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

ICJ rebuke
26 May, 2024

ICJ rebuke

MATTERS are not going well for Israel where world opinion regarding its murderous activities in Gaza is concerned. ...
Hot spells
26 May, 2024

Hot spells

WITH Pakistan already dealing with a heatwave that has affected 26 districts since May 21, word from the climate...
Defiant stance
26 May, 2024

Defiant stance

AT a time when the country is in talks with the IMF for a medium-term loan crucial to bolstering the fragile ...
More pledges
Updated 25 May, 2024

More pledges

There needs to be continuity in economic policies, while development must be focused on bringing prosperity to the masses.
Pemra overreach
25 May, 2024

Pemra overreach

IT seems, at best, a misguided measure and, at worst, an attempt to abuse regulatory power to silence the media. A...
Enduring threat
25 May, 2024

Enduring threat

THE death this week of journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who succumbed to injuries after being attacked by gunmen, is yet...