AUDIO/VIDEO SCAN
Soul-stirring Sufis

Swar Utsav held every year at India Gate yields a rich source material to Music Today. Several audio and video renditions of Hans Raj Hans’ performance during last year’s function have been released. This VCD is the latest in the series.

It is different from the earlier ones in that by the time Hans reached this stage he had stopped the few asides that he at times made and had also stopped cracking jokes. What issued from his throat was pure Sufiana qalaam. While you are doing Ibadat, there is no time for any levity. And what a treat his performance he is. At times, he is one up on his Pakistani counterparts, better known for Sufi singing.

The album opens with the ever-popular Mast Qalandar, the longest and the most moving track of the VCD. What makes Haq Bahu, which comes next, captivating is that it has been sung in a qawwali style.

To stir the soul of the listener some more, comes Allah Hoo, a call to the divine. While these two have been sung by Hans many a time, a new offer is Baba Bulleh Shah’s Ghunghat Chuk O Sajna. The concluding Sufiana track is Suno Maharaj which has a folk feel to it.

In this out and out commercial film Anu Malik does not contribute extraordinary music but many of the tunes are inspired enough, which can goad one to dance.

The most innovative of them is the opening number Aaja Ve Mahi (Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan). The change in tempo and rhythm is a treat. To cap it, Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor and Blaise warble a few lines.

The album has only duets. Nazar Nazar and Dil Mere Naa have been sung by Udit Narayan, first with Sapna Mukherjee and the second with Alka Yagnik.

Kumar Sanu is heard less often these days but has done full justice to Aaj Kaho Sanam Jitna along with Alka Yagnik. Lyrics are by Sameer.