A different music, dance,
performing arts festival
Lahooti Melo, conceived by Sketches’ Saif Samejo has been around for seven years now. And that’s a feat in itself. Dedicated to folk music, poetry, dance and the performing arts as much as it is to contemporary music, this year’s issue highlighted by Lahooti was, in a sense, a continuation of last year’s message, which was Climate Change.
Held at the Port Grand in Karachi, the festival’s issue this year was essentially about Celebrating the Indus. Amidst dedicated talks by experts on the issue during daytime, the night brought a feast of music that only Lahooti Melo could pull off. Perhaps the most diverse festival of its kind in Pakistan, apart from the glorious music, Lahooti is still a place where people from different cultures can come together.
The 2021 edition was dependent on technology with what was its first digital edition (held in Jamshoro) but 2022 is Lahooti going back to its roots of live music, intelligent discourse and a reminder of the diversity within the cultures of this country that we don’t always think about.
Folk magnetism
Lahooti Melo is incomplete without a strong element of folk. To that end, this year was no different as a bevy of folk artists took the stage. Said Saif Samejo at one point during the festival: “I believe our folklore, songs and poems are the only bridge that go heart to heart and we must protect it.”
Contemporary music
One of Lahooti Melo’s biggest artistic coup this year was getting the critically acclaimed Islamabad-based band to perform at Lahooti. While acts like Mekaal Hasan Band and Sounds of Kolachi also spun their magic, Saakin’s performance was melodious proof of how a festival that caters to thousands can give something to everyone - from folk to award-winning act like Saakin, known for songs like ‘Saqi-e-Bawafa’, the OST of Zindagi Tamasha (with Shamsher Rana), and their socio-political unsettling song, the masterful ‘Intebah’. Some iconic collaborations did happen onstage and as always, the more, the merrier. Another act that always blows everyone away is Khumariyaan who also performed this year and held full command of the audience.
Daytime
Sessions
The respective sessions held during the day made room for intelligent, thoughtful discourse, covering not only the importance of the Indus but also the ugly side of things. From damage within to the violence outside and how it has affected communities, were addressed, among other pertinent questions.