Adnan Siddiqui pens dua for souls lost amid Covid-19

Adnan Siddiqui has had over two decades of experience in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, during which, not only did he prove his mettle as an actor, but also launched his own production house in 2016. He made his Hollywood debut in 2007 with A Mighty Heart and also stepped into Bollywood with 2017’s MOM, starring opposite the late Indian icon, Sridevi.

But aside from having a hefty shooting schedule, Siddiqui is also a hobbyist musician who inhales the frustration of work and exhales it through his flute whilst playing his harmonium. Although that’s no secret, given the outpour of soothing covers he keeps posting on his social media, what is surprising, however, is his latest collaboration with singer and musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

Turns out Khan has composed and sang a dua that Siddiqui wrote during his time in quarantine. “I write occasionally, but that’s just for me, I don’t usually do it to put it out there,” Siddiqui told The Express Tribune as he held on to his stereo, playing the only work he has decided to release.

The Meray Paas Tum Ho actor is also open to composing music in the future, “I think I could be good at that. But for now, I just want the world to listen to this prayer I wrote in Rahat sahab’s voice. He came all the way from Lahore to Karachi to work on this with me.”

Siddiqui revealed how it took him two, extremely emotional days to write it down and Khan, a week to produce it. “I had tears in my eyes while writing this because it wasn’t just something I was going through, it was the whole world,” the Yeh Dil Mera actor confessed.

He went on to recall how the ongoing pandemic and isolation had taken away so many stars from the world, that it left many, including him, in darkness. “We first lost Irrfan Khan, he was my friend and I grew quite fond of him during our time together."

"Then Wajid Khan of composer duo Sajid-Wajid passed away – he had co-directed the OST for Seeta Bagri – the first serial I ever produced," he added.

"Following this when Athar Shah Khan sahab passed away and so did Tariq Aziz, I felt as though my childhood was being snatched away from me,” remarked a mystified Siddiqui.

The death of these legends left a void in his heart, so big that it could not be filled but it could definitely be reflected upon. “So I wrote this, for everyone who left this world and everyone who is still here and suffering. I feel God is upset with us, and through this song, I’ve asked him to have mercy. We’ve gotten the message and we’re exhausted, people can’t take this anymore,” expressed the actor.

Siddiqui’s creation does not have a name yet, but it revolves around the verse, “Wato Izzo Mantasha Wato Zillo Mantasha,” which reiterates how sovereignty truly belongs to Allah and mankind can only submit to His will.

The Mom actor promised that he would be releasing it after the first ten days of Muharram but until then, he would be honouring all of Pakistan’s living legends through his social media. “I’ll be doing live sessions with the legends we still have, like Firdous Jamal, Sohail Ahmed and Talat Hussain among others.”

Siddiqui recently held a live session with Uzma Gillani on his Instagram as well and concluded by promising that he would honour all those who have inspired him and made immense contributions to the industry that has given him so much.

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