It’s good to see that Pakistani musicians have dragged Naseebo Lal out of the pits of our parallel yet decadent theatre and film industries, of which Naseebo Lal remained a part for quite long, and rather notoriously.
Coke Studio has a prior part to play in realizing the singer’s talent, for earlier, it was in season nine of the music show that she appeared along with Umair Jaswal for a folk song.
Now, Naseebo has been featured once again in the 14th season. This time, the collaboration is richer, for Naseebo Lal has joined Abida Parveen for a lovely song, which covers modern-day apprehensions conveyed through a traditional style of music.
Titled as ‘Tu Jhoom’, the number begins with Naseebo Lal’s plaintive voice which, as soon as it reaches the higher notes, gives the listener goosebumps. Sitting face to face with each other, Naseebo Lal and Abida Parveen divide verses between themselves in this breathtakingly beautiful rebellion against fate’s unfair treatment.
The lyrics unfold to make the listener gradually understand that ‘Jhoom Tu’ might have begun as a woe, but in the subsequent verses, the poet who is voicing the modern, disillusioned person, refuses to continue to lament and chooses to accept openheartedly whatever life has to offer. The song ends at a belief that good or bad is predestined and therefore, there’s no use grieving over what has passed or fearing what has to come.
‘Jhoom’ (dance) becomes the ultimate objective, a dance the basis of which lies in the Sufi approach towards life, as is often seen being executed in the movements of whirling dervishes who decide to bow before the decisions of God without arguing.
The mystical touch to the entire song is also complemented by multiple dancers making it to the song video, who seem to be making elegant movements the way devotees make, showing that they have chosen to worry as less as possible over life’s vicissitudes.
Ever since the song was released, it has been gaining appreciation from the depression and anxiety-stricken millennials who have found a life-lesson in this wonderful collaboration of Abida Parveen and Naseebo Lal, both of whom have given their heart and soul to ‘Tu Jhoom’ and proven that they are the best when it comes to the region’s folk numbers.
