KOCHI: The road to Sufiana is tough.
It is not possible to achieve instant fame in Sufi music. It takes time to become famous.
That’s the philosophy of noted Sufi musician Hans Raj Hans. But Bollywood has proved that a musician can achieve instant success by creating a score with the right mix of Sufi and rock.
Recent Bollywood chart busters are a perfect example of this. Be it pure Sufi or a mix of the traditional form of music with the Sufi flavoured themes, it is guaranteed a space among the top 10 alltime hits.
Pankaj Awasthi’s ‘Maula Mere Maula’ from ‘Anwar’, A R Rahman’s ‘Tere Bina’ from ‘Guru’ and ‘Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ from ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, Rabbi Shergill’s ‘Bulla ki jaana maen kaun’ and Pritam Chakraborty’s ‘Ya Ali’ from ‘Gangster’ have all been able to retain their number one positions in music charts even when the movies went down the dumps. Their remix versions are a hit in discotheques and parties. Ask any youngster for his favourite songs and at least one Sufithemed music is sure to be on the list.
GenNext’s preference for something ‘hatke’ in music is what makes Sufi music click.
“Sufi songs have a different feel unlike other Bollywood numbers. There are some songs that you have to listen to a number of times before you start liking it. But Sufi songs touch your heart instantly.
They have a pure quality in the lyrics and in the music,” said Shardul Kunjhimon, a student. “I came to know about this genre of music only because of Kailash Kher whose ‘Allah ke bande’ and ‘Teri deewani’ were hits.” Though there are many sites from where you can download Sufi music for free, the sale of CDs with Sufi themes have not declined, said an employee of the MG Road branch of Music World.
“It’s not just teenagers who love Sufi music. People in their 40s and 50s too buy CDs with Sufi songs.” A reason why Sufi music appeals to the elderly is because it is pleasant to the ear, feels Gauri Paresh, a music lover.
Using Sufi themes in Bollywood music is not a new phenomenon. ‘Pardah hai pardah’ from ‘Amar Akbar Antony’ (1977) sung by Mohammed Rafi is an example of a famous filmi qawaali (Qawwali is the devotional music of the Sufis). Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, popularly known as the ‘Sultan of Sufi music’, helped qawwali gain international recognition with ‘Kinna sohna tenu’.
Though this genre of music was prominent in Punjab and in areas with a dominant Muslim population, an average music lover started taking notice of it only in recent times, thanks to Bollywood.
Another reason for the popularity of Sufi songs might be its go-out-there-and-changethe- world optimistic message.
Irrespective of caste, religion and age, people are able to relate to the messages in these songs - love for everyone, peace and harmony and a way to come close to God.
As Hans Raj puts it, “People who are Sufi music lovers are blessed.”
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