KARACHI: It was a rare and precious musical treat on Thursday evening. To round off events commemorating 25 years of the Mohatta Palace Museum, a concert featuring the iconic Sufi singer Abida Parveen was held in the sprawling lawns of the palace. Half an hour before the start of the programme, a sea of people — men and women, young and old — began to pour into the venue. After all, it does not happen very often that Karachiites get to listen to the great Abida Parveen. And the gig lived up to its billing. In fact, more than that.

Abida, as is often the case with Sufi vocalists, began with the ‘Qol’, Mann kunto Maula. It beautifully set the tone for the evening and lent a spiritual feel to the show. The powerful voice of the artist coupled with some brilliant percussion playing immediately allowed the audience to sway to the beat of the composition or clap during the faster bit.

She followed it up with the well-known and well-remembered Yaar ko hum ne ja baja dekha. Again, the kalaam (lyrics) which Abida chooses, to set music to, indicates her fondness for the mystical aspect of existence. She immerses herself in the melody right from the asthai in such a way that it imparts layers of meaning to the words.

What came next was almost an inevitable part of the playlist: Tu jhoom from Coke Studio Season 14. She had originally sung it with Naseebo Lal in CS. But on Thursday her solo rendition was insuperable, too. She sang it with a lot of heart which nicely underscored the sensitive and devotional aspects of life that the lyrics hint at, urging everyone to jhoom.

Sufi singer Abida Parveen enthrals fans at Mohatta Palace concert

Keeping with the theme of submission, love and giving, next up was another track Prem pyala followed by more known compositions.

The opening act for Abida Parveen was of high quality as well. The concert formally started off with a waaee recital by Zulfiqar Ali, Nazar Hussain and Mazhar Hussain. How can a kaafi be not a part of an evening suffused with spiritual notes? So, Adu Bhagat performed a Saraeki kaafi. The Sohrab Faqir group followed and it also did a fine, fine job as did Jairam Jogi (murali) and Khamiso Faqir.

The last performer of the first segment of the programme was Akhtar Chanal Zahri who sang the extremely popular Danay pe dana with a great deal of artistic flair.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2024