Modernized monajat
The monajat Khudavind e Khavind set to modern music "aimed to raise awareness among the younger generation about the declining Parsi community and its prayers,” won singer Naynaz Munsaf and music director Kaizad Patel awards at the Evergreen Music Awards 2023. Munsaf, nominated for best regional music and Patel for best regional music director, received their awards at a function held on December 6, 2023 at Andheri’s Mayor Hall (banquet).
A 3.40-minute video of the prayer shot near various fire temples has gathered 81,000 views in three months. The music lovers met on a social media platform where Munsaf had posted her earlier videos.
"He (Patel) got in touch with me because he liked my singing.”
Naynaz Munsaf (l) and Kaizad Patel: contemporizing a hymn
Kaizad infused the hymn with contemporary music… We adopted a fresh style to attract interest…We did not want to change the essence of the monajat,” Munsaf told Parsiana on December 15.
Encyclopaedia Iranica has adopted the following definition of monajat by scholar-priest Dr (Sir) Jivanji Modi: "a prayer in which the person praying holds, as it were, a converse with his God and pours forth his own inward personal feelings of devotion and expression of humility.”
Munsaf’s music journey began at age four. She achieved her Visharad Pratham (sixth level of graded singing) at age 12. "However, due to commitments to college and business, my musical pursuits took a back seat” until the pandemic when it was "reignited.” Born in Bombay and raised in Navsari, Naynaz is married to businessman-cum-professional poker player Meherzad. A postgraduate in English from Symbiosis Institute, Poona, as an entrepreneur, she stated she "pioneered” language teaching and visa consultancy in South Gujarat.
Patel’s tryst with music began at 41 "when he decided to fulfill his long-standing passion… Under the online guidance of (music composer) Amit Trivedi, he went into music composition,” he told us. His YouTube channel Bombay Sargam was established in 2021 to "promote original music, showcasing Kaizad’s prowess as a composer and singer.” Married to Farzana, Kaizad is an economics and political science graduate from Mumbai University and works as national digital head at a media group.
Naynaz and Kaizad are now collaborating on a new video "but we cannot tell you what it is about yet,” Naynaz stated.