Beijing: The enchanting sound of the traditional flute, or seruling, paved the way for visually impaired musician Mohd Azhar Zulkifli to make his mark on the international stage, where he had the opportunity to showcase his talent in Beijing, China, about a decade ago. Popularly known as 'Azhar Seruling Emas', the 40-year-old described the opportunity as one of the most meaningful moments in his life, as he had previously been unfamiliar with the seruling and had never known what the traditional instrument looked like.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azhar's journey as a seruling player began with an offer from actor Sabri Yunos, who invited him to be part of Astro's Karoot Komedia programme. "At that time, I had never played the seruling and did not even know what the instrument looked like because I was born blind. However, I saw the offer as an encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and explore something new," he said. Initially, Azhar underwent intensive training from 8 am to 7 pm every day, and it was only after a day of practice that he managed to produce his first sound from the seruling.
Mohd Azhar taught himself to play the seruling by relying entirely on his sense of hearing, as he could not see musical notes or observe the finger techniques used by other musicians. "I learnt on my own. While others can see and refer to musical notes or guidebooks, I relied entirely on my hearing. I listened over and over again before trying to reproduce the sounds until I became skilled at it," he added, noting that it took him about a week to master the basics.
The soothing and melodious sounds of the seruling not only captivated listeners but also served as a form of therapy that brought calm and comfort whenever he played the instrument. Azhar explained that he uses two types of seruling, known as six-petik and seven-petik, with each producing a different tone and having its own unique characteristics. "The seven-petik seruling, which is often used for P. Ramlee-style songs, produces a rougher and louder tone, while the six-petik seruling creates a more melodious and fuller sound," he elaborated.
Mohd Azhar's involvement in the arts has taken him to various parts of the country, where he performed songs including Al Baladi, Ulek Mayang, Ya Habibi, Gadis dan Bunga, as well as Hindi songs. He highlighted that patriotic songs were particularly challenging to play as they require careful control of notes, tone variations, and key changes. "To master the seruling, one needs not only a strong interest but also good breathing control techniques and precise finger movements to produce the correct melody," he stated.
As a recipient of a RM450 monthly assistance from the Social Welfare Department (JKM), Azhar expressed his hope to keep the legacy of seruling music alive and ensure it continues to be appreciated by future generations. "I am always willing to teach anyone who is interested in learning to play the seruling. Currently, I am guiding my nephew, Mohamad Aidil Ashraf Azizi, 22, hoping that he can help carry on this tradition in the future," he shared.
Apart from being known for his seruling performances, Mohd Azhar also proved his versatility as a musician by composing Membiru Langit Terbentang about 11 years ago, further demonstrating that his visual impairment has never limited his creativity and passion for music.