“‘Azad Ki Dua’ is Shahvaar Ali Khan’s humble musical offering for Peace n Pakistan inspired by the words of Urdu Poet Jagan Nath Azad. These heartfelt lines for the country were written by Azad with unabashed passion n skill on August 11, 1947 at the behest of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. There are different versions of how n why these very poetic n emotive lyrics were penned by Azad in Lahore around the eve of Independence. Why Jinnah particularly asked a Hindu Urdu Poet to express his love for Pakistan (perhaps) on an official platform, in the presence of many stalwart Muslim Urdu poets, is a question we should all ask each other today. Whether this leads us to a vision for Pakistan n the region: SouthAsia, is a different question all together, but it’s also enough to genuinely feel Azad’s raw aspirational emotion for Pakistan, which is humane on an unimaginable level, given the heavily communal context of those times. I am daring to step in (very) big shoes! This was a tall order. Humbled by everyone’s support in enabling me to do this in such a short span of a few days. Beena Sarwar has been a continual source of ideation, inspiration n guidance. Peace…!”
Shahvaar Ali Khan’s Independence Day Song – ‘Azad Ki Dua’
Written by: Jagan Nath Azad (August 11, 1947)
Sung n Composed by: Shahvaar Ali Khan (August 7, 2012)
Idea: Beena Sarwar
Video/Montage Concept: Shahvaar Ali Khan, Beenish Mir, Saad Hassan Khan
Video/Montage Directors: Saad Hassan Khan n Beenish Mir
Design: Beenish Mir n Matin Khan
Editor: Saad Hassan Khan
Song Arrangement/Mix/Recording: Joseph
Co-Arrangement: Shahvaar
Guitar n Bass: Bobby
Chorus: Bobby n Joseph
Name ‘Azad Ki Dua’ coined by: Dr. Shabnam Khan n Shahvaar Ali Khan