Adil Najam
Last year the mobile phone company Mobilink had released a wonderful tribute to Mehdi Hassan on the occasion of Independence Day, conceived and produced by actor Shaan; now of Khuda key Liye fame. We had carried a number of posts on that wonderful tribute (here, here and here) and have recently featured it again on our sidebar. This year, Mobilink released a similar tribute, this time to Farida Khannum.
!["Fareeda]("/images/Fareeda/Fareeda-Farida-Khanum-1.jpg" "\"Fareeda")
!["Fareeda]("/images/Fareeda/Fareeda-Farida-Khanum-2.jpg" "\"Fareeda")
It is done equally tastefully and although the song itself does not have the gravitas and passion of ‘Yeh watan tumhara hai‘, the visuals and the sentiments are very moving. I, at least, have been listening to it repeatedly over the last many hours.
!["Fareeda]("/images/Fareeda/Fareeda-Farida-Khanum-3.jpg" "\"Fareeda")
Of course, the ghazal and geet maestro Farida Khanum deserves – nay, demands – a separate and detailed post. She is in a class by herself and some of the most memorable renditions of Urdu ghazals and geets have been from her. To even think of writing about her music overwhelms one. She is a giant. Truly a giant of her craft. But more than that she is also a wonderful person and the big smile and welcoming demeanor that you see in this new video is not an act. It is very genuine. I have had the pleasure (in an earlier life) of interviewing her and spending some time with her. Her sense of humor and her sense of compassion are legendary … and real.
I hope to write a real post on her when I can do justice to it (unfortunately my list of posts-to-write keeps growing longer), but right now I wanted to at least share some of her greatest musical gems with our readers.
For me, to think of Fareeda Khannum is to think of ‘woh ishq jo hum say rooth gaya‘. This is not the best recording to that song, but listening to it still gives me goosebumps. Powerful poetry, rendered with amazing poignancy.
Although her forte has always been the ghazal, Farida Khanum’s geet have been equally memorable, including some Punjabi folk songs such as Balle Balle Tor Punjaban Di. But probably the signature geet fromFarida Khanum is ‘Mein nay paaon mein payal tou pehnay nahiN.’ Again, this is not the best recording of the song, but it is memorable nonetheless.
Fall Fashions sparkle for women of color
Westside Gazette October 23, 2002 | Anonymous Hair color and hairstyles for women of color have never been more diverse. From luscious shades of brunettes to buttery blondes to ravishing reds, the black woman wear them all and wears them well.
This autumn, women of color are teaming their flair for color with the latest fashion trends to create looks that are both unique and striking. Clairol, who created its Jazzing and Textures & Tones hair color lines specifically for black women, asked professional hair colorists around the country to pair the latest trends in hair coloring and style with the hottest runway fashions, adapting them for real women. in our site hairstyles for women
The Fall Fashion Shows for 2002 showed four distinctive “looks” for the season. They are (1) Work Classic, (2) Anytime Comfortable, (3) Cozy Warmth and (4) Evening Romantic.
(1) Work Classic – Focuses on the trend of workplaces to move away from the super casual look. The three-piece gray flannel suit is back, as are calf-length skirts and heels. “Classic clothes rate classic hair,” says James Adams of Renovare Salon in Birmingham, Alabama. “Bark Brown, Blazing Burgundy or Silken Black are colors that translate to that professional look, especially when hair is either cut short and stylish or swept up in a chignon.” (2) Anytime Comfortable – is all about pants cropped below the knee, denim, thigh high socks, wrap dresses and crazy quilt patterns. “This look calls for more daring color, like Textures & Tones in shades from Honey to Flaming Desire,” says Shirley Gordon of Strands Hair Studio in Wheaton, MD. “Hair styles can also run the gamut, from unrelaxed and natural to the new, smaller Afros or masses of curls.” (3) Cozy Warmth is sweat suits and pullovers, fitted jackets and fur-lined coats. “This is fun time, from ponytails to braids,” says Gabriel Garay of Artista Salon & Spa in New York City. “Haircolor can also add your own special signature to your mood-try Jazzing colors Icicle to Black Cherry, Jet Grape to Red Hot.” (4) Evening Romantic turns up the heat with lingerie-inspired dresses, sheer peasant tops and iridescent taffeta skirts with glints of gold and silver. Nancy Jo Gordon of Maximus Color Studio in Hermosa Beach, CA says, “Turn your color up a notch with Cocoa Brown, or go all-out sexy with Flaming Oesire. For style, try a straightened sweep or an up do with a few tendrils strategically escaping.” With such a range of fashion, colors and styles, Fall 2002 will once again showcase black women creating their look – or, more precisely, their looks based on their own unique sense of self. web site hairstyles for women
Photograph (Work Classic) Anonymous
Nice post. One of my favorite Farida Khanum ghazals can be found here:
http://www.muziqpakistan.com/songs.php?auth=113
Under the album ‘Best of Farida Khanum’ click on ‘Is Tarah Qissa Mera’. No matter if you hear it once or many times you will not be able to get the tune out of your mind :)
Thank you Adil Sahab for a wondeful post. For me “Ajj jaanay kee zid na karro” tops the list.
regards
Another great post by ATP.
I wish someone at ATP could put a similar piece together about Iqbal Bano.
Dasht e Tanhaye may ………
Farida Khanum is colossal. I heard VH1 Pakistan is going to be launched by ARY Group. VH1 probably is a channel dedicated to old / classical music. I hope it sees the light of the day, so that we can listen to our musical greats regularly. They don’t find any airtime on our existing music channels.
its lovely…..i remember one of her songs ‘soni dharti Allah rakkhey kadam kadam abad…kadam kadam abad’[hope i am not wrong] her voice superb ..may i add magestic…thanks again and again.
Bananafish & Adil bhais,
You are so right about the lack of info on the legends, surely the Musik and Aag and others can have a legends program showing music from yesteryear.
Adil bhai any thoughts on my suggestion?
Feimanallah
Wasim
A^fat ky shwkhiyAN hayN tumhAry nigAh meyN
sung by Farida Khanam goes right to my heart.
Viqar Miani: thanks for reminding the readers of Mukhtar Begum – it is sad that these immortal voices have not been introduced to the younger generations. PTV used to promote our artists but in the current race for commercial gains, it has also fallen prey to mindless entertainment.
One of my favourites from Mukhtar Begum – also rendered by Farida Khanum – is:
Chori kahin khulay na naseem-i-bahar ki khushboo urra ke layee hai gaysu-i-yaar ki
Both Mukhtar B and Farida K have rendered with sensitivity and playfulness that captures the delicate nuances of this ghazal.
Another amazing ghazal (probably by Daagh) rendered by Farida Khanum is:
Mere qabu mein na pehraun dil-i-nashad aaya
woh mera bhulnay wala jo mujhe yaad aaya