The Saudi Man with a Captivating Filmi Voice

At the heart of the Arab world, it appears that Bollywood filmi music has captured the heart of a young Saudi National. So much so, that this fan of Hindi cinema can expertly sing classic songs generated from the world’s most prolific film industry. Indeed, Ahmed Al Maimani entered the spotlight on one fateful evening in 2018 during the Al-Janadriyah Festival in Riyadh. He had got wind that several Hindi songs were on the program, luring his family to join him for event. 

Propelled by the aspiration to have his own voice heard, he playfully hurled a small stone to a friend who he spotted on stage. On investigating the source of the missile, this stage manager’s startled face melted into a warm smile as he recognised his pal. Accommodating Ahmed’s request, the organiser introduced him to the music team and one brief sound-check later, Ahmed was crooning to an audience of 3000 people.

So impressive were his renditions of Aankhon Mein Teri (from the film Om Shanti Om) and Chaand Sifarish (from the Fanaa fame), that he not only took the crowd’s breath away, but attracted the media and event companies too. The genesis of Ahmed’s fame lies in his childhood when he had his fill of Bollywood movies on VHS tapes and Bahrain TV (since there were no local cinemas showing such content). 

Talking about those early experiences, Ahmed says, “My first film was Amitabh Bachchan’s Don and I watched it several times with my brother”. His comprehension of these early viewings was aided by Arabic subtitles. But in subsequent years Ahmed garnered knowledge of India’s main cinematic language while working at a company full of Indians. “Hindi and Urdu are languages spoken by my colleagues and staff’, says Ahmed. “So, I preferred the language thanks to them.”

Stating that Shekar Kapoor’s Mr. India was his favourite film as a child, he went on to develop an admiration for megastars like Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Amitabh Bhachchan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Such was his passion that he dropped into Mumbai in attempts to interact with film stars. “I have met Salman Khan, his parents and Arbaaz Khan”, Ahmed mentions with a glint in his eye. “I even went to the Boogie Woogie Show with Gonvinda and met Sanjay Dutt”.

But Hindi songs aren’t the only non-Arabic tongue he has lent his voice to. No sir, at the request of the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, he actually performed a song in Tamil! “I learnt three lines in two months and went on stage to sing with KS Chitra Madam.” His collaboration with the celebrated Carnatic musician and playback singer soon saw him share the stage with Kerala starlets Sithara and Akbar. “I took part in the Riyadh session and one month later in another event with 5,000 people”, Ahmed confirms.

Indeed, with his popularity on Instagram and a growing fan-following, it seems that Ahmed Al Maimani (alias Ahmed Sultan) has the makings of a veritable cultural ambassador. Indeed, he could be the cohesion to bring the Arab and Indian Worlds closer together. Foreign offices best take heed of this powerful voice!