I requested MS to add this album (Mere Dil Se) but it seems that they r not keen to do so. Thus frds pardon me again for posting this review under this topic.
The Sound Of Love
Oh! My beloved, your every word & every action leaves an indelible mark on my being. Your boundless love is like a sword that cuts through every
pore of my body. Every drop of blood that flows in my body, speaks
of my infinite love for you.
“Go towards experiencing and realizing selflessly the truth by means of love and devotion”.
This is the spiritual path or the way towards the god, the essence of Sufism. The Eastern Mystics are never tired of expatiating on the ’Ishq’ or ’’love to God’’, which is the one distinguishing features of Sufi mysticism. Sufi poets over the ages, have chosen love as their theme. In their poetry, beloved is often not the lover, but the mystic guide (peer) or the god himself.
Rooted in this intense encounter between sensitivity and spirituality, the Sufism, is “Mere Dil Se”. This latest offering by the living legend Begum Abida Parveen is a beautiful compilation of some of the finest Sufi writings.
“To understand the sufi music listen to it with the heart of a sufi”.
For one who sees truly, love’s pain is itself the remedy:
But this mystery is revealed only to those who are afflicted.
The compositions in this album are Begum Abida Parveen’s interpretation of great sufi works and includes poetry of Sufi greats like Hazrat Waris Shah, Hazrat Wasif Ali Wasif, Hazrat Misri Shah and others. Her musical conversation with the beloved god, exploring the multitude of emotions is bound to give solace and peace to the listener.
Mere Dil Se has seven compositions all capturing the sole essence of Sufism, the love for the almighty.
‘Main Nara-e-mastana’, the opening track of the album is an urdu rich kalaam glorifying the moment when all becomes one with the god. When man finds himself in a mode where wonder and consciousness exist side by side, where madness intermingles with awareness.
He who has won the grace and the power of the god and yet lies at his feet is truly among the blessed.
Abida’s soulful voice is ably supported by saxophone in the background, which gives the song an altogether different touch and leaves one mesmerized.
Jis Din Ke Saajan bichre Hain
Us Din Ka Dil Beemar Hoya
This second song written by Hazrat Waris Shah has sufi music at its ultimate best. Experience the vocal versatility of Abida Begum, which leaves one spellbound as she pleads with the beloved not to abandon the lover.
Sanam bhi tu, Khuda bhi tu
I was lost in the depths of his love ………
Only when I regained consciousness, did I find
that there is no difference between my lord and my beloved.
‘Tune Diwana Banaya’ talks about this divine love. Some beautiful poetry here
Tu mila bhi hai, Tu juda bhi hai, Tera kya kehna
Tu sanam bhi hai, Tu khuda bhi hai, Tera kya kehna
Be it the opening sher
Tune diwana banaya to main diwana bana
Ab mujhe hosh ki duniya mein tamasha na bana
Or the final lines
Nigah-e-naaz se poochenge kisi din yeh jahin
Tune kya kya na banaya, koi kya kya na bana.
Simply marvelous. Abida’s singing style in this particular song, as I related to, is very similar to those Attaullah Khan songs; intense deep vocals rendering beautiful urdu poetry.
Jo main aisa jaanti, Preet kiye dukh hoye
Nagar dindhora pithti, Preet na kariyo koye
‘Preetam Mat Pardes’ is a devnagari based, semi classical, Hindustani composition that has a folk touch to it. This song brings forth the pain of separation a lover feels. If magic can be created by words then this is it
Naina tumhi bure ho, Tumsa bura na koi
Aap hi preet ki aag lagaye, Aap hi baitha roye.
The eyes of my beloved are filled with a strange kind of light.
See his love for me through his eyes for all to see.
Oh’ my beloved, my love for you pierces through my body and fills
my soul and my world.
‘Ajab Nain Tere’ though sung in a more Hindustani style is basically a Punjabi-sindhi song having saxophone fused in between.
‘Hairan Hua, Hairan Hua’ is not a qawwali in true sense but Abida Begum does infuse a touch of qawwali to this beautiful song that slowly grows on you. Abida’s genius is on display here and proves why she is considered to be the most worthy successor to the throne left vacant by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
All the colours of love fill up my being, my love for my lord makes
me wonder anew. Oh lord! Your love is beautiful and
I’m bewildered with the way it envelops me.
A more of a ghaza like rendition, ‘Humko Pasand Yaar Ki’ is a fine combination of vocal and poetic genius. This is final composition of the album and demonstrates Abida’s vocal virtuosity to the full.
Extremely rich content wise and a musical treat for the ears, ‘Mere Dil Se’ is one album that captures the true essence of Sufism in the best possible manner. Here’s the music for the soul that encompasses one in the divine light of the god. With the true diva of the subcontinent, Begum Abida Parveen singing the celebration of love, what results is the sound of heaven that engulfs one in the noor and all else cease to exist.
I thought of You so often
that I completely became You.
Little by little You drew near,
and slowly but slowly I passed away.