Using Sufi music to heal

Updated On: 17 February, 2020 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonia Lulla

Set to perform at an upcoming concert, AR Rahman on how defining the genre has been in his life

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AR Rahman

When Fiza (2000) director Khalid Mohamed approached AR Rahman for a "Muqabla-type" 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, "I have a qawwali, but I'm giving that to Khayyam." "I said, no, I want that. I grabbed that opportunity," 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 — Unity Concert: The 50th Symphony, will have Rahman employ Sufi music to enable viewers to "experience what we [musicians] feel". He says, "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."

Ameya Dabli