Abbas Ali Khan’s latest ‘Mehfil’ is about the many faces we show the world

Published September 2, 2015
Abbas Ali Khan in a still from the 'Mehfil' video — Photo courtesy: Facebook
Abbas Ali Khan in a still from the 'Mehfil' video — Photo courtesy: Facebook

We just can’t get enough of Abbas Ali Khan: since his appearance on Coke Studio Season 7, not only has the artist produced back-to-back scores for films like Jalaibee and Dekh Magar Pyaar Se, he has been releasing new videos for songs off his latest album Tamam Alam Mast.

His recently released video for ‘Mehfil’ is just as splendid.

Shot at the historical National College of Arts (NCA), the video starts off with veteran actor Jamal Shah asking students to paint the content and not the form of the singer, implying the importance of soul over body.

As the tune falls into place, Abbas's voice fuses with heartfelt lyrics written by the great Sufi poet of the sub-continent, Zaheen Shah Taji:

Teri mehfil me hum khoye hue se paaye jatay hain

Yahan pe hum hosh atay nahi laye jatay hain

Muhabbat hamain kis manzil pe le aayi Khuda janay

Tasalli aap dearahay hain, hum ghabraye jatay hain

While the lyrics narrate a woeful tale of unrequited love, the video shows young artists painting Abbas in various forms: a tied-up man, an angel, a devil and a clown, depicting the inner self's many faces.

Clowns are a recurring image in Abbas' music videos (Tariq Amin painted him as a clown in his first popular video 'Sun Re'), and we wonder whether there's a reason he identifies with the motif!

And another reason to watch 'Mehfil'? It also brings together great musicians like Gumby and Faraz Anwer. Like always, Abbas Ali Khan hasn't failed to impress his fans.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...