Harvard graduate Ali Sethi, who is also a singer trained in
Hindustani classical music and is a disciple of Ustad Naseeruddin Saami of the
Delhi Gharana, has decided to pay tribute to Pakistan's renowned folk singer,
Reshma, through a song set to launch at the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF)
on Feb 8.
Titled Kithay Nain Na Jorin, the
song has the original lyrics of Reshma's record with improvised melody and beat
and has been shot in Wajid Ali Shah Haveli near Mochi Gate (Mochi Darwaza) in Lahore.
Directed by Sarmad Sultan
Khoosat and produced by Saad Sultan, the video features Sania Saeed, Adnan
Siddiqui and Mira Sethi among others.
Speaking to Dawn, Ali Sethi
talks about how the idea of a tribute to Reshma ji evolved.
"Many years ago (when I
was a student at college), I was visiting Lahore during summer holidays and
there was this beautiful set of audio CDs by the name of 'Music Pakistan' – a
compilation from the radio archives of the best of Pakistani music by Shalimar
Recording Company," shares Sethi. "That CD had the original record of
Reshma ji's song."
Sethi said he used to hum the
song all the time and was also simultaneously receiving training in classical
music in Lahore. "I used to play the song on my harmonium at times and
play around with the scale and melody."
He adds that he used to sing the song whenever he was
performing, whether formally or informally: "I used to sing it at my
friend's place or at literature festivals and people always responded really
well to it because it's a folk song with a soul."
He then went to London where he met two musicians – cellist
Natalie Rosario and pianist Tsivi Sharett – and shared the idea of playing
Reshma's song with different musical instruments.
"We did a few jams and
posted an informal video on YouTube in the summer of 2013," said Sethi.
"The response was great and a lot of people wanted to see a studio version
of the song."
Taking up the advice, Sethi,
with the help of friends and musicians in Lahore, finally managed to put the
song together.
"Once the song was ready,
I met Sarmad Khoosat and shared it with him, who instantly said he wanted to
make its video."
Sethi said he always wanted to
work with his favourite TV actors – Sania Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui – who, after
listening to the song, instantaneously agreed to become part of the video.
"Reshma ji's song is so powerful that today
everyone is ready to do anything to bring it back." he adds.
Talking about
the extravagant wardrobe, Sethi shares: "Fahad Hussayn has done the
wardrobe for Sania, Adnan and myself. Mehrunnisa Khan (who works for Nickie
Nina) has designed Mira's outfits."
With photography by Alee Hassan, Kithay Nain Na Jorin has Ghulam Abbas on cello, Asif Ali
Goga on percussion, Moon Anthony on piano and producer Saad Sultan on guitar.
Talking about his experience,
Sethi recounts: "It has been a miraculous journey. All of us who have
worked on the song have been touched by something really special."
"Everything – from the
recording to finding the musicians and the shooting – came together in the end
and it's because of our love for the song," Sethi adds."The song
belongs to Reshma ji."
Ali Sethi is a great singer: Adnan Siddiqui
Speaking about Sethi, Adnan
Siddqui said he was shocked by the way he (Sethi) was singing: "I thought
'how can a Harvard graduate sing?' I was shocked by the way he was
singing."
"The reasons Sania, I and
everyone else decided to do the song was because it is so great and has been
beautifully sung," he adds.
Adnan further said that the
cello is non-existent in the country and only two artists in Pakistan can play
the instrument here.
With such an extravagant set
and wardrobe – not to forget a stellar cast – we'll soon find out whetherKithay
Nain Na Jorin has the
potential to be on a par with the original record.
No comments:
Post a Comment