Tauseef Akhtar needs to be applauded for being an active player in bringing ghazals on the forefront after a hiatus, a genre which is synonymous with poetry, quality music, good voice and interaction with the audience. Furthermore, it is music which needs to be appreciated, not just to be listened to while on the way to somewhere.
After learning the complexity of ghazals in the industry, the artist offered ‘Ishq Karo’ (2014). After the death of his guru Jagjit Singh in 2011, being an integral part of the current ghazal scene along with other veterans and newcomers back that time, Akhtar had presented eight Ghazals, covering various moods and emotions.
The album starts with “Veerane Mein Phool (Allahu)”. It is a slow ghazal with lyrics penned by Waali Aasi. While the chorus intermittently recites “Allahu Allahu”, Tauseef’s calm vocals take the centre stage and he delivers an exceptional performance. The song is further enhanced by the perfected orchestral arrangements with apt violin (Manas Kumar) interludes and soothing acoustics in the background. High production values automatically set high expectations for the rest of the tracks.
The song “Ishq Karo” was an instant hit. Its light composition captured the audiences’ hearts easily. Again penned by Waali Aasi, Tauseef sang mostly in the middle octave and does full justice to the lyrics. The violin makes a longer appearance in the third interlude and the guitar pieces are equally pleasing. The piece is lively and friendly to the ears. Although technically coined as a ghazal, “Ishq Karo” could have easily been featured in a mainstream Bollywood movie, due to the contemporary programming, tune predictability and filmy interludes.
The “Gali Gali Hai Andera” felt mysterious. With a haunting ‘mukhda’, Tauseef ensured that everything was perfect with this piece, from the thrilling tabla beat, the guitar riffs and the programming. The violin has been given more importance throughout the song, especially in the first interlude, which captures the right mood and sets the path for a smooth entry of the ‘antara’.
It has been a very long while since ghazal lovers have heard a piece like “Phool Khilte Hain”. This ghazal will definitely transport you to a past era while allowing you to appreciate the meaningful poetry of Payam Saeedi and the soothing voice of Tauseef. All the instruments selected result in a magical blend, without creating any cacophony, the catchy guitar riffs, which kicks off the song marries well with the solo violin.
“Mushkil Se Haathon Mein” starts off on a joyous note and is another pleasing ghazal. Penned by the late Rahat Indori, the poetry has weight. It helped the song greatly to sail till the end effortlessly. While duration has nothing to do with the quality of a ghazal, despite the smooth flow and the excellent use of the guitar throughout the track, it does not match the same standards as established at the start of the album.
Penned by Shakila Bani Bhopali, “Mera Dil Qadmon Mein Hain” is a melancholic ghazal with lots of emotions, beautifully sung and expressed by Tauseef. Its slow paced nature renders it nicer and the song is further elevated by the sounds of santoor and tabla. While the piece boosts of quality Urdu poetry, this ghazal takes longer to grow on listeners, maybe because of its predictability.
“Jugnu Jungle Aur Saaye” echoes ghazals from the past and has an old charm to it. Penned by the late Qateel Shifai, it is one of those ghazals which needs to be appreciated at night.
“Aapse Dil Lagana” gave the feeling of a film song from the Nadeem-Shravan repertoire, with lyrics by Sameer and vocals by Kumar Sanu. Only the prelude and the ‘mukhda’ are very reminiscent of the duo’s type of music in the early 2000s, while the rest of the piece is totally different and fresh. Tauseef displayed more relaxed vocal cords and the arrangements followed suit. Akhtar Azad’s lyrics are fine. The song doesn’t follow much of the ghazal template and is quite enjoyable, after repeated listens.
‘Ishq Karo’ is a decent effort from Tauseef Akhtar. Reviving a genre is not an easy feat. In an age where Bollywood songs have been a mixed bag due to different reasons, ghazals present a close alternative to good music minus the noise. Tauseef deserves recognition for hand picking the poets or selected poetry from late poets who have contributed immensely to the sheer beauty of Urdu poetry in this album.
Rating: 4/5
