South Asian classical music is one of the most complex and fascinating music systems in the world and according to its theory, different types of melodies should express different moods. Classical and contemporary South Asian singers generally employ well-established ragas and the poetry (ghazals, nazm or folk) provides the basis for conveying layered emotions by entwining music and words.

Mirza Ghalib, the greatest Urdu poet form the nineteenth century, still remains the favourite for ghazal singers in India and Pakistan. Ghalib’s universality and the freshness of his language attracts many singers. Similarly the poetry of Faiz also enjoys widespread support among the singers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. After Ghalib, Faiz is the most popular poet among ghazal and contemporary singers. Both the political and love poems of Faiz are the essential repertoires of countless singers. The revolutionary message of Faiz is still relevant as it was some fifty years ago. The most heartening aspect of present-day struggle in Pakistan is the employment of Faiz’s poetry and songs as an integral part of arsenal to mobilise and energies the population.

This section provides links to a small selection of Faiz’s poems sung and recited by some of our legendary singers.