Emanuel Sarfraz
Lahore - After the success of his first instrumental album ‘Sufi saga’ renowned guitarist and mandolin player Sajjad Tafu is all set to release his second album ‘The soul stirrers’. The government of Pakistan on August 14 this year announced Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for him for his services and contribution to the music industry in Pakistan and its promotion worldwide.
Sajjad comes from a musical family called Tafu brothers of Mozang gharana. He is grandson of Haji Fida Hussain, who was a great choreographer and tabla player. His uncle Master Abdullah was top music director of Pakistani film industry. Sajjad’s father Tafu Sahib is living legend who has composed hundreds of hit songs. A graduate of Government College Lahore Sajjad entered the film industry as a musician at the age of 14 in 1974. He played music for more than 2,000 songs. His skills as a composer honed over the years and he worked as music director for many films. He has given background music and composed music for scores of TV plays. Currently he is working on the music of Punjabi film ‘Sukh naal naseeban’.  
Talking to The Nation about his upcoming album Sajjad visibly excited said that he had been working on the album for about one year. “The trend of instrumental albums is finally picking up in Pakistan. My album ‘Sufi saga’ was the first one. Then some other artistes also jumped into the bandwagon.
Now ‘Soul stirrers’ will create ripples in the music industry and bring the much needed change in our music industry.
“Computer generated music has become dominant in Pakisan and Indian music industry. I believe that musical instruments when played with devotion have an altogether different impact on the people. Only instrumental music can stir the souls of music lovers. This jhankar and computer blended tunes can never be soul soothing.
“I have used mandolin and guitar as instruments while tabla, bongo and trumpet will also feature in the album for richness. The album is a dialogue as well as monologue of musical instruments. I have tried to blend the culturally rich heritage of the land in the music as well as pure Sufi tunes. I have introduced folk music in an altogether different way – the way it was presented hundreds of years ago,” Sajjad explained.
The album would have 10 tracks comprising folk and Sufi music. It is pertinent to mention here that Sajjad’s inspiration comes from the folklore of Punjab and Sindh and the Sufi saints. He said that one track would be Pushto.