The song of Mughals

William Dalrymple’s narration of stories from the Mughal Empire teamed with Vidya Shah’s soulful ghazals and songs, spun magic at the Krishnakriti Festival

The annual Krishnakriti Festival 2016 started on a grand note with the famous author of ‘The Last Mughul’ and ‘White Mughals’, William Dalrymple narrating the story of the First War of Independence, the debacle of the great Mughal Empire and the destruction of the city of Djinns; as the famous Hindustani classical musician Vidya Shah rendered soulful music evoking the times gone by.

The crisp winter evening turned magical at the lawns of CCRT in Hyderabad as Dalrymple, clad in a black attire appearing to be no less than a white Mughal himself, spoke about the vast Mughal empire during the times of Shahjehan,

East India Company’s earlier fascination for the Indian lifestyle transforming into derision, the ultimate supremacy followed by the Sepoy Mutiny that made Bahadur Shah Zafar, the undisputed emperor, only to fall into the hands of the British a few months later.

The well-known story told in the imitable narrative style from his book evoked varied emotions and gave way to a few historical facts and folklore amidst Vidya Shah’s musical voice. It was a performance with a difference; unlike her Hindustani concerts.

Here, she was singing a ghazal by Mirza Ghalib, a famous song of the courtesans whose abodes used to foster music, dance, art and culture, a patriotic song written by Azimullah Khan in 1857, known as the “Payam-e-Azadi” – the flag song – “Ham hain iske malik”, “Hindostan hamara”, which is said to have inspired Iqbal to pen “Saare jahan se accha’, and a song that is believed to have been used by the courtesans,

who according to a folklore were also instrumental in inspiring the sepoys to fight the British, Altaf Hussain's “Na Suna Jayega Ye Fasana” lamenting the massacre of Delhi and finally “Na kisiki Aankh ka noor hun” that is supposed to be the last verse of the last Mughal.

“The festival is dedicated to bring art to the public,” said Prashnt Lahoti, owner of Kalakriti Art Gallery, who founded the Krishnakriti Festival in 2004 and since then has been passionately bringing unique events and distinguished artistes to Hyderabad.

An interesting lineup of art shows, discussions and cultural programmes have been planned for the festival that will end on January 10.