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An easily forgotten affair
Noted singer Humaira Arshad came to the rescue of Pakistan Television at a recent folk music concert recorded by Peshawar centre for Independence Day. The singers failed to involve the listeners, who apparently wanted to hear lively songs. The show failed to impress because most of the singers sang songs which had nothing to offer in terms of entertainment except for Humaira, who tried to get the large audience involved. The other performers were Attaullah Essa Khelvi and local crooners Haroon Bacha, Gulraiz Tabbassum, Kamal Mehsud, Shabnam, Nazia Iqbal, Sitara Zaidi and Rabia Bano who sang Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki and Hindko folk tunes.
Decorated, illuminated tubes reflected in the pool around which the ornate stage was built, which added to the beauty of the night. Peshawar Programme Manager Shaukat Ali, along with Syed Masood Ahmad Shah, directed the show. Dozens of clay water-pitchers had been placed all around the venue, depicting the ancient Pakhtoon traditions.
Both gentlemen had literally burned the midnight oil to make the show a success but there was little substance, considering the occasion. A charming gesture, though, was that of little girls waving the national flag to show their patriotism. NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain was the chief guest.
Pretty and well-dressed, Lahore-based singer Humaira Arshad stole the night by singing her famous Punjabi and Urdu numbers. She got the crowd going as people clapped heartily, while many of the youngsters stood up on their seats to dance to the melodious notes emanating from the stage.
Attaullah Essa Khelvi, though warmly welcomed by the audience, could not come up to their expectations, more so because his melancholic Punjabi songs didn’t fit into the mood of the moment. Local singer Haroon Bacha sang two of his famous Pashto songs that didn’t go down too well either with the audience, as they wanted to hear his new numbers. However, the traditional Mehsud dance added some charm to the folk show, in which the dancers waved guns and fired shots in the air, showcasing the Pakhtoons’ love for dancing and guns.
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