Sajjad Ali, one of modern music’s most proficient names, after all these years, still has it. And by it, one means the ability to create songs that last and perform in a way that gets fans excited.
MUSICMIX
Playing to a packed house in Karachi, the singer-songwriter proved just
why he is still one of the best in the music business.
Karachi :Sajjad Ali, one of modern music’s most proficient names, after all these years, still has it. And by it, one means the ability to create songs that last and perform in a way that gets fans excited.
The singer-songwriter proved this and more as he took the stage in Karachi recently and performed before a sold-out audience, who had come in droves to see him perform. The gig, meticulously arranged by Atlas Asset Management at the DHA Creek Club in Karachi, made room for nearly two thousand fans who had flocked to the venue to see Ali play a poignant compilation that included ghazals, pop songs and filmi numbers.
The event, unlike many other similar events, thankfully began on time, with opening acts that sadly held little impact. But the feeling of indifference completely slipped away, as Sajjad Ali, amidst tight security arrived onstage. It must also be added that state of the art sound system, multi color high resolution digital mesh screen LED display, image multiplexers, hi-tech projection screens added to the performance a sharp audio-video layer.
Knowing just how to rouse the crowd, Ali, accompanied by his fellow musicians, waved, smiled and thanked the audience for their warm reception before launching into his set. And his authority as a singer quickly became discernible as he started the night with the song ‘Jadu Char Gaya’ and went on to sing some of his most memorable hits including ‘Lari Adda’, ‘Chal Rein De’, ‘Teri Yaad’, ‘Sohni Lagdi’, ‘Dil Pareshan Hai’, ‘Cinderella’, ‘Bulbul’ and many more. Aside from authority, there is also a kind of sincerity to Sajjad Ali that comes through his music and is also visible when Ali is performing as it was on this glorious night.
A livewire onstage, in between singing his acclaimed tunes, Ali also spoke to the audience present and recalled stories from his past. He reminisced about the legendary Madam Noor Jehan and explained how her appreciation meant the world to him.
“It was the most fortunate day of my life when I performed one of her vintage hits, ‘Banwari Chakori’ in front of the queen,” he said. “I can never forget the smile and love that she showed for my singing.”
Soon after this revelation, the hit-fest had begun as Ali performed one number after another in quick succession and without any visible difficulty.
A smart playing list also meant that the audience didn’t feel letdown as Ali performed the slower numbers first and added more electricity to the night with his upbeat compositions.
‘Lari Adda’ pushed the audience to voluntarily let loose the way only music can while ‘Din Pareshan Hai’, a song made famous by Shoaib Mansoor’s social drama, Bol, transported the audience to a different, softer musical space. ‘Sohni Lagdi’, a song whose original video featured Gulshan Grover as the “bad” man and one that took Sajjad Ali’s career to a higher place, reverberated through the night and led to requests of repeats. Even the improvised versions of the songs ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Bul Bul’ were received warmly.
Singing mellow tunes like ‘Teri Yaad’ and ‘Chal Rein De’ not only changed the momentum but also reminded us about Ali’s astonishing range as a vocalist. Having performed a comprehensive set that went on for hours, Sajjad Ali, in the end, gave the audience everything they expected and much more.
Photo courtesy: Muhammad Haroon
