Pukaar's Founder Goes Back To His Roots:
Romail on a global tour with his childhood music guru, Naeem Saleem

   Naomi Fraser, 28th September 2005

Romail Gulzar, founding Director and Manager of Pukaar, has spent the last four years acting as teacher and mentor to new British artists and Refugee artist in Southampton. This year Romail received special recognition from Prime Minister Tony Blair for his work as a music/ performance mentor in the community but now the tables have turned…..Romail again becoming the student. After a long time he will be reunited with his childhood teacher, mentor, and guru, the man who established him in the global marketplace 16 years ago.

Romail and Naeem last played across Asia together in 1998 but this November/ December they will be touring Canada and the UK. This coincides with the release of their joint album "Peace on Earth" (under the Pukaar label). Although performing as equals, Romail states he still looks to learn more from the man he says "taught me nearly everything I know about music and poetry". "Hopefully my time with Naeem will not only be a lot of fun but also a chance to pick up with my guru where I left off, giving me more skill to offer to Pukaar, its artists and the UK market." Naeem Saleem started his career in Pakistan in 1985. He was instantly described as 'a fresh breath of air in the field of Ghaza [light classical] singing'. Since then he has not only toured across the globe and released many albums but also become a famous teacher. Visit his website at www.naeemsaleem.com.

A teacher which Romail remembers as being creative in the delivery of his lessons as with his music and poetry: "When I was a 14 year old student I remember many times, after my lessons, Naeem would take me on long walks down the railway lines in Pakistan. We would walk for hours and hours, often very late in the night. I didn't always want to go with him but could never say no. Sometimes we would talk and talk, ending at a small coffee hut in the early hours. However often we wouldn't talk as Naeem encouraged me just to listen to the world we were passing and how to express the feelings inside me through music and word. Through this I learnt the great importance of giving space for thinking, as well as building up my lung stamina for singing."

Keep an eye out for the next AND edition to find out how the tour went and what this guru has transferred back to Romail, Pukaar and the communities of Southampton.