Teaser
ZOON (translated as Moon in Kashmiri Language) also known as HABBA KHATOON
It was a sheer chance that a friend of mine from Mumbai Dr Sadaf Ulde shared with me an amazing story about a drama titled ZOON. Noor Kashmir Ka, written and directed by Purva Naresh. The show ran full house at Mumbai a few months ago and the audience was enthralled by the dramatic reinterpretation of the last poet queen of Kashmir; also known as the Nightingale of Kashmir. All were in tears at the end of the play.
I too was moved by her story. I wanted to understand more about her. Sadaf asked me to meet another friend Mohammad Younuss, a professional writer and a poet who was also part of the writing team of the play. We met and I fell in love with ZOON. Certainly another coincidence. I happened to visit ZOON's grave and her wanderings in Kashmir. There was something mystical about her. I couldn't stop thinking hence decided to make a short film on her life. Though the situation in Kashmir prevented me to do so but a method was found. I will compose a musical piece and narrate her life in the form of flash animation. In fact a musical album with a background story.
ZOON assumed another life. I created the musical piece looking at her grave in Kashmir and almost cried in the whole process; adopted one of her legendary poems (Rah Bakshtam Ser Parvardaigaro meaning May the Benevolent God Forgive Give all My Sins) in the melody. Beyond any comprehension, I must say that she was a legend, India must be proud of; and deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated. She is Kashmir, a proud symbol of Kashmiriyat and lives in the heart and soul of every Kashmiri even today.
Some of her legendary poems are as under:-
- Gather Violets O Narcissus
- Lol of the Lonely Pine
- Habba Khatoon
- Lol of the Wild Yellow Rose
- Never Return These Hours
- Song of the Restless Stream
- The Golden Wine Cups of the Night
- Why are You Cross With Me
Habba Khatoon Mountain at Gurez Valley, District Bandipora (Jammu & Kashmir). This beautiful feature is named after her.
An artistic impression of Habba Khatoon
During the process, I further discovered that ZOON has remained a subject of creative endeavours by many legends in the past. Film-makers have tried making feature films on her life but none could complete ever. There is a whisper in Kashmir that anyone who tried on this subject has only failed en route. The legendary Mehboob Khan Sahab after the release of his epic MOTHER INDIA announced HABBA KHATOON starring Dilip Kumar and Nargis. Music was to be composed by Naushad Sahab. Unfortunately the film never reached box office. Muzzafar Ali did in the late 80s and so Sanjay Khan during the same time. In fact, the music of Sanjay Khan's HABBA KHATOON was composed by the Naushad Sahab and title song sung by Mohammad Rafi. A mere coincidence that this was the last recorded song by Rafi Sahab with Naushad Sahab, and he literally cried while singing. He did not even charge remuneration for this beautiful composition.
Kindly check the link and listen how Naushad Sahab narrates the process of song which he recorded for Sanjay Khan's HABBA KHATOON?
Concept Note of ZOON...
ZOON is the story of HABBA KHATOON (1554 - 1609 AD) who is also known as the Nightingale of Kashmir because of her immense beauty. She "the dazzling damsel" is one of the most prominent poets from the ancient valley of Kashmir. She was also the wife of Yusuf Shah Chak, the last indigenous ruler of Kashmir. In 1579 AD, Yusuf Shah Chak was arrested by Mughul Emperor Akbar and imprisoned first in Agra and then in Bihar; never to return. After this, HABBA KHATOON became an ascetic, and spent the rest of her life across the valley singing her songs. Kashmir was subsequently taken over by the Mughals. It must be mentioned that Mughals could never defeat the Chaks in any of the battles fought by Babur, Humayun or Akbar. HABBA KHATOON finally died in 1609 AD and was buried near Pantha Chowk in Srinagar. Her grave lies abandoned today and similar is the fate of the grave of Yusuf Shah Chak in Nalanda, Bihar.
ZOON is the story of the spirit of HABBA KHATOON still alive next to her abandoned grave since 1609 AD. She has remained witness to the destruction and betrayal of Kashmir by outsiders. Kashmir has never been the same since the times of Chaks; who were the last indigenous rulers of this beautiful land. The Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras until 1947 can never claim to represent the soul of Kashmiriyat as all were outsiders. Since 1947 onwards, Kashmir has only witnessed betrayals.
This short film is a musical presentation of the journey of Kashmir from the perspective of HABBA KHATOON since 1609 AD till 2020 AD. How she has been left abandoned under the shadow of betrayals?
A note of thanks to my friends Natalia Martire (a singer, songwriter and musician from Spain for her renditions of the interpretations of my melody), Neha Bisht, Archana Kapoor Nagpal, Pramod Pathak, Amarjeet Singh and Akash Chauhan for sharing their valuable creative inputs during the process of ZOON. Raja Bilal and his wife Shahi Mumtaz added soul with their musical settings. The lady has a voice of an angel. Umer Majeed created magic with his fingers on Santoor. His music takes us to the mystics of Kashmir.
I am happy for the melody that I created and planning to make a theatrical production on ZOON. Taking the same script to a different form of adaptation and sincerely believe that the Kashmiri whisper remains aloof from me.
Great Insight! Looking forward to see the cinematic representation.
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