Legendary artists such as The Sabri Brothers, Akhtar Chanal
Zahri and Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad come together for a night of mystic
ecstasy. Over the years, the philosophy and teachings of Sufis have influenced
the music of several great singers and performers, on both sides of the border.
Veterans like the late Alan Faqir and Mozart of Madras A.R Rahman as well as
the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and living legend Abida Parveen, have time
and again introduced devotional elements within their work.
Their music and recitations have the power to emotionally
transport listeners and help them connect with their hidden, inner self. Off
late, evenings dedicated to devotional recitations with a touch of fusion music
have become a regular affair and the pace is consistently fuelled by platforms
like Coke Studio, as they often churn out folk and Sufi numbers across
different episodes. In fact, the rendition of ‘Tajdar-e-Haram’ by Atif Aslam on
the popular TV music show has become become the most downloaded Song of all
time from Coke Studio. Akhtar Chanal Zahir, who hails from Balochistan,
recreated the magic of Coke Studio with the hit single, ‘Daanah Pah Daanah’.
Artists like Abida Parveen, Sanam Marvi, Kailash Kher, Rekha Bharadwaj and The
Sabri Brothers are some of the versatile names, among many others, who have
kept the tradition of devotional ceremonies alive.
Recently, the Aga Khan Youh & Sports Board for Pakistan
organized a weekend long celebration of folk and Sufi music by the name of Kunn
Darvesh (meaning, be a devotee) and featured mystical performances by some of
the most popular names from the genre of eastern and folk. The event brought
together giants like The Sabri Brothers, Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad and
Akhtar Chanal Zahri who collectively put listeners in a pleasant, enjoyable state
of trance. The maestros and their ensemble presented some of their own
compositions as well as those of other masters of qawwali and folk.
The show began on a crisp note with ‘Wohi Khuda Hai’ and an
immediate connection was formed within the audience and the performers. And the
giants of this genre, staying true to their impeccable reputation as
performers, didn’t disappoint. The Sabri Brothers mesmerized everyone with
their poignant rendition of ‘Ali Ke Saath’ and Fareed Ayaz & Abu Mohammed
brought a semblance of order to the hall with ‘Mann Kunto Maula’ while Akhtar
Chanal Zahri, who hails from Balochistan, recreated the magic of Coke Studio
with the hit single, ‘Daanah Pah Daanah’.
Several other riveting recitations and monologues were also
performed. And since no Sufi evening feels complete without a rendition of
Kalaams like ‘Mast Qalandar’ and ‘Lal Meri Pat’, these gems were also performed
albeit in the last part of the evening. The music of the house-band was
directed and rearranged by Asif Noorani who conjured a series of devotional
songs and merged them in a fusion of western and eastern instruments, which
were performed across the course of this mystical journey. The show was
conceptualized by Alishaan Khemani, a former NAPA Graduate. Talking to Instep,
Alishaan observed, “Music is all about collaboration and my idea was to bring
together artists to perform music while integrating elements of devotional
literature like Kalaams, verses of Ginans, raags, and various monologues. The
folk and Sufi music scene in Pakistan has caught up again because of legends
like Akhtar Chanal, Sanam Marvi, Fareed Ayaz and The Sabri Brothers. Their
works hold a special place in my heart for their devotional values. It was a
dream for me to bring all of them together to celebrate the fusion of Sufi and
folk music.”
