Nuqoosh may be Ajay Sahaab’s most emotionally honest work to date. As the title suggests, it’s an imprint, almost a map, of the journey of life. “The idea of Nuqoosh germinated when a live concert was organised in Lahore, and many original songs and ghazals penned by me were sung in the presence of legends like Ghulam Ali. The title suggests that it’s the beautiful imprint of whatever transpired in one’s life,” began the writer and lyricist.
Ajay Sahaab worked with Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, and Anup Jalota. Pics/Ashish Raje, mid-day archives
Born Ajay Pandey, he adopted the pen name Ajay Sahaab when he began his tryst with writing, quickly gaining attention for his emotionally rich ghazals and nazms. Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Anup Jalota, and many others lent their voice to his creations. This time around, the lyricist has teamed up with Kavya Limaye and Sachin Limaye to shape the album.
Reflecting on the songs, he shared, “The most relevant one is Sochiye, an evocative poem calling for peace and universal brotherhood in this war-stricken world. Nothing can be more desired than world peace, and this nazm captures that emotion.” Even as Nuqoosh is behind him, the poet is certain that he has many more ghazals within him. When asked if ghazals have takers today, he noted, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever, and ghazal is one of the most beautiful forms of poetic expression. Its message is timeless and universal.”
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Tracks in ‘Nuqoosh’