SUFI SUTRA

Cleanse your soul with some divine, hypnotic Sufi at A Devotional concert that's all about the marriage of music and art

Sufism never swayed the masses, until now. Of all people, it's youngsters who're taking refuge under its soft, spiritual shade to escape the chaos theory of life. Another heart who's turned to the heavenly art is that of Anita Singhvi, wife of politician Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

Striking a fresh chord
After reaping profits off her earlier albums Naqsh-e-Noor, Sada-e-Sufi and Zah-e-naseeb Anita is ready with her latest compilation, Tajalli, which means rays from heaven. "I have compiled creations of different shayars. I sing for myself and people who admire my type of music," said Anita. Trained from various gurus of different gharanas, her tryst with ghazals began after marriage. "Sufi in my life is God's blessing. I chose ghazals over other styles because I love Urdu, which lends so much elegance to the lyrics," reveals Anita, who's been trained by Pandit Kshir Sagar of Gwalior Gharana.

An excellent mentor carves an exceptional mentee. In case of Anita, it's Begum Akhtar, whom she has been following closely. She also looks upto Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghalib, Ameer Khusro, Faiz, Momin, Meer, Daag, Sarmad Fani and Rumi.

So, what else?u00a0u00a0
Anita, who wants to stick to ghazals, has earlier lent her voice for a documentary film called Gulmohar by Roop Kumar Rathore. Moving further, she wants to try hands at playback singing.u00a0 "I wish to work with people whose creations touch where they should. I feel disgusted and horrified to see people singing in cocktail parties. This is not the way Sufi music is sung." So, how about heading for the real thing?