The 50th live show for Salt Arts will include performances from Naseeruddin Saami and Sons with Zeb Bangash introducing the artists and more.
Beyond the overt commercialization of religion, cashed in on by brands, TV channels alike or actors including Ahsan Khan, Momina Mustehsan, Sami Khan, Imran Abbas and certain others, taking on conservative garb during the holy month, Ramazan remains a month where spiritualism in its truest sense also reveals itself, both internally and externally, if you yearn closely.
Qawwali, which is said to be the oldest form of Islam, is taking center-stage in Karachi this Ramazan, beginning with Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami and Sons, presented by Salt Arts.
The occasion is special for many reasons. For one thing, the performance marks the 50th show landmark for Salt Arts, which is no small feat at a time when music fans are constantly craving thoughtfully-designed shows. Kudos to Salt Arts co-founder (and Arts Director for British Council) Raania Azam Khan Durrani and her team (co-founder Junaid Iqbal, creative director Hasan Waliany and Sara Nisar, who is manager arts and production) for enduring and making room for artists of all strides including Jimmy Khan, Irfan Ali Taj, Khumariyaan, Alycia Dias, Arieb Azhar and Strings, to name just a few and now Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami and Sons.
The great Sami was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and his other ‘famous’ disciples include Ali Sethi. He also appeared on Coke Studio in its earlier seasons and is collaborating with Grammy-Award winning producer, composer and author Ian Brennan for a multi-CD album, facilitated by Zeb Bangash and Ali Sethi.
Noted a press statement: “Salt Arts presents as its 50th production, the story of Southasia: Khusro’s beloved – Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s blessings and journey of poetry and song for the divine. This special edition of the Southasia series narrated and presented by Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami and the Saami Brothers. The history of Khusro, the devotion to his beloved, the spirit of language, the mystery of poetics and the power of song.”
As for Zeb Bangash, singer-songwriter and music composer, who is a disciple of Naseeruddin Saami, she will be “presenting the performance” and introduce the artists and shed light on “Khyal and Qawwali with Ustaad Saami and his sons”. This means storytelling and qawaali.
Going to a qawaali is one thing but understanding the mystic and music heritage of this region, is something else entirely and with this show, we will at least get a step closer.
Schedule:
Date: 26th May, 2018
Time: 10:00 PM sharp
Venue: Jasmine Hall, Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi
Passes: Rs. 1500
