Immortal Qawwali — “nā toh kārwāñ kī talash hai”

While running through the wilderness of W&OD (Purcellville), was listening to Qawwalis and though have heard it thousand times before, “ना तो कारवाँ की तलाश है (nā toh kārwāñ kī talash hai)” by Roshan sahab, it made my heart go in the rapture.

I just was appreciating all the nuances as had nothing between me, the song and the trail. Amazed as to how the composer elegantly managed the raag Kalavathy based qawwali with the traditional flow from madhyalay to dhrut in that short 12-minute composition. That perfect interludes of sitar every now and then with the sangat of harmonium, tabla, and taalis to some of the best vocalists Hindi cinema ever produced is naturally brilliant. Realized that probably it was the very first all-woman based qawwali group to be shown on the screen with background score using Asha Bhosle’s inimitable style along with Sudha Malhotra’s velvety voice. The support for the women overtly coming from the ‘feminist’ Aman Hyderabadi (Bharat Bhushan) who comes and sits with them and then Rafi sahab’s delivery of that beautiful introductory aalaap makes it both bold and beautiful!

Sahir sahab’s unparalleled writing which goes from Urdu-Braj-Punjabi-Braj-Urdu in a seamless way, the sufiana journey from ‘ishq majazi’ (worldly) to ‘ishq-haqiqi’ (spiritual), using Quran and Krishna leelas interleaved in a secular tone, all in all, makes it majestic. The rich paltaas and sargams by Manna dey sahab and that crescendo note hit by Rafi sahab on the most beautiful line (for me at least) of the qawwali — इन्तहा ये है के बंदे को ख़ुदा करता है इश्क़ (intahaa ye hai ke bande ko KHudaa kartaa hai ishq) makes your heart swell with joy!

Enjoy the immortal celebration of love…