PESHAWAR: The participants of an event here on Thursday demanded of the government to set up an art academy where traditional music could be revived and preserved.

The event was held in Nishtar Hall to pay tributes to late Pashto folk singer Hidayatullah. Hunari Tolana, an artists’ organisation, in collaboration with culture directorate arranged the event titled ‘Rasha Auo Rasha’ to appreciate contributions of the late vocalist.

Around 15 noted Pashto singers with 15-member traditional orchestra sang the super hit tracks of Hidayatullah. The participants demanded of the government to set up an art academy where traditional music could be revived and preserved.

They also asked the culture directorate to take care of ailing singers and their families. They prayed for the early recovery of ailing singer Mahjabeen Qazalbash.

Noted artists including Fazal Wahab Dard, Gul Rukhsar, Wisal Khial, Yamsa Noor, Ashraf Gulzar, Tariq Hussain, Dilraj, Intizar Pardesii, Mazhar, Munir, Haseena Shahzad, Liaquat Zaidawal and Humayun Khan replicated top tracks with rich traditional Pashto orchestra arranged by Master Ali Haider and AR Anwar.

Musical tribute paid to late playback singer Hidayatullah

A large number of youngsters, families, fans and music-lovers attended the event. Pashto ghazal maestro Khial Mohammad was chief guest on the occasion.

He said that Hidayatullah had pioneered Pashto playback singing and set new trends in the Pashto film industry.

“Live performance has become a real challenge for new singers as music has drastically changed over the last several decades. Hidayatullah, who earned the title of Mohammad Rafi of Pashto, deserved it,” he said.

The senior singer said that young artists must work hard to revive traditional music. He said that Hidayatullah belonged to the breed of artists, who grew up with art and owned it as an asset.

Speakers at the event prior to live performance paid glowing tributes to Hidayatullah, who reigned over hearts of many due to his soft voice and inborn talent for music.

They urged government to revive and preserve traditional music as it was real identity of the soil and setting up an art academy for the purpose was need of the hour.

“Hidayatullah was a trendsetter when it comes to playback singing. He sang tracks composed by Ali Haider Joshi, Lajwar Salim and Ameer Ghulam Sadiq. He was an icon and young artists should follow him,” they said.

Rashid Khan, chief of Hunari Tolana, said that the main objective of live musical concert was to pay tribute to the late singer and revive traditional music.

Aslam Khan, a senior music connoisseur, told the participants that music used to be the strength of Pashto flicks released during early 70s.

He said that late Hidayatullah volunteered his voice for the first ever Pashto movie ‘Yousaf Khan Sherbano’ and fetched unbelievable business for it and also other Pashto flicks including Kochwan, Arman, Gangarcup, Orbal, Dehkan and Adam Khan Durkhanai.

Shama Naimat, the director culture, Prof Abaseen Yousafzai, Laiqzada Laiq and Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai also shared their views at the event.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2020