Review: A. R. RAHMAN AND NOORAN SISTERS, Highlights Of The Global Sufi Festival

When maestro AR Rahman performs, the audience listens enraptured. Perhaps no other performing artist in India can command such respect and spell binding patronage as Sufi composer and Oscar nominee AR Rahman does.

So, when a recent Sufi festival in the capital city of India -- The Sufi Route had Rahman as one of its performers, all roads had to lead to the Garden of Five Senses where the performance was held. The new performing art destination Kalagram came alive as music virtuosos A. R. Rahman and Sami Yusuf advocated world peace and inclusion in their individualistic musical style at the second edition of India's foremost travelling global Sufi festival, The Sufi Route, organised by Friday Music Project in association with Delhi Tourism.

But the evening was not only about music, the opening sequence featured a poetry session, which was moderated by renowned lyricist and poet Manoj Muntashir, who threw some light on the rich cultural heritage of sufism. The evening proceeded with performances by Satinder Sartaaj, Nooran Sisters, Dhruv Sangari and others transported patrons to a celestial ecosphere where old world mysticism met new world allure. Strains of Sayoni, Allah Ho Fakira, Pattakha Guddi filled the air and the hearts of music lovers.

Sami Yusuf, popular British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, had promised that his first ever concert in the country would be a night to remember. And the musical icon kept his promise delivering an encore performance to a full house.

But no soul remained untouched when A R Rahman, came on the stage and performed Kun Faya Kun, Allah Huma Salle Alla, Arziyaan Sari Main. There were tears and smiles amongst the audience who were moved by the music. He was supported by the vocal prowess of Javed Ali. Not to forget he premiered his first ever on stage Sufi rendition of Piya Haji Ali that remained the highlight of the evening.

The concert that started late in the afternoon continued until late evening and still there was no signs of the audiences having enough for the evening. Gagan Takyar of Friday Music Project said, "Sufi is a popular genre in Delhi but surprisingly enough, while there are several independent venues that organize Sufi evenings, there is no Sufi-specific music event. The idea behind The Sufi Route is to cater to this demand and we believe we have been successful. The event celebrated music which in turn celebrated the universal human values that the event propagates of peace, love, faith in an increasingly chaotic world ."

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