If you have ever experienced a live qawali performance you would definitely know that this style of Sufi devotional music takes you to a state of mystical ecstasy.
If you have ever experienced a live qawali performance you would definitely know that this style of Sufi devotional music takes you to a state of mystical ecstasy. Did you know that qawali is part of a musical tradition that stretches back for more than 700 years? Yes that is right! Qawali was originally performed mainly at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia and it was quite later that it gained mainstream popularity. Often, qawals are part of historic families who pass down this ‘trade’ to their offspring.
Nothing can beat an evening of live, soulful traditional qawali. And when we received the invite for ‘Mystical Qawali Night’ recently, we were more than excited to witness Imran Aziz Qawal, son of the famous late Aziz Mian Qawal perform popular renditions at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi. With the aim to put forward various cultural and literary celebrations of international accord all year around, the management of the hotel in collaboration with Media Sniffers organised this impressive Qawali Night.
The event started off with a lavish refreshment arrangement and meet and greet, followed by brief speeches by the management. And soon after that Imran Aziz Mian took the stage and performed the hits of his father, Amjad Sabri and Nusrat Fateh Ali. Imran is not only a great qawal but also a great philosopher and poet, just like his father Aziz Mian Qawwal whose mystical qawalis transfixed millions across South Asia.
Imran Aziz is well-versed with the structure and aesthetics of qawali and also knows how to make it adaptive to the contemporary music keeping its essence alive. He started off with the sazina which tuned the mood of the audience and performed famous qawalis and kalaams like ‘Ya Nabi’ and also paid tribute to late Amjad Sabri, by singing ‘Bhar do jholi’. Imran Mian also accommodated all time favourites including ‘Moinuddin’, ‘Tumhe Dillagi Bhool Jani Paregi’ by late Nusrat Fateh Ali and ‘Main Sharabi’ and lifted the crowd with reverberating and resonant vocals. Imran along with his entire team of qawals kept the music lovers spellbound. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and many made requests for popular renditions.
Surely, the night was enthralling for music aficionados. Kudos to the entire team for pulling off such a successful event and we hope that more of such programmes are organised in the future as well.
