There is always more to a good song than the ears of a general listener will catch without special directions. The first dimension or the top layer in the commercial songs is always for the general public. The first and foremost reason for releasing an album is to entertain the fans. It must fulfill its prime purpose. However, there is always more going on beneath the surface. Only the serious listeners can decode those layers.

Since the release of Kamal’s Jinday Ni Jinday, when I was thinking that no one noticed, I got many e-mails just about the Tabla in this song. For all those, who noticed that it was a little more than your average thekas, you are right. Tabla composition of this album is simple but played perfectly by an amazing table player of Punjab Gharana, Naveen Sharma. The above picture of him playing tabla in the studio was taken when other musicians were having lunch.

Some, who follow Hindustani classical music must have seen him with Ustad Zakir Hussian. Naveen has been travelling, learning and playing jugal-bandi with Ustad Zakir Hussain for a few years now.

If you interested in rhythm, please listen to the song once more (not the video version, the full album version) and pay special attention to the Tabla. There are six Tablas in this song, three with a smaller head and three with a bigger head. Every section has three layers, left, right and center. All played one by one by Naveen. Try to decode the pick-up of the last verse. Once you begin to think about it, I am sure it will keep you up at nights for a few days, but that would be a good thing. Enjoy.