ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON THE MIAMI MEDIA BLOG
Arieb Azhar has played an integral part in culturally revitalising the music scene in Pakistan. His memorable renditions of historical poetry were featured on Coke Studio. He organised numerous large-scale music festivals in Islamabad that led to the resurgence of folk music heritage creating many opportunities for cultural exchanges between international and local artists.
Arieb has been the guardian of musical crossroads for musicians to meet and jam on one stage. The documentary film followed his career for three years and his narration as the central protagonist and storyteller in Without Shepherds released in 2013 was immensely relatable and captivating showing his deep love for Pakistan's mystics and Sufis. He was the Executive Producer of Indus Blues, where we saw Arieb travel far and wide interviewing and performing with musicians of rare instruments that are fading from Pakistan due to lack of resources and cultural economic activity.
Miami Media is releasing Arieb’s song Charsi Bhangi that is an uplifting anthem celebrating the outcasts, misfits and community that survive on the fringes of society. The writer of the song, Arshed Bhatti had an open-door policy for aspiring musicians in Islamabad to perform regularly at his cafe restaurant called Civil Junction. It was an enriching communal space that nurtured live performance and bands where young people could get together every evening. He wrote the song on 21st September 2003 capturing a side of Pakistan that was free and open. Bhatti recalls meeting fans of the song who lovingly called it an anthem of an imaginary utopian country endearingly referred to as Hashish Nagar (Land Of Hash). Describing a society that is pluralistic, secular, inclusive, tolerant and above all loving towards one another. Much like John Lenon’s Imagine, Arieb sings a lyrical manifesto calling out to others who are seeking a harmonious and peaceful community. One that lives free of conflicts, objections, judgement and the treachery of materialism. The gentle acoustic guitar strumming by Arieb is the heart of the song that guides us through the chaos into a new day.
Arieb recorded the song earlier this year at Aleph Studios in Karachi. The old school charm of a one-take live recording is a welcome change to surgical vocal tuning and pitch correction software becoming more and more common in producing songs. The performance of each instrument is felt and heard as if it were being played right in front of us. The song has the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar, a foot-tapping drum beat and a searing guitar solo that transports the listener to a metaphysical state of mind. Playing guitar on the recording is Zeeshan Mansoor (Shani of Surkhwaab) who has a history of playing with Arieb and happened to be at Aleph Studios with his band at the same time.
The song was recorded in Karachi and travelled north to Islamabad for the shooting of its music video. Director, Muhammad Bin Baseer, Production Designer, Sara Khan and Lighting Designer Yasser Daniyal are the core team in ALL4ONE productions behind the music video. They have collaborated with Arieb on several other projects in the past. The location for the video shoot was the Kehkashan Hall at the Serena Hotel. The production involved a large cast and crew, costumes, multiple cameras, stage design and lights. Arieb led a house band on a brightly lit stage entertaining the glitzy and glamorous men and women attending a fictional music ball. The neon sign behind the band read “Branded Sufi Night” a satirical comment on the superficial commercialisation of music.
Not giving too much away about the storyline of the music video, there is trouble brewing, tempers are flaring, and a fight on the horizon. We know the song is the antidote but we will have to wait and see what happens in the end. The video has a host of exciting characters, all the swing and swag of a fancy charity ball with Arieb as the hero of the video. In real life, Arieb is a cultural activist and pioneer in creating community initiatives and dialogue to promote art and peace. A multilingual musician he knows Urdu, Punjabi, English and Croatian/Bosnian, having extensively travelled around the world. His musical influences can be traced to many countries, genres and cultures, but their interconnectedness is heartfelt and sincere. Charsi Bhangi is a joyous declaration of acceptance and a celebration of humanity.
Lyrics:
Hum charsi bhangi hein
Par sab ke sangi hein
Kar ek baar tu aitebaar
Phir dekh tamasha yaari ka
Hum qatal nahi kartey
Jang nahi larhtey
Dagha nahi detey
Hum jaga nahi letey
Hum sab ke sangi hein
Aman umangi hein
Kar ek baar tu aitebaar
Phir dekh tamasha yaari ka
Na jhootey na raashi
Na Daaku na rahzan
Hum tangg nahi kartey
Hum pandd nahi kartey
Hum bhaley maanas hein
Sajan dharti ke
Kar ek baar tu aitebaar
Phir dekh tamasha yaari ka
Insaan se eemaan se
Sunn ley sunaa dey
Pata nahi so pooch ley
Samhaj liya bataa dey
Dosti muskaan hai
Jeevan ka eemaan hai
Kar ek baar tu eitebaar
Phir dekh tamasha yaari ka
Bhang charas aur buzdili
Ilzaam hein dushnaam hein
Chuppa hua tu jaan ley
Sach ko pehchaan ley
Dosti muskaan hai
Jeevan ka eemaan hai
Kar ek baar tu eitebaar
Phir dekh tamasha yaari ka
Composition by Arieb Azhar
Lyrics by Arshed Bhatti
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