PESHAWAR: Noted Pashto folk singers enthralled participants of music show with their captivating live performance and received a round of applause for singing out heart-throbbing numbers.

The participants billed the live music show ‘Saaz au Awaz’ a step in the right direction for revival of folk music. A large number of families, youngsters and music lovers attended the event. The live folk music show was organised by culture directorate at Nishtar Hall here on Tuesday.

Haseena Naz, a young Pashto singer, stole the show by her enchanting performance.

Bakhtiar Khattak, a Pashto singer and host of the show, said that so far about 20 artists had been invited for performance while around 100 others would be invited to perform at the live shows in the coming months.

Kashmala Anwar, a participant, told this scribe that she and her family enjoyed the music show and found all folk singers a great treat. She said that for the first time she came to Nishtar Hall with her children to enjoy the live performance.

Ms Anwar said that it was good that culture directorate conducted such events where people could gather and enjoy a few free moments. “Citizens these days are dipped in numerous household problems and they hardly have time to dine out or listen to good music. Such gatherings really serve the noble cause of providing free entertainment to depression-driven people,” she added.

Ajmal Khan, the culture director, said that the project of live music show had been launched three months ago to celebrate senior folk singers and encourage young artists to revive folk Pashto music.

He said that after receiving an overwhelming response from the people, his department was forced to conduct the third episode of the Pashto live music show at Nishtar Hall instead of a small Rahman Baba Complex Hall at the culture directorate. He said that around 700 participants enjoyed the free entertainment with their families and friends.

“Through this project, folk music and artists would be given a chance to revisit us with a fresh flurry of sensations,” said Mr Khan. He said that an online account on ‘YouTube’ would soon be created where all live performances could be easily accessed and viewed.

He claimed that over a million of followers of Pashto folk music had already liked their page but efforts were underway to make it fully functional for the online music -buffs. He said that it would serve a step towards reviving their traditional music.

Arshad Iqbal, a student of Agricultural University Peshawar, said that live performance had its own flavour. “We enjoy music almost every moment on radio, TV and on our mobile phone sets but live performance registers a direct impact on our minds. It arouses our emotions through live movement. Togetherness is yet another positive point about such events,” he added.

Noted folk singers Moeen Ali, Muskan Fayyaz, Humayoun Khan, Naeem Jan and Haseena Naz performed while Gul Nabi and Amanat Ali on rabab and mandolin respectively made a few participants to whirl up on their fine tunes.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2018