India is going through an era of electronic beats and rapid fusion tracks, even the most popular Bollywood music today have been overwhelmed by tunes like this. Today it is rare to find an auditorium full to the brim with listeners all in tune at a classical music concert. Yet, that’s what happened in The Grand Theatre at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) last Saturday at The Sufi Baithak by Bismil. Such was the magic of the voice of Sufi artist, Bismil. For the thousands of fans sitting in the darkened auditorium, the sold-out show proved to be less of a standard weekend concert and more of a genuine spiritual awakening.
From the opening notes itself, the venue transformed into an immersive, old-world qawwali sitting. The sheer power of the acoustic setup of the theatre and the immersive curated lightscape left the audience visibly spellbound. Between his soaring vocal renditions of classic Qawwalis like “Kun faya kun”, “Aisa banna sawarna…”, and more, Bismil delivered his rich shayaris, leaving listeners completely lost in thought.
Speaking about the evening, Bismil says, “What made last Saturday so special was that we were able to bring back the authentic, traditional vibe of a true Sufi mehfil. My whole goal has been to enrich Bharat’s musical heritage, and seeing the audience connect with those roots was beautiful.”
Bismil’s strong voice touched the audience so much that every single person sitting through the performance felt the emotional weight of his Qawwali. By combining Qawwali with his own shayari and presenting it with brilliantly choreographed lights and classical dance to accompany each song, he essentially attempted to bridge the gap between this ancient style of music and the modern, urban audience of India; and executed it flawlessly.
With decades of rigorous training under the Moradabad, Delhi, and Rampur gharanas and inspired by legends like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Bismil honed himself in curating Sufi performances that complement traditional covers with his own original writing. He frequently travels to the quiet shores of Goa to pen his shayaris, turning personal observations into relatable spoken-word pieces that resonate deeply with younger crowds.
India is his home and his heart, but Bismil is also dedicated to bringing the joy of Sufi music to the global stage. Last month, he completed a 10-city tour across the United States and Canada, successfully introducing traditional Indian sounds to diverse international audiences.
Despite such international accolades, Bismil’s primary focus remains firmly on his home country. Discussions are already underway about taking his style of Qawwali performance to government events at historic venues like the Red Fort, which will only help reach this tune to millions more in India.
As he continues to build this cultural legacy, the industry and fans alike are increasingly viewing Bismil as the supreme leader of Sufi music in India. Judging by the standing ovation that echoed through Mumbai last Saturday, he is well prepared to carry that title forward.
