Part qawwali, part Hindustani classical, and part arena-ready energy is how Sufi artistes Salman-Zaman describe their sound. Forming a musical duo, brothers Salman Khan Niazi and Zaman Khan have carried the legacy of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana while building a distinctly contemporary sound. It was evident in their performance, positioned as Sufi Ke Sultan, at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Bandra on April 19.

“When we formed Astitva [band] back in our college days, we did a blend of Indian classical with alternative rock sound,” recalled Salman. “Then changing the outlook and becoming a Sufi duo made us closer to our roots of Hindustani classical music.”