Indian music with its rich legacy of over three millennia, has always had a place of pride in the realms of art and culture. The NCPA embraces the diversity of Indian music and continues to feature a wide spectrum of artistes ranging from emerging to established performers. The consciously curated programming includes classical, and semi-classical to devotional, light, regional, folk and cross-over music. The unique thematic element associated with each property makes it exclusive. Over the past decade, the NCPA’s Indian music festivals have been appreciated by artistes as well as audiences worldwide.

Sama’a: The Mystic Ecstasy -  Festival of Sufi music

Supported by  Roopa Kudva

About the festival:  Based on the mystical branch of Islam, Sufism preaches peace, tolerance and pluralism. Music is regarded as a way of deepening one’s relationship with the Creator, and hence longing to dissolve the physical realm and transcend into the spiritual universe with Sama’a, the practice of listening to music, chanting, whirling and finally culminating in spiritual ecstasy. Sufi music is practiced in different regions of the world through an array of forms.

Day 1 

i) How can I forget? The legend of Marui 

ii)Don't fall in love with those who wander in boats

What: Screening of 2 documentaries by Shabnam Virmani

When:  Friday, 9 February - 5 pm

Where: Godrej Dance Theatre

Duration: 1 hr 20 mins

Entry: On a first come first-come-first-served basis

Registration link: BookMyShow

About the screening: Shabnam Virmani is a filmmaker, musician and pioneer of the landmark Kabir Project. Both films are inspired by the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (18th century), one of the greatest Sufi poets of the Sindhi language. His poetry is based on well-known folk stories, love legends, historical events as well as on the lives of ordinary people, making him not just a great Sufi poet but also a great folk poet. The films also feature Shah Latif’s poetry as sung by Waai singers from Kutch.

Sufiyana Safar -  An Illustrative Talk by Dhanashree Lele

Where:  Experimental Theatre

When: 6.30 pm

Language: English, Hindi

Duration: 2 hrs

Tickets: BookMyShow

About the event:  The pain of separation from the Creator is at the core of Sufi ideology. While saint-philosophers like Rumi, Lal Dedh, Kabir, Bulle Shah and others, have fervently expressed their love and longing for the Divine through their poetry, we find similar thoughts also being echoed in the works of others like Tukaram, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and many Bhakti poets across ages in numerous languages.

Day 2

Ishq Fakira Da -  Presented by ‘Maati Baani’

When: Saturday, 10 February -  6.30 pm

Where:  Experimental Theatre

Language: English, Hindi 

Duration: 2 hrs

Tickets: BookMyShow

About the event:  Featuring talented folk artistes Nirali Kartik, Kartik Shah with Mooralala Marwada, Aashima Mahajan, Noor Mohammed Sodha and friends from Kutch and some typical instruments like jodiya pawa or algoza (double flute) alongside Western instruments, the group seeks to embark on a poetic odyssey, rendering the immortal verses of legendary Sufi poets like Kabir, Bulle Shah, Baba Farid, Shah Abdul Latif, Lal Dedh, Mirabai and Rumi. Various facets of love are explored, from passionate and intense to the spiritual and divine, with songs presented in assorted languages including Hindi, Sindhi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Persian.

Day 3

Jashn-e-Bahar -  An evening of Sufi music by Javed Ali

When:  Sunday, 11 February -  6.30 pm

Where: Tata Theatre

Language: English, Hindi 

Duration: 2 hrs

Age Suitability: 6+

Tickets: BookMyShow

About the show:  Javed Ali’s presentation will include a bouquet of sufiana compositions from the traditional repertoire and also songs based in Bollywood.

Geet Gunjan: A bouquet of Gujarati music and poetry

In association with Mariwala Foundation, Jasubhai Foundation and Kilachand Foundation

Where:  Tata Theatre

When: Friday, 23 February - 6.30 pm

Tickets: BookMyShow (Coming soon)

About the show: This concert is a tribute to the sheer beauty and power contained in the literary and musical heritage of Gujarat. With an objective to take the audience on a journey through the history of Gujarati sugam sangeet, Parthiv Gohil and Gargi Vora will present select compositions of celebrated musicians and poets who have contributed immensely to the growth of Gujarati sugam sangeet. These include Avinash Vyas, Purushottam Upadhyay, Ashit Desai, Hema Desai, Dilip Dholakia, Ninu Majmudar, and poets: Ramesh Parekh, Suresh Dalal, Umashankar Joshi, Ajit Sheth, Khalil Dhantejavi, to name a few.