Requiem for an Unsung Messiah
Ashok
society, organized a trip for its Indian members to visit Pakistan.
The trip included aattending the Karachi convention of the Pakstan
India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy held on December 12-14.
In order to mark the occasion, the DAWN Group of Newspapers issued
an album of four CDs of Faiz Ahmed Faiz interpretations. It is one
of the prized possessions brought back by a friend who was part of
the delegation. Alas, he couldn't bring too many copies of the
entire set to satisfy all his friends; he had to break up the gift
set and present only individual CDs. I had to resort to piracy to
assemble a set for myself! Here are the song lists and liner notes.
All transliterations "sic".
The set is titled
Requiem for an Unsung Messiah
Faiz Ahmed Faiz: The Great Interpreters
Attractive title, although, as the notes make clear, Faiz is
quite well-sung a poet! The common colophons on the CDs are:
In memory of Faiz Saheb and in recognition of his services to
the thousands of students of the Abdullah Haroon College &
the Abdullah Haroon Yateem Khana at Lyari, Karachi, through
the difficult years of the 60's Martial Law.
Produced by Arshad Mahmud for Pakistan Herald Publications
(Pvt) Ltd., and mastered at Sound Musical Business (SMB Studios),
Karachi, Pakistan.
Volume 1
Featuring Noor Hehan, Farida Khanum, Abida Parveen and
Firdausi Begum
Few poets in South Asia have fascinated singers as much as
Faiz. The strong protest in his ghazals and nazms against
expoitation and oppression has moved exponents of *gayki*--
particularly female vocalists--intensely.
For both Noor Jehan and Farida Khanum, Faiz's lyrical verses
are a high water mark of Urdu poetry. Firdausi Begum and
Abida Parveen, both consummate singers in their own
languages--Bengali and Sindhi--also crowned their achievements
with the recitation of Faiz's Urdu verses.
1. Mujh Se Pehli Si Noor Jehan
2. Chand Nikle Farida Khanum
3. Aa Keh Wabasta Noor Jehan
4. Sham-e-Firaq Farida Khanum
5. Yun Saja Chand Farida Khanum
6. Tum Aaye Noor Jehan
7. Sab Qatl Ho Farida Khanum
8. Rung Perahan Firdausi Begum
9. Wo Jis Ki Deed Mein Abida Parveen
10. Mujh Se Pehli Si (Original) Noor Jehan
Volume 2
Featuring Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Mehdi Hasan, Ustan Amanat
Ali Khan, Iqbal Bano and Malika Pukhraj
Two great proponents of classical music, usad Barkat Ali and
Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, enthusiastically added Faiz's ghazals
to their repertoire. Mehdi Hasan, the undisputed king of ghazal,
achieved fame with his recording of the memorable "Gu-on Mein
Rung", which became his signature tune. Iqbal Bano, whose prowess
as a singer is only matched by her understanding of the nuances
of Urdu poetry, is at her very best when she sings Faiz.
Likewise the full throated legend, Malika Pukhraj.
1. Gul-on Mein Rung Mehdi Hasan
2. Dasht-e-Tanhai Iqbal Bano
3. Aaye Kuch Abr Mehdi Hasan
4. Such Hai Hamein Iqbal Bano
5. Donon Jahan Ustad Barkat Ali Khan
6. Kab Thehre Ga Dard-e-Dil Malika Pukhraj
7. Teri Umeed Ustad Amanat Ali Khan
8. Kab Tak Dil Ki Malika Pukhraj
9. Na Gunwao Iqbal Bano
Volume 3
Featuring Impresario Arshad Mahmud, with the voices of
Nayyara Noor, Tina Sani, Hadiqa Kiani and Ustad Nafees Ahmed
Arshad Mahmud is unrivalled in his ability to compose not only
ghazals but also nazms which have no rhyming words and are
therefore avoided by most composers. Listeners of Arshad Mahmud's
compositions for Faiz Ahmed Faiz declare that his muisc is like
a *misrah* of the great poet. He first set Faiz's nazms to
tune in the memorable album, Nayyara Sings Faiz. Ustad Nafees
Ahmed, a sitar nawaz steeped in the *gayaki ang*, was
commissioned by him to sing the marvelous Mori Arj Suno. He
also persuaded the two young pop singers Hadiqa Kiani and
Najam Shiraz to successfully record Faiz.
