Traditional Music Under Siege in Pakistan... And One Man's Fight to Keep it Alive
The Lahore of Pakistan’s 1947 independence was a haven and a muse for musicians, artists, and poets. But Islamization, ethnic divisions, war and corruption have since torn apart the cultural fabric of Pakistan. In 2004, Izzat Majeed founded Sachal Studios to create a space for traditional music in a nation that had rejected its musical roots. After convincing a number of master musicians to pick up their instruments again, they quietly released some classical and folk albums. But it was an experimental album fusing jazz and South Asian instruments, and a rendition of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five, that brings Sachal Studios to worldwide acclaim. Directors Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Andy Schocken document this story in “Song of Lahore,” playing at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18, 19, 21, and 23.
Watch Sachal Studios' official Take Five video:
