Jyoti Nooran and Sultana Nooran are jointly known as the the Nooran Sisters and on the second day of Paddy Fields music festival, they delivered a mind blowing Sufi performance. This singing was something many had never heard or seen before. The music just flowed effortlessly. It was probably in their blood. The sister duo and their father, Ustad Gulshan Mir, who is their teacher too, all originate from Jalandhar, in Punjab, India. Backed by a group of 7 musicians, the sisters were a powerhouse of talent and why not, they come from a family of very strong musical roots known for singing Sufi kalams. This singing style has taken them a long way in keeping with their families musical heritage.

Their live appearances have been predominantly at special remembrance melas and large sell-out shows in-front of many thousands of people. At the Paddy Fields, The Nooran Sisters created a high-voltage vibe with Punjabi folk, leaving the audience screaming ‘once more’ at the end of the performance.  At the Paddy Fields event this would go down as the most memorable.

Paddy Fields, held on the weekend of 15^th and 16^th October, witnessed a great start with India's first folk and fusion festival enthralling the audience at the Bombay Exhibition Centre at Goregaon, Mumbai.

The festival kick started with fusion tunes of the Colonial Cousins – Hariharn and Lesle Lewis, followed by the mesmerizing Rajasthani folk by Mame Khan. Bengali musical sensations Gangadhar and Tulika enticed the crowd with a fabulous performance. The evening ended with Papon’s soulful Assamese music, who also treated the audience to Bollywood numbers.

After a power-packed first day of performances, Day 2 at Paddy Fields offered the ultimate folk and fusion blend with live music that had the crowd singing and dancing. The atmosphere at Bombay Exhibition Centre was lively throughout the evening.

Chaar Yaar, a folk band of four friends performed to soulful compositions, making it a perfect beginner for the day. Dhruv Voyage (Dhanekar) put up a fantastic show for music enthusiasts who were taken on a beautiful journey with his melodies.

After a terrific performance by Nooran Sisters, the Merchant brothers set the stage on fire with their energetic set. Salim-Sulaiman fused the Manganiyar twist into Bollywood numbers creating an ambience like never before. The evening ended on a high-note with ‘Chak de India’ as the final performance by Salim-Sulaiman.

The first edition of Paddy Fields in association with Singleton Selections was a tremendous success setting a bar for the future, with the crowd expecting for a bigger and better festival next year. Nesco provided tantalising folk and fusion foodie delights, including food platters and desserts. On the whole, a festival with a difference, which surely many would look forward to next year too.

 - By Verus Ferreira