A Circular Rhythm

By Manish Gaekwad, " Striking a Chord " Planet Radiocity - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Tuesday, June 9, 2009

In Sufi devotion, Zikr represents both a solemn ritual and a spiritual fervour, in which the devotee seeks to realise the presence of God.

When you have A R Rehman reaching out to Allah in the first track of the album, all you need to do is get up and do the step that Hrithik Roshan did in Jodhaa Akbar, where his court singers break into the spirit of ‘Khwaja Mere Khwaja.’ It’s absolutely hypnotic and will have a trance effect on your feet.

Sonu Niigaam comes next in line with ‘Tujh Sang Bandhi Dor’, no less devout. There is a circular rhythm maintained throughout a Sufi number, essential to the whirling dervish form of appeal. Even his voice takes on an unusual scale where he wraps up the lyrics in a wavy timbre to give it a more rounded resonance. You might be haunted by the image of a lone semazen spinning on the wheel of his faith inside an empty stupa.

Abida Parveen’s ‘Raanjhan’ shimmers with the brilliance of her divine voice, and because her accompaniments are few – just the tabla and the harmonium perfectly strung within the clasp of a manjeera – the effect is mesmerising. Her ‘Bulleh Nu Samjhavan’ is equally captivating. ‘Ab Lagan Lagi’ scores too. The appeal of her songs lies in how her voice constantly in search of a prayer rises above its musical frame that is kept minimal to elevate her clarion call.

The Wadali Brothers, Sufi music’s most robust exponents, come in quite effectively with ‘Yaad Piya Ki Aaye’, in which the sarangi needling through their thick, rustic voices is a far set ode to the shifting dunes of memory. I’m guessing you’ll return back to this number a few times, to reset your own tuneful memory. They pack in two other gems as well.

Shubha Mudgal contributes to this wonderfully gifted album with ‘Main Sutti Rahiyan’. This song was part of an earlier album she had cut, and it was also included in a Buddha Bar compilation some years ago. I have only one word for this song: heaven! I suppose when you reach the gates, this is what is played by the angels to welcome you; that they have been sleeping in your absence.

Roop Kumar Rathod’s number, ‘Allahu’ sounds oddly out of place for trying to create a unique blend of tablas and electronic guitar work on a bass rhythm.

Asha Bhonsle appears in another version of the song, not particularly impressive.

The thing to notice, and which I will not have to stress on is that this album is not a compilation of Sufi suffused songs as much as it is an assembly of some of the finest voices peacefully invoking an audience with God.

You are free to participate, as long as your method is music to the ears.

Whirling Sufis
Artist: A R Rehman, Sonu Nigam, Abida Parveen, Wadali Brothers, Shubha Mudgal, Roop Kumar Rathod, Asha Bhonsle
Lyricist: Various
Label: Times
Music Genre: Sufi