NCPA presentation Sama’a: The Mystic Ecstasy Festival of Sufi music 

7^th November

Breathe into Me - A documentary and poetry recitation by Muzaffar Ali

The name ‘Mevlana Rumi’ stands for love and ecstatic flight into the infinite, and the concept of divine love is at the center of the Mevlawi order founded by him.

Muzaffar Ali is a filmmaker, painter and designer, driven by poetry. He is especially interested in the creative textile traditions of Awadh, which includes Lucknow and Kotwara. “A man for all arts”, his body of work includes classic films like Umrao Jaan and Gaman. His ongoing quest for beauty has drawn him towards the Sufi path of love, resulting in establishing the Rumi Foundation and several music albums based on Sufi poetry including the annual World Sufi Music Festival, Jahan e Khusrau. There will be a screening of ‘Breathe into Me’, a documentary by Muzaffar Ali on Mevlana Rumi's poetry, followed by the actual rendering of Rumi's verses by Muzaffar Ali as a dialogue between the flute and him.  

The event will conclude with an interactive session with Muzaffar Ali.

Ticket rates: 350, 250 (for public)

When: Friday, November 7^th, 5.30 pm

Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA

Qawwali Performance by Nasir & Nazir Ahmed Khan Warsi

Qawwali is the predominant genre through which Sufi music finds expression in the Indian subcontinent. Although performed mainly at Sufi shrines (dargah), today the genre has gained mainstream popularity.Qawwali is specially regarded as the most accessible musical form leading to spiritual crescendo.Warsi brothers from Hyderabad trace their family lineage to the legendary musician Tanras Khan, and belong to the celebrated ‘Qawwal bacche gharana’. Trained by their father and grandfather, Zahir Ahmed and Aziz Ahmed respectively, who were also illustrious qawwali singers, Warsi brothers have performed in many prestigious venues across the world.  Nasir & Nazir Ahmed Khan Warsi will present dargahi qawwalis composed by various Sufi saints.

Ticket rates: 400, 350 (for public)

When: Friday, November 7^th,  7.30 pm

Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA

8^th November

1)   Two documentaries by Muzaffar Ali

India, the garden of saints English, 37 min (2002)

India has been the blessed land where spirituality flourished transgressing all manmade barriers. This documentary offers a glimpse of Sufi shrines in India highlighting the contribution of Sufi mystics in spreading the message of humanity and love. 

Nisbat  English, 30 min (1998)

The documentary depicts a spiritual journey of a young man at the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer Sharif, one of the most revered monuments in India dedicated to Sufi-Chishti order.

Entry free on first come first served basis.

When: Saturday, Nov 8^th, 5.30 pm Where: Tata Theatre

Dance performance - Dervish in Progress By Ziya Azazi

Ziya Azazi is a Turkish born Austrian dancer & choreographer whose dance practice is primarily based on experimental whirling and repetition.

His presentation, Dervish in Progress, has two parts- Azab (agony) & Dervish.This solo performance is acontemporary interpretation of traditional Sufi dance, reflecting Ziya Azazi’s personal, artistic, conceptual and motional analysis. It aims to simultaneously represent the physical awareness and a high state of meditation. This performance explores the moment in the life of a dervish when s/he starts to enjoy his/her achievement through the joyful and ecstatic repetition of whirling: the looping of spinning which leads to trance. The three skirt costumes intensify this joy with their illuminated and diverse colours and forms.This dynamic, metamorphic solo transforms the classical Sufi dance into a spectacular form as it suggests possibilities for joy to become ritual, without needing boundaries of existing belief systems.

Ticket rates: 1000, 750, 500, 300 (for public)

When: Saturday, Nov 8^th, 7.00 pm Where: Tata Theatre

9^th November

Sufiana songs by Kailash Kher

The core idea of love, longing and union with the beloved, as espoused in the Sufi songs has an evergreen appeal with people from all of walks life, transcending the manmade boundaries of region, religion, caste and creed. Today, besides the traditional repertoire a large number of songs are sung under the Sufi label. These compositions show a marked influence of contemporary idioms and expressions, and are widely popular with the masses.

Raised in a musical environment, Kailash Kher’s style is influenced by Indian folk music and characterized by his earthy soulful voice. Having sung in 18 Indian languages and over 300 songs for Bollywood, today, Kailash Kher is an icon in the Indi-pop genre. Notable among his songs are: Alla ke bande, Rabba pyar na hove, Teri deewani, and hosts of non-filmy albums like Kailasa, Jhoomo re and others. Kailash has also composed music for films.

Kailash Kher’s presentation will include a bouquet of sufiana compositions from traditional repertoire and also songs based in Bollywood.

Ticket rates: 1500, 1200, 900, 600 (for public)

When: Sunday, Nov 9^th, 6.30 pm Where: Tata Theatre