An evening of timeless beauty

Tina Sani’s luscious voice, clear diction and flawless control over the nuances of word and music have made her one of the country’s most beloved ghazal singers.

The classical Urdu performer Tina Sani. Courtesy Boulevard One

When it comes to Urdu poetry, Tina Sani’s is one of the first names that comes to the mind of any connoisseur of the language. Sani was formally trained in Indian classical music by Ustad Nizamuddin Khan Sahib and Ustad Chand Amrohvi, and her luscious voice, clear diction and flawless control have made her one of the most beloved ghazal singers and nazm (poetry) readers for more than three decades now.

On Friday, Boulevard One brings Sani to Dubai for an evening of tributes to three of the most illustrious poets of the Urdu language: Rumi, Iqbal and Faiz. Sani will start with a piece by Maulana Jalaludin Rumi, Nawa-e-Ney. The 30-minute piece was part of her set for Coke Studio Pakistan’s third season in 2010, bringing it to the attention of the current generation for the first time.

Next, she will sing the work of Pakistan’s national poet, Allama Iqbal, with a rendition of Shikwa, Jawab-e-Shikwa (A Lament to God, and God’s Reply). Sani will conclude the evening with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the Urdu poet whose centenary was celebrated in 2011, also the year in which Sani released an album dedicated to the poet, Bahar Aayi (Spring Arrives).

• Tina Sani’s Magical Evening of Music and Poetry is on Friday at Imax Meydan in Dubai. Doors open at 7pm; the show starts at 8pm. Tickets are priced at Dh350, Dh500 and Dh750, and are available from Time Out, Spinneys, Imax Meydan, Boulevard One and Barbecue Delights. Call 050 508 1904 or email [e-mail] for more details