How Was Environment With The Crowd Of Enormous Celebrities?

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.”