Karachi: If your feet start shaking when a bhangra song is played , if you feel like letting yourselves lose at the beat of the Balochi leva, Bibi Sheerina makes you wonder about all the sweet things in life and Pere Pavandi Saan makes you long for your lover — then this version of Sohni Dhartiwill sincerely melt your heart.
Coke Studio 8’s curtain raiser is not just a revealing of a line-up but in many ways the celebration of our identity and all the harmonies that make Pakistan into a grand anthem. This tribute that comprises of one of the most diverse set of musicians and musical influences in the country provide a much needed balm on the bruises of this Sohni Dharti.
The compilation doesn’t only give you goose bumps because of its hauntingly peaceful arrangement and the variety of voices that are featured in it but this two-minute clip also makes us realise all that we have lost and all that we can save of whatever remains of our heritage. It reminds us of the true narrative of our soil, one that has its geneses in the raw vocals of Mai Dhai and is watered and evolved by the greats of Alam Lohar, Fairda Khanum and Hamid Ali Khan .
The same mantle is taken up and modified by the once young guns and now the greats of Ali Haider, Ali Azmat and Atif Aslam. Such an epic celebration of our true blood line might seem like the mention of our bygone “better days” but it also gives us a ray of hope from that little crack in the wall.
Let’s celebrate that to the fullest and follow what Faiz said, Nahin visaal mayasar, tau aarzu hee sahi. Kudos to Strings for offering such a power packed start to Coke Studio 8.
