Across a landscape of loss and desolation, a woman walks alone, as the howling desert wind, the scorching sun, the moon and mountain, bear witness. As we fall in step with Sasui on her quest for a lost beloved, piercing questions begin to arise - Are seeking and sorrow entwined? How does one abide with suffering? What is the sacrifice that union demands? Bringing to life a Sufi tale from Sindh through the compelling verses of Shah Latif, this film traces an epic journey of separation, awakening, and pursuit.

Directed by Shabnam Virmani (43 min, 2022)
Featuring reflections by Abdullah Hussain Turk and Saif Samejo, with songs of Shah Latif by singers on both sides of the Indo-Pak border.

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Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai is widely held to be the greatest Sufi poet of the Sindhi language. His poetry is collected into the 'Shah Jo Risalo' which has thirty ‘Surs’ (poetic chapters or musical modes), based on well-known folk stories, love legends and historical events. Some are based on the lives of ordinary people – weavers, blacksmiths, potters, fishermen. Evidently, Latif had himself walked, breathed, sweated, delighted in, and known the lives of the ordinary people of Sindh, making him not just a great Sufi poet but also a great folk poet.

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Abdullah Hussain Turk, or 'Bawa Bha' as he was fondly called in Kutch, Gujarat, was a man whose heart was steeped in the poetry of the famous 18th century Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and the sounds of the Kutchi Sindhi raag. Abdullah bhai lived in a small village called Dhrab near Mundra in Kutch. He started singing at the young age of 10 and remained completely absorbed in Sufi thought and poetry ever since. Through his renditions of the songs, he could interpret profound ideas in Latif’s poetry in simple uncomplicated terms for his audience. He was also a wonderful raconteur, organiser of festivals bringing together Kutchi folk and Sufi artists, and a guru to several young singers. Abdullah bhai passed away in 2015. He is remembered in Kutch as ‘Ghazi’, the fighter.

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Saif Samejo is lead musician of the popular Pakistani music band The Sketches which came together in the year 2009. In 2011-12 he envisioned the Lahooti Live Sessions as a platform to record with indigenous folk artists of Pakistan who were ignored by mainstream society and media, with a view to accord them due respect, create a space to help revive and preserve their art forms and in some measure also financially empower them. This initiative grew into the annual Lahooti Melo in 2016, which today is a big stage in Pakistan for artists to come and perform from all over the country and foreign lands. He lives in Jamshoro and can be contacted at [email protected].

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The soft-spoken and deeply learned Umar Haji Suleman belongs to the camel rearing nomadic community of Fakirani Jats, and lives in Asari Vaandh village of Kutch, Gujarat. He was initiated into 'Shah jo Raag' by listening to his father Haji Suleman sing the Surs of Shah Bhitai, a love that he nurtured while grazing camels, goats and cattle carrying a copy of the precious Shah's Risalo with him. During the pandemic, Umar Kaka has created a learning space in his home to teach children, especially little girls from the villages of his region, the poetry and music of Shah Latif. He can be contacted at 91-99259-76663.

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Film Credits
Direction: Shabnam Virmani
Editing: Yashwanth S, Vrushodh Subramaniam
Camera: Shabnam Virmani, Manjushree Abhinav
Artworks: Roy Varghese, Shilo Shiv Suleiman
Animations: Radhika Agarwal, Shivam Kumar, Shilo Shiv Suleiman
Motion Graphics: Yashwanth S
Logo & Sandstorm Animations: Yashraj Surana

Songs: Mitha Khan & Sumar Kadu Jat, Mooralala Marwada & Saidu Ibrahim
Poem Translations: Vipul Rikhi & Shabnam Virmani
Social Media and Publicity: Masoom Parmar
Production Support: Psalm Paul
Solidarity and Outreach: Aruna Madnani, Sindhi Culture Foundation
Financial Support: Embassy Group, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and Technology

Produced by: Kabir Project @ Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design & Technology
Presented by the Kabir Project (Ajab Mulakaatein lockdown film series)
& Sindhi Culture Foundation (Doorway to Sindh webinar series)

November 20, 2022