(Editor’s Note: 2011 marks Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s 100th birthday. We will be carrying a series of posts on Faiz Sahib to mark this centenary).
The Faiz Foundation in collaboration with Bank Alfalah has just produced and will soon release a new CD of Tina SaniFaiz Ahmed Faiz singing . Along with Iqbal Bano and Nayyara Noor, Tina Sani is one of the singers who has sung a lot of memorable poetry from Faiz Ahmed Faiz and has become synonymous with it. It is a collection that Faiz lovers and Tina Sani fans are eagerly looking forward to and is sure to enthral them for long. Here is a first pre-glimpse from the coming album that demonstrates just what a wonderful treat we are in for:
[audio:http://pakistaniat.com/images/Tina-sings-Fa iz.mp3]The album “Bahar Ayee” starts with an orchestral beat, transforming the listener to becoming part of a bigger audience. In the nanoseconds before Tina Sani’s voice blazes its trail, everything seemingly pauses, exhales. Hum Dekhengay, she sings. Her voice freed from the traditionalism of the tablaa and the harmonium, exalts to the promise of a new day, awaited. Her voice, layered and perfected in the decade away from new work was perhaps incubating a new depth, a solid grace.
Having returned with her wings, Tina Sani’s songs are a conversation with one’s self.
The album has come at a time when music in Pakistan is in fusion with a modern rhythm, and has caught on with this global spirit. Bahar Ayee is a blend of Coke Studio with Pakistan’s more authentic voices. A voice, one with its breath, effortless and transcending, once woven into the piano, the violins and the cellos can speak only truly.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Tina Sani are a combination set apart, each song better than the previous as the tracks play along. The track Mere Dil Mere Musafir comes close to becoming the finalist for the album. A narration by Shabana Azmi has brought alive spoken recitation that is an integral part of Urdu Poetry. The ebbs and flows realistically lay it out as the poet meant it to be. Repetition of the same recited verse in Tina Sani’s melody sweetens the pain of exile, as Faiz cries out for his country.
Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s voice introduces the track Sheeshon Ka Maseeha. Tina sings, “Sheeshon ka Maseeha Koi Nahi, Kya Aas Lagaey Baithey Ho.”
Technology is not short of magic. A life has been breathed into the books of Faiz at times so in need of a story of our own. Certain to fill ipods and car stereos around the world, the producers of this Album have done their part in honoring Pakistan’s greatest poet. Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s life was a testament to living a life of action, of serving his country and standing by his principles regardless of the consequences.
We, the collective audience need to add to this narrative of Pakistan. The album ends with Bahar Aye.
2011 is the year of Faiz, his centennial by virtue of his ever present spirit asks us: Tujh Ko Kitno Ka Lahuu Chahiyey Aye Arz-e-watan. The CD will be released in early February on Faiz Sahib’s 100th birthday. It will be available from selected music outlets, EMI, and from FaizGhar.
I have been so depressed since the assassination of Salman Taseer and the reaction of right-wing fascists to it. I loaded ATP again today after a few days and I must say that just looking at the front page made me feel good about being a Pakistani again, despite everything. Many of the pictures reminded me of the challenges we still face, but overall I look at this page and I think, this country is something worth fighting for to keep safe from these extremists. Here are just some of my favorite things about Pakistan that we all on the page today (not including side bars):
– Sadequain painting
– Faiz Ahmed Faiz
– Tina Sani
– Lawyers Movement
– Mohammad Ali Jinnah
– Cricket
– Asma Jehangir
– Aitizaz Ahsan
– Salimuzzaman Siddique
– Salman Taseer
– And of course Adil Najam and ATP itself.
Thank you ATP for speaking up but never giving up on Pakistan!
(Sorry to be emotional here, but it has been that sort of a January!)
A lot of Faiz’s popularity is because so many of our great singers sang so much of his kalam. Specially in his early years with Nur Jahan and Iqbal Bano. I have wondered why that was so. Because this poetry is melodious and good to sing, or because of their ideological choice, or something else.
The best ever of Tina singing Faiz is Bol kay labb azad hain teray
Love the two photos you have used. Both of Faiz and of Tina. What wonderful and sincere smiles and so different from the pictures of the two we usually see.
Cannot wait for this. That song you included is mesmerizing. But I do not find any other reference to this on the web.