These songs by National Ka Pakistan celebrate the beauty of our country's diversity
We often find ourselves stuck in the sludge of city life, losing sight of the bigger, beautiful picture, often looking for a sweet escape ... And that's what the TV series National Ka Pakistan is all about!
Sponsored by National Foods, the series recently aired its fifth season. The songs take us through some unseen places across Pakistan, indulging in our eclectic senses with the soul-stirring Pashto poetry, lively Punjabi beats and romance of Sindhi folk lore.
The liveliness of Punjab:
Celebrating the liveliness of Punjab, 'Rung Punjab Da' captures the true essence of the province; the vibrant colours, the historic sites, especially the green of the farm fields and the freshness of the air - all of which weave in perfectly with the song.
This song is bound to make you feel proud of your Punjabi roots and patriotism for the Pakistani soil.
The desire for a 'Happily Ever After':
Another modern rendition, this song is an attempt to recolour Madame Noor Jehan's classic 'Mahi Ve Mainu Laal Chadha De Choora'.
For this song, Shuja Haider boasts to have found the female singer Mobina Akbar, who hails from a small town of Kot Ameer Khan in Punjab ─ her voice filled with depth and love. And of course, Shuja's soft vocals are a welcome addition to the song.
The lover unaware of their beauty:
Taking us through the land of saints and Sufi poets, this modern rendition of Sindhi folk song 'Oh Sohna' is a tribute to a lover ignorant of their own beauty. The beats of the Ghara with the guitar tunes make this folk song a real treat for the ears.
And the poetry in Sindhi is just as beautiful, it can be felt if not understood.
Perhaps, it is the region's poetry and its music and its arts that add the joy and the colour to an otherwise dry and difficult desert area. Sohna, indeed.
The hauntingly beautiful Pashto poetry
The series makes its last stop in the rugged mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Shuja Haider's little ditty about lost love is largely overshadowed by the hauntingly beautiful Pashto verses that ensconce it.
The indigenous singer's rich, deep voice has found many, many fans, who collectively complain that the song ends too soon. We wouldn't mind hearing more of it either.
If you could hear the magnanimity of pain felt after losing your love, this composition is what it'll sound like.
Watch the complete season here to treat your senses!
This content has been produced in paid partnership with National Foods.