Lucknow: The poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz echoed through an auditorium of a private city hotel on Sunday evening as ‘Jashn-e-Faiz’ brought together music, narration and verse in a tribute to one of the most celebrated poets of the subcontinent.Organised by Rehaan Siddiqui and Shazia Kidwai, the event drew poetry and music lovers from across the city. “Ghazals are the soul of Lucknow, a city deeply rooted in poetry and literary traditions. In such a poetic city, it is rare and truly special to have celebrated poets like Faiz Ahmad Faiz listened to and cherished by audiences. This programme is a heartfelt effort to take the beauty of poetic renditions to poetry lovers, celebrating the timeless tradition of ghazal and keeping Lucknow’s rich literary spirit alive,” said Kidwai.The programme sought to recreate the many shades of Faiz’s literary world, from love and longing to resistance, defiance and hope. The evening featured renditions by Dr Prabha Srivastava, whose voice carried the romantic and revolutionary essence of Faiz’s poetry, while simultaneously Sudhanshu Mani narrated the important events, unknown facts and challenges of Faiz’s personal life.The repertoire included eleven of Faiz’s well-known compositions, among them ‘Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat’, ‘Aaye Kuch Abr, Kuch Sharaab Aaye’, ‘Aaj Bazaar Mein’, ‘Gulon Mein Rang Bhare’, ‘Aap Ki Yaad Aati Rahi Raat Bhar’, ‘Dasht-e-Tanhai’, ‘Tum Aaye Ho Na Shab-e-Intezar Guzri Hai’, ‘Yeh Dhoop Kinara, Shaam Dhale’, ‘Yeh Kis Khalish Ne Phir Is Dil Mein’, ‘Yun Saja Chand Ke Chhalka Tere Andaz Ka Rang’ and ‘Hum Dekhenge’.As the evening progressed, the mood moved seamlessly between the tenderness of romance, the pain of separation and the powerful spirit of resistance that has kept Faiz’s poetry alive across generations. Each composition was received with appreciation by the audience, many of whom joined in moments of quiet reflection as familiar verses filled the venue. The event was organised by AeBA Events Pvt Ltd.For Asim Azhar, a spectator, “Jashn-e-Faiz’ was not merely a musical presentation but an intimate engagement with the emotions, ideals and enduring relevance of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry”.
