We wish a great life for his two children the angels Yash and Hiroo.”

About his new book on the maestros  of Hindustani classical music Ustad Amjad Ali Khan says, “I hope my book is well received by the people of India and overseas, specially by those associated with the classical musical fraternity.”

He  wonders  why only the kith and  kin of classical musicians pen biographies. “Classical musicians specially performing artistes choose to write only about their fathers or gurus. I wanted to change that in my own  humble way. I am grateful to my publishers and to Karan Johar . At the release he read a paragraph from the chapter on Begun Akhtar so eloquently.”