Directed by Umair Riaz in collaboration with ASNA Pictures and Kashf Foundation, ‘Dilri Lutti’ sheds light on inspirational women who survived and conquered their lives despite challenging circumstances that many women have to face in this country.
Jimmy Khan, the renowned self-made Pakistani singer and song-writer best known for his acoustic and soul-calming music, has released his latest single Dilri Lutti. This is the first time Jimmy Khan has sung a song in Siraiki in collaboration with the soulful sitar player Rakae Jamil.
The kafi written by Khawaja Ghulam Farid has been sung by many including Pathanay Khan, Alla Ditta Lonay Wala, Shahida Parveen and Attaullah Esakhelvi. Introduced to this musical gem by his vocal instructor Ustad Aslam Khan, Jimmy was inspired to create his own rendition. Umar Riaz directed the impactful music video featuring inspirational women from various walks of life who, with the support of the Kashf Foundation and the Depilex Smile Again Foundation, turned their lives around for the better for themselves and their families despite their difficult and challenging circumstances. The art direction for the video was done by Zoha Khan.
Regarding the song, Jimmy Khan said, “This was my first time recording a folk song and my first collaboration with Rakae Jamil who has both produced the song as well as played sitar on it. On his collaboration with Umar Riaz for the music video, the artist added: “Working with Umar and his passion to shed light on this cause, I whole-heartedly advocate it. It was an honour meeting these superwomen and learning their inspirational life stories. I was moved by what they’ve made of themselves and their loved ones having had the worst hands dealt to them. They truly are super humans.”
The video’s narrative chronicles the stories of the four women through stop motion animation and dolls. The animation, in its final form, was created from nearly 2000 distinct still images. The use of dolls to depict the stories was inspired from the fact that dolls are vital pieces that establish gender identities in the minds of children.
Regarding the inspiration behind the video, the director Umar Riaz said, “The idea for the video sprung from listening in particular to the women in my life – friends and family – sharing their experiences on being in public places in Pakistan. The idea of being watched, judged or worse simply for being what you are rather than who you are made me realize my unjust privilege of being born a man in our society. Our aim was to empathize and share the themes of the many stories – horrific in their similarities – I had been told in private We hope this work will contribute to the very important conversations being had in the continuous and vital fight for the granting of equal rights, indiscriminate respect and just dignity for all.”
Regarding the musical collaboration, the sitar player for the song Rakae Jamil said, “Working on “Dilri Lutti” with Jimmy Khan was one of my most memorable experiences. To suit Jimmy’s soulful and penetrating voice, I had to create a soundscape that would not overpower his vocal tone, hence the minimal arrangement and instrumentation, as well as complimenting Umar Riaz’s sensitive and powerful visuals, at times melancholic but with a hint of hope and positivity. “
Jimmy Khan has previously featured in Coke Studio and OSTs for movies such as Ho Mann Jahaan and Dobara Phir Se to much acclaim. This is his second single after “Madam’ which took social media by storm.
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