Amjad Ali Khan with sons interview & pictures in KFW-II

Once in a lifetime do you get a chance to see sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan walking the ramp with sons- Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash. Ustadji and his two sons in conversation with India Blooms correspondent Sreya Basu after their rampwalk for designer Zubair Kirmani at the Kolkata Fashion Week (KFW) II

Ustadji, this is the first time you walked a ramp?

Yes. This is the first fashion show I participated in.

How’s the experience?

I generally wore traditional clothes and I am happy that Zubair Kirmani has made me wear one of his white designer sherwanis.

You look really good in this outfit…

(smiles) Thanks. The entire credit goes to Zubair Kirmani. He is really talented…knows what suits whom best.

Why did you agree to showstop for Kirmani?

See, I feel, just as music is celebration of life, wearing good clothes too is a celebration of life. And I am really happy to get a chance to wear such beautiful clothes. And especially with Durga Puja nearing, everyone feels happy to wear new clothes and I too am no exception.

Were you nervous?

No…I have been performing on stage throughout my life. So I don’t feel nervous. But I was a bit hesitant because the ramp is generally for the youths like them (points to Ayaan and Amaan).

But playing sarod on stage and walking the ramp are two different things altogether…

Yes, I agree. But I have enjoyed every bit of this ‘different’ experience.

Who do you think looked best among the three of you?

Amjad Ali Khan: Both of them look very nice.

Amaan Ali: Definitely he (pointing to Ustadji)

Ayaan Ali: I agree. No one is more handsome than our father. I told him before the show started-Aap aage aage chaliye, hum dono aap ke peeche peeche challenge.

On a scale of 10, how much will you three give each other?

Amjad Ali Khan: I think they (sons) looked better than me on the ramp

Amaan and Ayaan Ali: We will give him (father) 10 on 10.

What is your style statement?

Amjad Ali Khan: I always go by traditional wear. My wife designs my clothes and basically I am a sherwani and kurta person.

Amaan Ali: I too love traditional clothes and am most comfortable in them

Ayaan Ali: (Interrupts) actually we grew up in a traditional environment and hence a kurta is more comfortable for us than jeans and T-shirt. But we like wearing all types of clothes.

It is a sharp contrast you three wore at the ramp-while Ustadji was in white, you two in black sherwanis. ..

Amaan Ali: That shows he (Ustadji) is all light…pure…divine.

Ayaan Ali: True. But we never actually thought about this. Zubair decided on the dresses and we loved it

Amjad Ali Khan: But black too is a strong colour…it is the colour of energy and royalty.

(Photos by Avishek Mitra)