Lucknow: The air was heavy with emotion as Askari Naqvi, a performing artist and exponent of Sozkhwani, presented ‘Sozkhwani ka Funn’ at an event held at Sanatkada on Saturday.Sozkhwani is a traditional mourning art that combines poetry and music to lament the martyrdom of Imam Husain and his 72 companions at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.“Though the narrative originated in Iraq, India’s Awadh region refashioned it into a sophisticated performing art unique to Awadh,” said Naqvi.The recital commenced with sharp, solemn notes, tracing the battle through classical verses. It progressed from Imam Husain’s departure from Medina to the agonising deprivation of water on the battlefield. Following the final departures of his companions, a solitary Imam Husain faced the enemy ranks before his ultimate martyrdom.Naqvi explained that multiple artistic expressions surround the tragedy of Karbala, with Sozkhwani distinguished by its complex vocal structure. He noted that while intense grief remains its central emotion, the practice evokes a wide range of aesthetic expressions through strict musical discipline performed entirely without instruments.Asked how such performances affect him, Naqvi said, “Most of the time, it takes me several hours to recover, as scenes from Karbala continue running through my mind.”Dr Nuzhat Husain, a member of the audience, remarked, “This performance will stay in my heart forever.”
