All of us are quite familiar with Haseena Moin’s super hit drama Dhoop Kinare. I loved watching it when it aired on PTV in the 1980s. Haseena Moin mastered the art of creating lasting characters like Timmy and Mamoo from Ankahi, Qabacha, Buqraat and Aaapa Begum from Tanhaiyan and Doctor Ahmer, Zoya and Doctor Irfan from her masterpiece Dhoop Kinare. The background music was done by Arshad Mehmood and poetry by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The level of romanticism associated with the poetry is deeply felt. Nayyara Noor beautifully sang the soundtrack songs Raat Yun Dil Mein Teri and Hansi Khanakti Hui; the lyrics were written by Hasan Akbar Kamal.

Abbas Ali Khan is paying tribute to these legends by recomposing their work with a bit more glamour and melody. In his tribute to Vital Signs with the song Chehra, one can see Abbas’ influence of a softer and darker tone. Recently, Abbas has given a new dimension to the ghazal Raat Yun by Faiz Ahmed Faiz.; and this tribute is one you must listen to. The verses by Faiz from the collection Naqsh-e-Faraiadi are also a favorite of mine. Abbas has successfully intertwined his style of music with these classic works of art. Although his vocals cannot compare to the level of Nayyara Noor, Abbas has his own style of singing which makes it very interesting. Listening to this tribute has taken me back to my childhood memories of waiting for Dhoop Kinare to come on television, and I must say the tribute has done great justice to the works of our legends.