This weekend’s Kaavish event in Lahore marked the band’s 14th anniversary of performing live. The crowd included people of all ages: millennials who grew up listening to “Bachpan” during their O/A Level and college years, Gen-Zs who may have only recently become aware of Kaavish due to his recent partnership with Abdul Hannan for Coke Studio, and even somewhat older individuals who may have been admirers of Jaffer Zaidi’s mother, Nayyara Noor. It was a touching sight to witness all these different age groups lining up for the concert on Friday night.
Their first song, “Bachpan,” kicked off the event just on schedule, which is something I really like. As soon as Jaffer concluded the opening line, “Yeh woh jagah hai,” the crowd erupted in applause, sending everyone into a nostalgic daze. The band delivered the gorgeous track complete credit, leaving us all asking why they kept us from seeing Kaavish live for so long.
Reputable violinist Javed Iqbal joined in on “Dekho,” adding a whole new level of charm to the remaining performances. “Tere Pyaar Main,” the third performance of the evening, had the audience in complete shock. They were cheering at the top of their lungs, demanding that the song be played again and that their prayers be answered. The audience’s request for a third performance was a clear indicator of how fantastic the show was.
Another hit song, “Faasle,” which they flawlessly performed, leaving the audience in complete amazement. A live performance seldom surpasses the studio version, but Kaavish succeeded in doing so that evening, especially with “Faasle.”
There were technical difficulties during the performance, and the audience took over and started singing along at full volume, which made the show even more enjoyable. Nobody was disappointed, demonstrating that after the problems were fixed, everyone knew what greatness was expected. The audience’s response further demonstrated that Kaavish never has problems with technology.
The problems were soon fixed, and the performance resumed with the powerful song “Nindiya Re,” which everyone appeared to be enthusiastically enjoying. This was just after the two-minute intermission. The night’s most exquisite aspect was the equal enthusiasm of all age groups for the performance. I watched little boys and girls cry and sing along, and I watched women the age of their mothers take out their phones to record the performance so they could watch it again later.
Though that occurred prior to the final performance, I had thought that the close would feature the most current Coke Studio number. We also received a small surprise when Abdul Hannan on the stage to start the song “O Yaara.” This was the first time that any of the artists had ever performed “O Yaara” live.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Hannan entered the stage, but his modest approach and commitment to the song made sure that the teamwork was evident. Though Hannan’s opening vocal was intense and heartfelt, Jaffer’s contribution was as impactful, demonstrating the diversity both artists bring to the song to make it what it is. All of the performers in “O Yaara’s” live stage debut provided the audience with a performance they will never forget!
Even though there were a lot of memorable moments from #KaavishinLahore, Jaffer Zaidi’s brief homage to his mother, Nayyara Noor, at the end of the evening may have been the most touching. He sang “Raat Yun Dil Mein Teri Khowi Huwi Yaad Aai,” leaving everyone in awe of her skill.
The melodies of Kaavish flow through your spirit like a spell, shattering your heart and then softly mending it, as writer and culture enthusiast Nazuk Iftikhar Rao said to Images.
People in Lahore had a night to remember after Kaavish’s maiden performance; they were laughing, sobbing, and singing uncontrollably. We shall never forget the enchantment their music created on a hot summer night in Lahore within the Alhamra Art Center. All we can hope is that they continue to recreate this magic often!
