Mumbai celebrates Sufi music

Two festivals in the city will celebrate Sufi music by bringing together international artistes and cultural acts from across India.

Fans of Sufi music have a lot to look forward to over the next few weeks. As part of two city festivals — Samaa and Ruhaniyat — aficionados will be able to enjoy the genre through diverse performances from various parts of India and abroad. While the former is being helmed by the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA) and is on till November 24, Banyan Tree is organising the latter, which is a two-day fest that will be held on December 7 and 8.


As part of Samaa, veteran theatre artistes Salim Arif and Lubna Salim will present a selection of Sufi and Bhakti poetry that has been penned by the likes of Rumi, Lal Dedh, Kabir, Bulle Shah and Amir Khusrau. The recital will be followed by a qawwali concert by Wajahat Jaffar Badayuni And Group. The musical extravaganza will conclude with a performance by singer Parthiv Gohil on November 24.

Ruhaniyat will kick-off with an Indo-Turkish stage production titled Rumi-Emre Meets Khusrau-Kabir. Turkish singer-composer Latif Bolat and whirling dervishes from Turkey will collaborate with veteran singer Madan Gopal Singh and his Chaar Yaar ensemble for the first time. “I enjoy performing in India as the audience here is very receptive as well as knowledgeable,” says Bolat. The event will also see Abdul Rashid Hafiz from Kashmir presenting Sufiana Kalams and a qawwali performance by Chishti Brothers And Group. “We will be presenting Qual, Hamd, Naat and Kalams of Hazrat Amir Khusrau,” says Sarfaraz Chishti from Chishti Brothers And Group. The fest will conclude with a Puruliya Chhau dance by Shubroro Mahato And Group from Odisha.

Samaa will be on till November 24 at the NCPA, Nariman Point. Ruhaniyat will be held on December 7 and 8, at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, from 6.30 pm.