The transcending ways of Abida Parveen
Karachi: The inhabitants of Karachi experienced something akin to transcendence this past weekend as the ultimate queen of Sufi music traditions, the legendary Abida Parveen took the stage at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture as part of their annual fundraiser. The show proved to be an easy sellout and despite the heat and humidity taking its toll, nothing could deter the audience’s enthusiasm that continued unabated throughout the night.
The night began with music group Darvesh who were serving as the opening act. They strolled onto the stage and managed to cast a charming spell with their melodies, particularly with their famous track, ‘Mast Mast’. Composed in raags – Bhairavi and Bhairo – the band also shared that they have penned the lyrics that narrate the story of a person who is expressing his love for God. They concluded proceedings with their original number, ‘Sawali’ which narrates the story of person who relies on someone else to get his questions answered.
This was followed by the appearance of living legend, Abida Parveen who walked on stage and was instantly greeted by a thunderous applause. The crowd, by that time, had settled and nothing could dissuade their gusto. Meanwhile, Abida jee with her divine presence and powerhouse vocals, quickly began proceedings. Showcasing versatility and absolute command, she performed a beautiful rendition of ‘Yar Ko Hum Ne Ja Baja Dekha’ and left a lasting impression as she sang creative renditions of her most popular hits such as ‘Laal Meri Pat’, ‘Ghoom Charkhra’, ‘Ho Jamalo’ followed by ‘Dil Yahi Toh Hai’ and ‘Chaapt Tilak’, the latter being a tribute to Amir Khusrau. If that was not enough to lift up the crowd, the famous ‘Humsafar’ track managed to bring the house down.
Related Stories
The News: Gleaning the inner selves of humans
The News: Ali Zafar condemns VIP culture in an open letter
The News: The world of Ayesha Omar
The Express Tribune: Sanam Saeed, Aamina Shaikh to play sisters in upcoming film ‘Cake’
” 
” 
” 
” 
