When Bollywood met Mozart

Pianist and composer Malika Omar on creating music that captures the essence of diverse cultures

Ordinarily, many of us may have no memories of our lives as toddlers. But Malika Omar distinctly remembers gravitating towards the piano the moment she would hear it. Even though her young hands were too small to get hold of the keys, the music left an impact on her mind. By the time she was 14, Malika was ready for her first public performance at the launch of a poetry book in Cape Town. "The more I performed, the more I learnt about piano and fell in love with it," says the pianist who divides her time between South Africa and UAE.
We all have assigned purposes to music - some of us find refuge in it, some of us seek inspiration in it. Malika, 33, is using it to promote the World Food Program's 'Share The Meal' agenda. The message is in the medium - through her music, Malika addresses key issues like hunger, poverty and women's empowerment. The aim is to encourage an active contribution through the ShareTheMeal app and the funds will be used to feed underprivileged children in Mozambique, Ghana, Lebanon, Palestine and South America. As we chat with Malika, one thing becomes obvious - she doesn't see music as just an art, but a therapy in itself. "There are certain sounds that, when played at a certain frequency, inspire a reaction in our bodies. There are musical chords and keys that can help elevate or lower the vibrations of the body," she says. "There are cases where patients who have chronic medical conditions or depression or anxiety have benefited from music."
An interesting aspect of her compositions are a seamless blend of Indian and Arabic influences. Malika, who was trained in western classical music, maintains that she often filters through various genres to create fusion. "I would mix a Bollywood song with an Arabic one or a Bollywood song with a classical piece from Mozart; even my own original pieces have Middle Eastern influences. My ancestry is a melting pot of Asian and Middle Eastern lineage; I was born amongst many vibrant cultures in South Africa and lived my adult life in Dubai, the most cosmopolitan city in the world. As a result, it felt natural to merge melodies from East and West, North and South."
A live performance, she says, is peppered with moments that make lasting memories. "I once played in a shelter in Europe - this little fairytale region in Switzerland. And then I performed in a hole-in-the-wall kind of place in Barcelona, where Picasso used to go frequently. It feels surreal to be in these spots and then perform for an audience," she says, adding that the cities one belongs to, ultimately, shape the artiste. "It's the intimate environment that a city provides you - the schooling, the social and cultural environment - that lead to your growth. I once taught a little boy from Tajikistan and that's just an example of how diverse cultures come together."  
The idea of giving back to the community remains at the heart of her endeavours, and that explains her participation in the ShareTheMeal campaign. "I believe that those of us who have roofs over our heads, running water, and food on the table are privileged. We need to share a bit of that. My music is inspired by the ideals of hope, encouragement, determination and support. So, I am telling the Share The Meal story as I perform; just as in helping those in need, there's love and a sense of being united."
anamika@khaleejtimes.com