The Dream Journey – Discovering Musicians Across Pakistan

dreamjourneyfilm@gmail.com

Contributions may be made at:
PayPal: goo.gl/4VXB0D

Ustad Abdullah Niazi & Waqas Niazi

What began as a whimsical idea quickly took shape with the infectious enthusiasm of participants and was recorded by Mahera Omar as a labor of love. The Dream Journey is an audiovisual project celebrating an exhilarating series of journeys across Pakistan's musical landscape. It has so far recorded 24 musicians in nine different cities mostly in their living environments. 

The sessions of vocal music were recorded and filmed using high quality DSLRs. They cover several musical forms in the Indo Pakistani tradition; Thumri, Kaafi, Ghazal, Qawwali and Khyaal. The kalaams that the musicians drew from ranged the whole spectrum of great poets: Khusrau, Jalal ud din Rumi, Kabir, Baba Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Iqbal, Faiz and numerous mystic poets of India and Pakistan. The performances evoked memories of the verdant lushness of the Punjab, the haunting mysticism of the Great Rajputana and Sind Deserts, the vibrancy of Hazrat Nizamuddin’s Delhi, the great aura of Ajmer, the majestic beauty of the Indo-Gangetic plain.

Ustad Farid Ayaz &
Ustad Abu Muhammad

Some of the musicians are established and famous, others are amongst the brilliant budding talent that adorns Pakistan’s musical scene. Each of the mehfils has a distinct atmosphere and mood, but there is a common thread. We asked each of the musicians to stay close to their respective inherited musical traditions, allowing the singers an opportunity to present some pieces that are rarely heard today. 

We are inspired to present the brilliance of this contemporary Pakistani vocal music to a wider audience in musical sessions followed by a documentary film of the journey and a series of HD audio/video releases of each Mehfil. 

Subhan Ahmed Nizami 

The individuals involved in this venture have spent a sizable amount of their personal funds on this project and seek your help to cover future costs of editing, production and publishing of these 
recordings. Please give generously. 




Jointly Produced by:

Taj Muhammad & Shad Muhammad Niazi

Vaqar Ahmed
Asif Hasain

Mian Shaukat Hussain
Arif Ali Khan

Saad Alvi

Mushtaq Ahmed

Musab Bin Noor

Mahera Omar

with assistance from viewers like you.



Contributions may be made via PayPal: goo.gl/4VXB0D

Featuring:

Ahmad Raza, Taj Muhammad & Shad Muhammad Niazi, Subhan Ahmed Nizami, Ustad Abdullah Niazi & Waqas Niazi, Ustad Ameer Ali Khan & Ejaz Ali Khan, Ustad Farid Ayaz & Ustad Abu Muhammad, Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan, Mehfooz Khokhar, Ustad Shoukat Manzoor Ali Khan, Zohaib Hasan, Akbar Ali, Habib Ahmed Qawwal, Shafi M. Faqir, Gulab Afridi, Maulvi Haider Hasan, Qurban Niazi, Salman Adil  

Tou Se Laagi Lagan - Khwaja Moinuddin

Particularly loved the Tarana at the start and the verses of devotion to Khwaja Gharib Nawaz

Taj Muhammad and Shad Muhammad Niazi Qawwal @ T2F, Karachi

Tou Se Laagi Lagan - Raag Darbari
Recital: Taj Muhammad and Shad Muhammad Niazi Qawwal
Tabla & Dholak: Usman Ahmed & Faiz Muhammad

The Dream Journey sessions

The Dream Journey – Discovering musicians across Pakistan (A Non Profit Project)

This project will be the sharing of a special experience in which we hope you will want to participate.

Some of the musicians are established and famous, others are among the brilliant budding talent that adorns Pakistan’s musical scene. Each of the mehfils has a distinct atmosphere and mood, but there is a common thread. We asked each of the musicians to stay close to their respective inherited musical traditions, allowing the singers an opportunity to present some pieces that are rarely heard today.

We are inspired to present the brilliance of this contemporary Pakistani vocal music to a wider audience and seek your financial assistance in making this possible.

contributions may be made at:
PayPal: goo.gl/4VXB0D

Ae ri Sakhi ri Morey Khwaja Ghar Aaye - Amir Khusrau

Taj Muhammad Shad Muhammad Nasir Niazi Qawwal

ae ri sakhiri morey khwaja ghar aaye

bhaag lagay is aangan ko

apne khwaja pe mein bal bal jaon

charran lagayo nirdhan ko

mein to khardi thi aas lagaye 

pehen ki gajra maang sajaye

daikh suratiya apne khwaja ki

haar gayii mein tan man ko

jis ka khwaja sang beetey sawan

us dulhan ki raen suhagan

jis sawan mein khwaja nahin aaye

aag lagay os sawan ko

Ae ri Sakhi ri Morey Khwaja Ghar Aaye from Mahera Omar

--------------- 

Poetry: Hazrat Amir Khusrau

Video credit: Mahera Omar, Karachi

Recital: Taj Muhammad Shad Muhammad Nasir Niazi Qawwal 

Har Shab Manam Futada - Hazrat Amir Khusrau

What a delight to see these young sons of the late Moin Niazi Qawwal recite in his signature style. I find their singing is filled with melody and sense of proportion and understanding. Mahera Omar has done a fine job of  presenting them in high definition and a crisp audio.

Har shab manam futada, Ba girde sarai e tou
 Har roz ah o nala kunam az barai e tou

every night have I fallen, around the circle of Thy tavern 
 every day, do I wail and cry, in yearning of Thee 

 Jana ba iin shakista dil-bewafa ma shou
 Umre guzasht ta shuda am aashina e tou

 O Love, turn not thy gaze from this broken hearted one 
 for a lifetime has been spent, in getting to know Thee 

Rozay ke zarra zarra shavad, ustakhan-e-man
 Ba shad hanoz dar dil-e-veesham hava e tou

 when my bones are nothing but shattered bits 
 may my heart carry on its quest of Thee 

 Bar hal-e-zar-e-man nazar-e-kun ze raahay lutf
 Tu Badshah-e-husni o Khusrau gada e tou

 Let thy Grace fall on my blighted self 
 Thou art the Lord of Grace, and Khosro but a begger of Thee 

~ Amir Khusrau

Recital: Taj Muhammad Shad Muhammad Nasir Niazi Qawwal
Video credit: Mahera Omar, Karachi
Farsi to English translation ~ Farrokh Namazi,