ISLAMABAD: The British Council, Saiyna Bashir Studios and Real World Records, held a celebration of the legendary Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Tuesday night, with the pre-release of the maestro’s lost album, ‘Chain of Light’.

Held outdoors at the British high commissioner’s residence, the beautiful weather complemented the extraordinary qawwalis.

High Commissioner of Britain Jane Marriott welcomed the guests, saying, “this evening, we celebrate one of the most legendary figures in Pakistani music and his remarkable partnership with the iconic Peter Gabriel. Theirs was a partnership grounded in deep friendship and mutual admiration that transcended borders, cultures and genres to create something truly extraordinary.”

The first launch event included a teaser of the exciting new documentary, ‘Ustad’ on Nusrat’s life currently being developed by Saiyna Bashir Studios and a back story video tracing the fascinating story of how the ‘lost album’ was discovered.

Following on from Islamabad, launch events will follow in Lahore, Karachi, Manchester, Birmingham, Paris and London leading up to the official release of the ‘Chain of Light’ album on September 20.

In late 2024, Saiyna Bashir Studios, with contributions from Real World Records, will host master classes for music artists and professionals in Pakistan.

Ms Marriott said Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was more than a singer; he was a force of nature whose voice deeply touched people around the world and played a pivotal role in bringing the Qawwali tradition to the western world.

“The story of Nusrat and Peter Gabriel reminds us of what is possible when we open ourselves to new ideas and new ways of thinking. It is this spirit that the British Council seeks to nurture, through the opportunities we offer for creative collaboration and exchange across Pakistan and the UK. As we celebrate this incredible musical partnership that has gifted us with something truly timeless, let us also look forward with hope and anticipation to our shared future — a future filled with opportunities to create new and enduring legacies,” the high commissioner said.

Deputy Director British Council, Pakistan, Maarya Rehman said: “Chain of Light is not just about rediscovering a lost masterpiece of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; it’s about reigniting the cultural connection that his music has always fostered between Pakistan and the world. Through these launch events we hope to celebrate his enduring legacy and the universal language of music that transcends borders and unites us all.”

The audience was privileged to hear excerpts of all four tracks of the ‘Chain of Light’ album. The previously unheard recordings of the singer and his Qawwal party were made at Real World Studios in 1990, when Nusrat was at the height of his vocal capabilities.

Carefully restored from the original analogue tapes, this ‘lost album’ of traditional Qawwalis includes a pristine recording of the much-loved classic, Ya Allah Ya Rehman, as well as the only known performance of Ya Gaus Ya Meeran.

It also contains Aaj Sik Mitran Di Vedheri written by Sufi saint Peer Meher Ali Shah and Khabrum Raseed Imshab (in Persian) from Nusrat’s family repertoire, originally by Amir Khusro.

The pre-release of the album was followed by a brief panel discussion with musician Arieb Azhar, and Saiyna Bashir and Zakir Thaver, Project Leads and Producers of Ustad the Film.

Saiyna Bashir’s team spent three years researching, developing and raising funds for the biopic on the life, death and music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

It was during the production of the teaser that the team became privy to the existence of a new album. With Real World Records’ permission, musician Michael Brook played the filmmakers excerpts from Chain of Light — an on-camera “first look”, effectively.

Arieb Azhar said: “I was blown away not just by Khan Sahib’s own genius but also by the way the event was curated, building up with the teaser and the making of. Everyone was involved and geared up to receive what Khan Sahib had to offer.”

“The genius of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, he changed the trajectory of Qawwali in the subcontinent. He was the son of the great Qawwal duo and back then qawwali was confined to traditional spaces. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan brought it out into the world, he broke those barriers. In the 80s, classical musicians frowned upon him for deviating from tradition but within five years they were following in his footsteps,” he added.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024