Songs for the soul
By Shanaz Ramzi
The invitation card stated ‘A musical evening with a difference —featuring Salman Alvi’. Hence, the attendees had a fair idea that the event — organised by St Josephs Alumni Society (Karachi) to establish an educational fund — would not feature ghazals normally associated with the renowned singer. Having said that, no one, perhaps not even the organisers had any idea as to how different and enjoyable the evening would really be.
For one thing, the programme focused entirely on Pakistani film songs and the repertoire included some of the choicest pieces from Lollywood. For another, the elaborate orchestra boasting 10 musicians represented the cream of Pakistan’s entertainment industry, hailing from families of seasoned musicians, and very senior artistes themselves. Just the introduction of the orchestra was sufficient to bowl the audience over.
The music was directed and arranged by Qamar Allahditta who also played the Spanish guitar, while Shehzad Allahditta was on bass guitar. Irshad Ali, who played the accordion, had interestingly been a part of the original scores when they were recorded for the films, too. On the drums was Mansoor Lakhani, who has made his presence felt since the days of Alamgir while on the tabla was Mehmood Ali. The dholak was played by Shehzada, and the keyboard by Khursheed Ali. Hailing from a family of sitar players was Imdad Hussain; from a family of flutists, Sajid Ali and from a family of violinists, Saeed Ahmed.
Not only did Salman Alvi keep the audience entertained with his light banter, he shared his immense wealth of knowledge about each song prior to it being played. Care had been taken to representation to all the singers of the film industry so that the repertoire was as diverse as it was unforgettable
Making the event even more memorable was Salman Alvi’s suave and impressive compering, for not only did he keep the audience entertained with his light banter, he shared his immense wealth of knowledge about each song prior to it being played. Care had been taken to representation to all the singers of the film industry so that the repertoire was as diverse as it was unforgettable.
With the show beginning only 20 minutes behind schedule it had been expected that it would go on for at least two hours. However, such was the pull of the programme that that it went on till midnight.
The show opened with an amateur singer, Mazhar Iqbal, who set the tone of the evening with his renditions of two evergreen numbers Sawan Aaye, Sawan Jaye originally sung by the late Akhlaque Ahmed and Youn Kho Gaye Tere Pyar Mein Hum by the late Mujeeb Alam. Next to entertain the audience was Sumbul Noreen who ably sang Nayyara Noor’s famous ditty Roothay Ho Tum and a couple of Runa Laila numbers — Dil Dharke and Hamain Kho Kar Bohat Pachtain Gay. She was followed by budding talent Azeem Sami who rendered Bashir Ahmed’s Ye Mausam Ye Mast Nazaray, Mujhe Tum Nazar Se and Tehseen Javed’s Dil Ho Gaya Hai Tera Dewana.
Salman Alvi then took centre-stage and mesmerised the audience with one rendition after another of songs that the audience could relate to merely by hearing a single instrument playing its opening tune. It drove home the immortality of the songs of yesteryear and the generally soothing impact of the acoustics as compared to the mechanical sensations produced by electronic instruments. Among the many popular numbers sung by Alvi were Jab Tere Shehr Se Guzarta Hoon (originally sung by Sharafat Ali), Haan Issi Morh Par (Ahmed Rushdi), Aik Naye Morh Par Le Aaye Hain (Mehdi Hasan), Jan-i-Baharan (Saleem Raza), Aaj Jaane Ki Zidh Na Karo (Habib Wali Mohammed) and Mein Tere Ajnabi Shehr Mein (Mujeeb Alam).
Perhaps the only sad part about the event was that the performance was attended by few people. It seemed that due to quite a few entertainment events taking place in Karachi that night, the audience turnout was lower than expected.
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Concert Review: Evening with a difference — featuring Salman Alvi’
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