Baloch folk singer Akhtar Chanal Zahri to join Saieen Zahoor in Indian film Mirzya

If Saieen Zahoor's transcendental voice wasn't enough, Baloch folk singer Akhtar Chanal Zahri is now set to entrance Bollywood with his voice in upcoming film Mirzya.

The musical is being directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who has critically acclaimed films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Rang De Basanti to his name.

According to Asian Age, Sufi singers from India and Pakistan have been roped in to be a part of this feature. While Saieen Zahoor's participation was earlier announced, Akhtar Chanal Zahri is the latest singer to have joined the film.

“Akhtar bhai’s voice has an amazing texture, which represents Afghanistan," says trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, who are composing the soundtrack of the film.

And of Saieen, he says, "Saieen is an interesting character. He is truly immersed in his own music and world. Until 2006, he never recorded himself in a studio. The unique thing is, when you teach him the lyrics of the song, he draws pictures instead of writing syllables. That’s how he remembers the words. He was truly a delight to work with.”

The trio had to work around the voice of these unique singers to get the song right.

"We had to compose the pieces around these two exquisite singers’ voices so that their presence doesn’t look forced into the song," he adds.

The film will see Om Puri in the lead role, along with debutantes Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan Kapoor, who plays Mirza, and Saimiyi Kher who plays Sahibaan.