'Sahib Mera Aik Hai' is a reminder of the beauty we fail to see: Saif Samejo

An ode to the Creator, 'Sahib Mera Aik Hai' is a melancholic track which not only explores the deep and complex relationship between the deity and devotee but also delves into the transient nature of the scene beauty around us.

With breathtaking shots from Nepal, border of Tibet, northern areas of Pakistan as well as Keenjhar Lake, the picturesque video takes the listeners through a spiritual journey. It is centred around a young woman who follows her wanderlust and travels through these locations on foot – and through her journey, the circle of life is portrayed.

With a combination of poetry by the great mystic poets Bhagat Kabir and Ghualam Farid, the lyrics, are deep and profound:

Saahib mera ek hai, duja kaha na jaaye

Duja Saahib jo kahun, saahib khadda rachaaye

Kabira Khara Bazaar Mein, Mange Sabki Khair

Na Kahu Se Dosti, Na Kahu Se Bair

Explaining the conceptualisation of the song, the Sketches' lead vocalist Saif Samejo said that it revolved around human existence and its relationship with nature as a whole: "The main theme behind the video is living in harmony with nature. We spend our lives in cities where motors roar pass us and we lock our lives in high rise buildings, never connecting with the true essence of nature."

He believed that rapid industrialisation has taken away the purity of nature's essence, so the young women in the video seeks to retrieve it: "The young woman goes through those places and whomever she encounters is smiling, whether it’s an old man or a group of children. Later, when she comes to a cityscape, the dust is visible, implying our own lives. She then explores the wondrous world of nature where there are forests, hills, rivers — landforms that soothe our eyes. I want people to fall in love with nature all over again and move away from the digital world."

He also mentioned that the reason for choosing two great poets from different religions was to bridge the gap between the two faiths. Although they hailed from different times, both preached the same thing: harmony and transcending ego: “Earlier the video was supposed to cater to two themes, one about the universality of faith, and second about nature. The idea to take religion was to show that when an individual prostrates before God, be it in any form".

The infusion of various sounds, ranging from a cello and shankh (Indian conch) to piano, guitars and temple bells, creates a soothing sensation that washes over the listener, imparting a sense of calm.