Ali Sethi’s Instagram account is a thing of wonder. If you follow the singer, you’ll know he is often at the legendary Farida Khanum’s home in Lahore. One of our favourite videos is Sethi showing us a glimpse of food at her home — Aloo Gosht, Carrot Raisin Afghani Pulao, Chicken — with Khanum singing Bheempalasi in the background.
As the world goes under lockdown (India is under complete lockdown for 21 days) and most countries have closed their borders down, Ali Sethi, rendered borders meaningless yesterday.
The singer facilitated a heartwarming meeting of minds and music, across borders — between singers Farida Khanum and Rekha Bhardwaj. Vishal Bhardwaj too joined the conversation.
To be able to hear her live…Instagram pe hi sahi. Thank you @rekha_bhardwaj @alisethimusic pic.twitter.com/KKdA0FSv5e
— Shirin (@shirinmehrotra) March 24, 2020
Of course there was ‘Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo’, from Khanum. Rekha sang ‘Phir LeAaya Dil’. The singing was fantastic of course, but it was more the meeting of minds, the conversation (one about Gulzar was precious too), the sense of occasion, the weight of what was happening, across the border, that made the Insta Live extraordinary.
