The soulful ‘Makki Madni’

Chand Tara Orchestra’s mellow rendition of the qawwali is spiritually edifying.

KARACHI: A couple of days ago, the band Chand Tara Orchestra released a mellow version of the famous Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan qawaali Makki Madni.  The song features Sherry, famed for his stints on Aamir Liaquat’s shows, on the vocals, Babar Sheikh on the bass, Omran Shafique (Momo) on the electric guitar, Sikandar Mufti on djembe, and Rizwanullah Khan on slide guitar and banjo. With a soft melody accentuated by raw vocals, the song is spiritually edifying and a treat to the ears.

It is not just a naat or a qawwali – it is a lot more than this. It is a magical spell, which, for a good six minutes, keeps you enchanted and takes you on a ‘secret journey’, as Sting would have put it. Sherry’s hard-hitting vocals and the simplicity of arrangement and groove, together, reflect on the turbulence this soil has witnessed in recent times.

It is more than just praise of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); it is a complaint by his devotee, who is unable to confront how much blood has been shed by those who claim to be his followers. But by the end of it, it is the love for Muhammad (pbuh) and his message of humanity, which keep the follower focused on his quest for answers

The listener takes off his headphones a holier person or, maybe, just a little low on the wickedness that the times have pierced into us. Chand Tara Orchestra, your track has served its purpose and everyone must listen to it, regardless of whether they have listened to Khan sahab’s version or not.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2015.

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