An entertaining Punjabi folk singing evening

Islamabad

It was indeed a charming Punjabi folk music evening jointly arranged by the ‘Mausikaar’ and the Lok Virsa at latter’s auditorium Friday evening that entertained a sizable gathering of enthusiasts, sprinkled with presence of members of the diplomatic corps based in town, invited to attend.

Qarban Ali Niazi, the younger brother of legendary Punjabi folk singer, Tufail Niazi, with his ensemble, sang well. But one would say not as much as one was expecting. Probably he would have been more comfortable performing on a stage standing, with the traditional ‘Chimta’ in his hand then sitting on the floor with a harmonium to play and sing with.

Still the packed audience, clearly craving for one such live performance one hardly knows since when, fully enjoyed and were generous in their appreciation. The renditions of ‘kalam’ of Sufis like Mian Muhammad Bakhsh of Khari Sharif, Hazrat Baba Bulehay Shah, and Baba Ghulam Farid besides presenting some other traditional numbers, including famous ‘Jugni’, he is known for presenting in his performances.

The audience was appreciative and supportive and Qurban Niazi and his team felt the glory with each passing moment during the evening. All the numbers presented by him drew him the right kind of applause and appreciation from the audience.

Towards the end it was pleasant to see the tradition of Punjabi folk singing being transferred on to the next generation when three grandsons of Qurban Niazi took to the stage to sing the famous song of late Tufail Niazi, ‘Lai Bayqadraan Naal Yari’, with a quartet of dancers (2 female, 2 male) danced in front to much excitement of the gathering. Aashir Niazi, Subhan Niazi and Muzammil Niazi also presented famous ‘dhamal’ ‘Shahbaz Qalandar’ with the Lok Virsa quartet of ‘Jamalo Group’ dancing, swaying and swirling to the tunes. People were on their feet to have a better look, indicating how much they had been missing such an event!

Qurban Niazi was accompanied by Gulshan on ‘Tabla’, Kashif on ‘Dholak’, Aqib Ali on ‘Ghara’, Nadeem Hussain on harmonium, Ghulam Sattar on keyboard, Riaz on ‘Chamta’ and Umair on ‘king’.

The event also highlighted that the Lok Virsa is in urgent need of a proper auditorium with ascending seating arrangements instead of the flat floor hall in which people have either to crane their necks up or sideways or to be on their feet to have a better look at the performers on the stage.

Earlier, Master Dawood and Zakriya Rana, two young students of the living legend of classical singing and music, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, gave a nice little performance. They were followed by another duo, Hassan Durrani and Faraz Qadri, also the disciples of Ustad Fateh Ali Khan to present ‘Raag Bhopali. All four are the students of the ‘Mausikaar Academy’. And they won the right amount of applause and encouragement from the audience.

Before the start of the evening Dr Seema Khan, the President of the ‘Mausikaar Trust for Music’ spoke briefly, enlightening the audience as to what was coming up and introducing the artists. She said that the ‘Mausikaar Trust for Music’ was striving to preserve and revive the tradition of classical singing and music with the patronage of legendary Ustad Fateh Ali Khan.

Dr Fauzia Saeed, the Executive Director of Lok Virsa, in her brief speech appreciated ‘Mausikaar’ for taking such initiatives. She said that she was happy to collaborate with ‘Mausikaar’ for arranging this evening.

“The Lok Virsa is here to encourage, support and collaborate with any institution or organisation working for promoting any form of art, be it music, drama, dance or any other. It is indeed very nice to see ‘Mausikaar’ taking this initiative. And it is the duty and responsibility of public institutions like Lok Virsa to facilitate and encourage them,” Dr Fauzia Saeed said.

One feels that with the traditional festivals and ‘melas’, which were nurseries and universities of producing, presenting and promoting traditional and cultural song, dance and music having fallen victim to hostile environments, special efforts are needed to arrange such closed environment events with much greater frequency, not only to encourage the artists but to preserve, protect and promote whatever little cultural heritage we are left with.