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Beginning with a classic from the 50s and progressing right through to the new millennium, the recordings – some blockbuster hits, others more rare – tell the true story of Sufi music in India and its influence on the more folklorish Qawwali, a music consumed on a daily basis, side-by-side with all other forms of popular Bollywood music. Sufi-influenced music has been present in Indian cinema pretty much since the first films were released. The relationship of Sufi music to the more popular Qawwali is almost similar to that of traditional Gospel music to traditional R&B music as pioneered by Ray Charles. The performances are not always ‘pure’ in the lyrical sense, but neither are they devoid of ‘soul’. Whether following the popular conventions of the time, or striking out on their own, some of Bollywood’s most impassioned and heartfelt performances are caught in these tracks. |
Sufis At The Cinema
