Interview 4

           Aks reflects the person that is Lucky Ali. His wanderlust has taken him to far off places, and his songs are an honest account of his travels, experiences and the inner self. Nomad, vagabond, call him whatever you may, but Lucky Ali is proud to be the way he is and is on the verge of presenting another soul stealer 'Aks' (Reflections). To be released under Sony Music, 'Aks', true to Lucky's distinct musical style, packs in plenty of exploring themes of freedom, love, hope, and wanderings. Once more Lucky has summed up his experiences in his lyrics, and rendered them in his gentle and mellifluous voice. What sets Lucky Ali apart from his contemporaries is the striking simplicity of his soulful music and lucid lyrics that has an instant rejuvenating effect on a listener. His songs are poignant ballads of love, travels, hope, friendship and his own humble self.
           Lucky Ali is growing -- older, wiser, better. And Aks (reflections) his latest album, is about all that. ``As you grow older,'' he explains coolly, " there is more maturity in your thinking and that gets interpreted through your work. I'm more settled now.''  NewZealand-based Lucky Ali is best known these days as the voice of Hrithik Roshan in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai.``But I still haven't seen the film,'' says Lucky, " Honestly, I find it very difficult to sit through a three-hour movie.'' Of course, he is quick to point out that he was born in India into a film family, but when it comes to watching movies, he prefers something more realistic than a Bollywood blockbuster. However, while Hrithik is popular in Indian households across the globe, Lucky is not entirely an unknown quantity either. "All the Indians in New Zealand know me, " says the reclusive singer, " They know about my music. But I hardly go out and socialize.''
           So, what does he do when he's not making music? ``I'm busy raising a family,'' he reveals candidly, ``And that's a big job, you know.'' But coming back to Aks, Lucky says that while the album reflects on his growth in life, " it's basically very chilled, very groovy and very happy --- just my state of mind.''
            He's turning down acting offers and requests to sing for movies. Lucky Ali tells that "his" music is his only form of expression, and he's glad to have found it after 36 years. He recounts the recent burglary which took place at his house. "I have quite a fancy for gadgets." He shows a fancy mobile phone that has a tiny lap-top computer built inside. "I had collected about four differnt lap-tops at my place. And this thief who broke into our place took away all the electronic gadgets that I had collected, including the laptops," he explains." But my first reaction was of relief. Because I had just collected stuff which I don't really need."
           "I don't have any say in the videos that are made. I believe this is Mahesh's (director Mahesh Mathai) job and I don't think it would be correct to interfere. My job is to sing which I do," he explains. "My favourite remains the first video, because all of us were involved in it with total commitment. Later, I guess, things got more commercialised," he laments. His first video, O Sanam from Sunoh was created with Mike Mcleary producing the music, Syed Aslam setting Lucky's tunes to poetry and Mathai weaving magic on the video. As far as formal training in music goes, Ali had a training of a different kind altogether. "I grew up in an environment of musicians and artists, so I guess that was my training," he points out. Somewhere you can always feel the reluctance in him to let the star overshadow the person. And as we talk about his music, he keeps coming back to the essence of life and living which he tries to convey through his music. "I don't sing love songs and stuff like that. My music is more about life and how each one of us is trying to come to terms with it. In music, I believe there is no time for mourning. Just as in life, you've got to move on," he explains.
             As for acting in movies, "I received a couple of offers but I don't think I fit in any. I don't really think I can act. If I ever have to do a role, it would just have to be an extension of myself," he admits frankly. "In the end it really doesn't matter. What I am singing today will soon be forgotten. Music for me is a form of expression. At the end of the day we are all searching for only that. I found it after 36 years but I am glad I found it," he says with a smile.
             Like a true artist, Lucky Ali open-heartedly embraces self-discovery and lets it joyously reflect in his music. "My songs are an extension of my personality", says Lucky Ali.