Rabbi Shergill - Avengi Ja Nahin

In 2004, India was introduced to Rabbi Shergill when the music video to his hit song Bulla Ki Jaan was being splashed over network channels a zillion times a day. It was hard not to enjoy his music - marked by an irresistible simplicity joined in partnership by bare and truthful lyrics, which similarly made the likes of Springsteen and Dylan world-beaters.

Fast forward to 2008, Rabbi made a come back of sorts with his second album ‘Avengi Ja Nahin’. Though fours year apart it’s almost as if both the albums were recorded back to back. The album contains everything that was appealing about Rabbi’s self-titled debut album and much more.

The majority of the album comprises of light numbers, which Rabbi’s fans have grown accustomed to listening. Rabbi’s forte clearly lies in playing acoustic-folkish songs, with his own brand of Sufism, which is brought out splendidly on the tracks Chhalla and Ballo. Rabbi’s voice sounds rich and inviting on the tracks and suits the setting of the tracks perfectly.

Added to his usual acoustic strummers, Rabbi has also included some rockier numbers, still composed in his subtle manner avoiding much fanciness. On the song Karachi Valie Rabbi uses a light rock sound that people have got accustomed to hearing with pop/rock bands such as Strings or Jal. While Maen Bolia sounds similar to something what a blues band from Texas would probably come up with in virtue of the tone of the guitar used and the drum beats.

Rabbi’s choice of tongue is his mother tongue Punjabi, apart from the tracks Bilqis and Return To Unity, on which he sings in Hindi and English respectively. Though the Punjabi language may not be comprehended by all of his fans, at times it just doesn’t matter as the musical ambience is itself so soothing and gratifying. But, for those who can follow the words or at least get a kind soul to translate them, the songs become even more beautiful and meaningful but obviously to a lesser extent than the original lines would be. His lyrics touch upon subjects such as love, patriotism and harmony.

One has to admit that for a long period after his 2004 album the average listener refused to look and hear anything beyond Bulla. But after ‘Avengi Ja Nahin’ one cannot deny that Rabbi has proved himself yet again. Setting the record straight for those who were considering him a one hit wonder, and ready to write him of.

Rabbi’s rise in the world of music has been a gigantic step forward for Indian music outside the realms of commercial music written for backing half naked item girls strutting their stuff. ‘Avengi Ja Nahin’ is a sign of progress, a sign of improvement, a sign of mounting maturity in taste.