Set to perform at an upcoming concert, AR Rahman on how defining the genre has been in his life Using Sufi music to heal Sonia Lulla sonia. lulla@ mid- day. com When Fiza ( 2000) director Khalid Mohamed approached AR Rahman for a u201c Muqabla- typeu201d of song for the film, Rahman was in search of something different. Nudging him to reveal details of the other tracks in the Hrithik Roshan starrer, Rahman remembers Mohamed saying, u201c I have a qawwali, but Iu2019m giving that to Khayyam.u201d u201c I said, no, I want that. I grabbed that opportunity,u201d laughs Rahman, recalling one among his early Sufi tracks in Bollywood, Piya Haji Ali, which subsequently led to songs like Khwaja mere khwaja and Maula.
The upcoming Ekam Satt u2014 Unity Concert: The 50th Symphony, will have Rahman employ Sufi music to enable viewers to u201c experience what we [ musicians] feelu201d. He says, u201c Our team wants to do things beyond music; when words stop communicating, [ Sufi] music takes the experience further.
My interpretation of this concert is to take everyone to a celestial level, where oneness [ can be achieved]. We create visuals and patterns [ to do so] and aim to [ have] walls broken down.
Some of those who will sing with me belong to [ my institute] KM Music Conservatory.u201d Despite the limited exposure the genre has received in Bollywood, Sufi tracks have been whole- heartedly accepted by music listeners, yet, Rahman doesnu2019t see the genre as one that is mainstream, u201c because few understand it.u201d Co- performer Ameya Dabli will team up with Rahman for a special performance, apart from enthralling listeners to his folk set. Dabli says, u201c[ This edition is] a tribute to the forces that protect our borders. In the wake of the uncertainty of life today, considering the [ diseases affecting us], and our mundane [ life] which can be stressful, we feel music can be a healer.u201d
