Mesmerised

By Staff Writer, *A performance that touches the soul* - Emirates Business 24 / 7 - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Saturday, June 26, 2010

UAE's Malhaar choir brings four Sufi thinkers to life.

Dubai was mesmerised when Malhaar, a UAE-based Indian choir group, and Theatrewallas, an Indian theatre group brought to life four Sufis (or thinkers) on Friday evening at a DSS 2010 event at Centrepoint theatre in Ductac, Mall of the Emirates.

Rooh-e-Ishq, which translates into 'in love with the soul' gave the audience a soulful experience with scintillating music, theatre, art and poetry, in a show that lasted for more than three hours.

The well-researched musical gave a fresh perspective on four Sufi thinkers - Rumi, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusro and Kabir. At the end of the show, the audience gave a standing ovation to the entire cast and crew, who were aged between seven and seventy.

Famous musician from India, Gulam Ali, who played the string instrument, Sarangi, held the the audience spellbound and added a new dimension to the evening's performance. It was a rare treat for the audience in the UAE, given that such instruments are rarely played in India nowadays and can almost be termed a dying art.

Malhaar's founder director, Jogiraj Sikidar, said, "It was a humble attempt to kindle the music of your soul."

Towards the end of the evening, two paintings by an Indian artiste, Shrabany Brahmachary, were handed over by Malhaar to Manzil, a non-profit organisation, to help raise funds.

Picture: Mysitical shades of Sufism on canvas by Shrabani Brahmachary, an Indian artiste. Photo: Supplied / EB