1. Intesab Arshad Mahmud, Nayyara Noor
2. Aaj Bazar Mein Nayyara Noor
3. Gar Mujhe Tina Saini
4. Kidre Na Nayyara Noor
5. Gushan-e-Yaad Tina Sanini
6. Hum Ke Thehre Nayyara Noor
7. Utho Ab Mati Se Nayyara Noor
8. Bol Ke Lab Azad Hadiqa Kayani
9. Bahar Aai Tina Sani
10. Mori Arj Suno Ustad Nafees Ahmed
11. Hum Dekhenge Najam Shiraz
Volume 4
Featuring the poet in his own voice
To read his poems to Dr. Shaukat Haroon was always a source of
immense pleasure for Faiz Ahmed Faiz. She inspired some of the
greatest of his verses and he insisted on referring to her as
*maseeha*--a veritable female messiah. Amonst other things, he
admired her brilliance and dedication as a medical doctor. His
superb "Gul-on Mein Rung" is one of the many wonderful poems
written for her.
This rarest collection of poems--a unique alfresco recording
of Faiz reading to Dr. Shaukat Haroon under the shade of a
huge banyan tree in Haroon Court, her Karachi residence--remains
in possession of her family.
The news of Dr. Shaukat Haroon's death devastated the poet. He
locked himself in his room at Flashman's Hotel in Lahore and
did not emerge till he had written "Chand Niklay Kisee Janib",
universally acknowledged as one of the most moving eulogies
in the Urdu language.
Teri Soorat Jo Dilnasheen Ki Hay
Sheeshon Ka Masiha Koi Nahin
Koi Aashiq Kisi Mehbooba Se
Jab Teri Samandar Aankhon Mein
Bedam Huwe
Qalaal
Garmi-e Shauq
Aye Roshnion Ke Sheher
Kiye Arzoo Se
Ab Jo Koi
Tauqo Dar Ka Mousam
Tumhari Yaad Ke
Shafaq Ki Raat
Na Kisi Pe Zakham
Na Pooch Jab Se
Tum Na Aaye
Tum Mere Paas
Kis Harf Pay
Wafa-e Wada Naheen
Hum Jo Tareek Rahon Mein Mare Gaye
Rah-e Khizan Mein
Yahan Se Sheher Ko Oekho
Do Ishq
Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat
Subhe Aazadi
Nisar Mein Teri Galiyon Pay
Lahoo Ka Suragh
Deeda-e Tur Pay (Qataat)
Dard Aayega Dabey Paon
Shorishe Barbato Nay
Gari Haln Ki1nee (Dareecha)
Kahan Jaogey
Khalam Hui Barishe Sung
Zindan Ki Ek Subh
Zindan Ki Ek Shaam
Saba Ke Haath Mein (Qataat)
Bunyad Kuch To Ho
Darbare Watan Meln (Tarana)
Sochne Do
Aaiye Haath Uthaein (Dua)
Ashok
UVR
Ashok wrote:
> 5. Donon Jahan Ustad Barkat Ali Khan
Would it be possible for you to confirm whether the tune for
this rendition is set to (the HCM) raaga bhairavi, or a close
variant thereof? If so, I can finally heave a sigh of relief
and say, "Ah! So *that's* who it was!".
For, many years ago, when my interest in Ghazals was just in
its fledgeling infancy, I heard an exceptionally poignant
rendition of 'dono.n jahaan terii muhabbat me.n haar ke' in
a male voice on Delhi AIR (station 'A', IIRC). Much as
I have longed to hear that rendition again, my efforts to
trace it have thus far come to nought.
-UVR.
