| Abida Parveen Queen of Sufiana Kalaam |
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Abida Parveen Queen of Sufiana Kalaam
Sindh a cultural province of Pakistan, remains in news due to his famous architecture, wild life environment, mangroves, customs and traditions, bon mot peoples, literates, Philosophers, politicians, tombs & shrines, and of course mystic Sufi singers. Abida Parveen most remarkable voice on the planet a famous singer of Ghazals, Sufiana Kalaam, Qawalees, Sindhi & and Punjabi folks also known as the spiritual daughter of Shakespeare of Sindh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai the renowned classical poet of Sindh is another well known internationally famed Sufi singer of Sindh. When she sings Sufiana Kalaam with her intoxicating ups and downs of melodious voice at the pinnacle of her ecstasy makes the audience spell bound including foreigners who do not possessed the privileged to understand Sufiana Kalaam but lost them selves with the mystic poetry mingled with the spiritual voice of Parveen. Always clad in a full-sleeved kurta shalwar, with a traditional feast of Sindhi ajrak draped over her. When she sings, there is a wild masti about her as she raises her hands and lost herself in the courtyard of Bhulle Shah and Shah Latif. "Ever since I was a child, I have had an innate desire and enthusiasm to perform well, to master the skill of singing with spirit.” Born in 1954 in Larkana, Sindh, she was brought up in the environment of mysticism, and got basic education of music by her father Ghulam Haider and by Ustad Salamat Ali Khan from Lahore but Much of the credit of her grooming goes to her late husband Sheikh Ghulam Husain who was a music director of Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad. She also took training in Sufiana music from Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. Though, traditionally, the qawwali aspect of music is somehow dominated by the male singers but the as a devotional singer trained to sing qawwali or religious songs Abida has gained access to a sphere that has until now been reigned by men. "The gift to sing is God-given and does not distinguish between male and female. At the shrine, both men and women have equal access. They both have the right to sing and enjoy the experience of reading (spiritual) poetry." Abida Parveen Undoubtedly she is a versatile singer with wide spiritual awareness which is a rare phenomenon. She is an ardent believer for changing peoples' manners and altering their perceptions from worldly to the spiritual religious customs with the help of Sufi mystic music. From Mast Qalander, Na Mein Aalim Na Mein Fazil, Je Kar Deen Elam Wich Honda, Dil Lag Gaye Be-parwah de Naal, Are logo tumhara kya and Jub Se Tune Mujhe Dewaana are few rare gems sung by Abida are perfect to portray the spiritual belongings of Allah and for touching the hearts of the audience. Her prodigious command over the ornamental idiom and is apparent throughout her music. Due to her devotional contribution to make alive Sufi music has been bestowed many awards notable among them are:
Sachal Sarmast Gold Medal She has performed in a wide range of venues both sacred and secular, from the shrines of saints in her native Sindh to the world’s greatest concert halls. Even the unfortunate world trade centre had experienced her magnificent strength of joy and happiness of Sufism. Her philosophy of inspiration is not limited to the boundary walls of Sufism "One must always be inspired - by many things. One must always seek a source of inspiration whether it be in the East or the West. We must be open to new ideas and absorb them," makes her win millions of hearts inland and abroad. Besides singing Baba Bulleh Shah, Hazrat Amir Khusru &Hazrat Sultan Bahu Parveen is highly admired by her Ghazal listeners specially Le Chala Jaan Mere and Kuch Is Aada Se Aaj Who Pehloo Nasheen Hoe are her famous Ghazals. "Abida Parveen has given new life to Ghazals - her rendition of spiritual Sufi songs has given new dimensions to the art of Kafi and Ghazal singing." Eminent poet Kaifi Azmi Her most popular albums like Khazana with 8 ghazals including two best ghazals Le Chala Jaan Meri and Sauda Ho To Aisa Ho and Faiz by Abida made remarkable achievement on the international world music charts. Mystic poets sung by Sufi Queen: Abida Parveen: Pride of Pakistan, Mahi Dil Wich (Music CD) The more I listen to this album by the legendary singer the more I feel my body & my soul detached from this planet earth. A magnificently performed hits of past by the legendary queen where Abida's admirers could find Bhulle Shah, Shakespeare of Sindh Shah Latif & Faiz at one platform. Abida Parveen: Mystic Poets from the Hind and the Sindh (Music CD) Abida has sung many languages from Punjabi to Siraiki and Sindhi. But much of her work is present in her native language i.e. Sindhi. In this delightful feast of mystic songs of Bulleh Shah's Ishq'a Na Dardaa Maut Koluun and Shah Latif's Royo vethi Roe, Punhal khaan Poe numbers are exotically played by queen of Sufiana Kallam. Faiz by Abida - Timeless Poetry Rendered Sublime (Music CD) The hypnotic mystery in Faiz Ahmed Faiz voice comes in life when matchless singer like Abida sung him with zeal and enchantment. Abida: Baba Bulleh Shah (Music CD) In paying tribute to the 17th century saint-poet Baba Bulleh Shah’s matchless Sufi kalams Abida fully justified with his Sufiana kallams by her raw and mystical robust voice. Jahan - E - Khusrau - The Realm of the Heart (Album of 2 Music CDs) Abida had always cast a spell on millions of her admirers when ever she performed live concerts. One of her remarkable work from live recording of Jahan-E-Khusrau festival held at Delhi is available in 2 CDs. Gulzar Presents Kabir by Abida (Music CD) Kabir’s ageless mystic poetry in the passionate voice of Abida Parveen drives the listener towards ecstasy & intoxication. This album is “must” to for the possession in once music library. Abida Sings Amir Khusrau (Music CD) Abida’s inspiration to Sufism bounds no limit, to find the true spirit of mystic poetry Parveen travels to various shrines in Pakistan to learn the authenticity of saints.
“Praveen’s gloriously honeyed voice is a warm, agile instrument, suffused with sadness and joy, strength and fragility in equal measure. With such a voice Parveen could sing a shopping list and have an audience weeping...” – BBCi.com Los Angeles Times has described the legendary Sufi singer of Pakistani Abida Parveen. As “The fervor of gospel, the emotion of soul, the abandon of rock and the vocal flexibility of scat.’ Los Angeles Times Whether any awareness of Sufism is necessary to fully understand this music is a moot point; but without getting into Cultural Studies territory it's clear that the best devotional music (whether Gregorian Chant, John Coltrane or Le Mystere de Voix Bulgares) has a power to communicate across racial and denominational divides, and Praveen’s ecstatic flights are no exception. Reviewer: Peter Marsh BBC review For the admirers of Sufiana Kalaam: The ardent listeners of Sufiana kalaam of Bhulle Shah, Hazrat Amir Khusru, Hazrat Sultan Bahu and Shah Latif exclusively sung by Sufi queen Abida Parveen; can possess some of her well known songs from the websites; |