Dama Dam Mast Qalandar Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

One of the greatest songs of all time, this song will touch your soul for sure

Arziyan- Delhi 6

The world’s singing laurels of Indian ace A R Rahman post Golden Globes. Back home we always realized and recognized his musical magic. Rahman again teams up with Rakeysh Mehra and Prasoon Joshi post their achievement in Rang De Basanti , for Delhi-6 . An interesting observation is how Rahman has cut down on established singers like Sonu Niigam, Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik and is employing more of new-age voices like Javed Ali, Benny Dayal and Mohit Chauhan to good effect.

The album makes a divergent shift to a Sufi qawalli . Rahman uses a calm and countryside combination of Javed Ali and Kailash Kher for this 9-minute long devotional number Arziyan . Javed Ali continues to sound like Sonu Niigam like he did in Jashn-e-Bahaara ( Jodhaa Akbar ) though one doesn’t complain. While Rahman effortlessly adapts to the new milieu, Prasoon Joshi shows equal versatility in his writing. 

This song was suggested by Vaibhav Naik aka BOBO of Tampa bay fame.

Songs from Kailasa- Yatra

In a country with over a billion people, countless languages and multitude of musical influences, it takes special talent to stand out from the crowd as an entertainer. Luckily talent is what Kailash Kher has sacks full of.
One of the most popular singer/songwriters in India right now, Kher came to attention in 2002 with his breakout hit, Allah Ke Bande. Since then he has become a household name having performed on over 150 Hindi film soundtracks, recorded more than 400 radio and television jingles and presented Indian Idol and other TV shows.
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Alongside this, Kher has somehow found time to team up with musician brothers Naresh and Paresh Kamath to form the band Kailasa, which has become one of the most popular groups on the sub-continent.
So it comes as little surprise (particularly after Slumdog Millionaire’s global success) that the trio would attempt to breakthrough with their first international release, Yatra (Nomadic Souls). A collection of brand new songs alongside studio and unplugged recordings of some of their most admired hits, Yatra is a superb introduction to contemporary Indian music and Kher’s exceptional vocal ability.
Featuring elements of spiritual Sufi chants, Rajasthani Gypsy rhythms, Punjabi dance and other regional styles, fused with electric guitar, modern beats and an array of traditional instruments, Yatra rises above the generic ‘world music’ tag it could so easily be given.

Kher’s raw, earthy tones have often seen him compared to the late qawwali maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and rightly so. His vocal dexterity and lyrics evoking Sufi mysticism result in mesmerising songs like Dilruba, Kaise Main Kahoon and Jhoomo Re.
Other standout tracks include the Arabic-influenced Taubah Taubah and a stunning unplugged version of Teri Deewani, an ode to the delirium of love sung from the female perspective, and arguably one of the most soulful Hindi songs of the past decade.
Equally praiseworthy is the Kamath siblings’ use of modern rock and electronic influences which steer the album clear of the conventional Indi-pop sounds that often result when Asian artists adapt their music for a Western audience. Instead, their superior musical arrangements enhance Kher’s folk sensibilities and meaningfully penned lyrics to make Yatra a hypnotic exploration of the human condition and complexities of love.

Click on the Song

TAUBAH TAUBAH

Sajda - My name is Khan

The soundtrack of the latest offering of Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, " My Name Is Khan ", boasts of Sufi flavour. Composed by Johar's favourite Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the album has six originals and most of the compositions are soul-stirring.

The album starts with " Sajda ". Sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan and Richa Sharma, it's a Sufi number that tugs at one's heartstrings. The sounds of tablas and dholaks keep the listener hooked. With great voices behind the mike, "Sajda" is a must hear.

Afreen Afreen By Nusrat Fateh ali khan

Afreen...This is the most famous song of Nusrat saab, The song that was turned into a vedio as well, with Famous Model Lisa Ray, looking her best EVER!!! With its beautiful and deeply discriptive lyrics, the song can make you feel the enchanting beauty of a devine virgin, untouched and pure, right inside u, or around you. I actually get up to look at the mirror by the time the song gets over, and yes it can make u ’’Feel beautiful’’ inside... I wonder if beauty was ever discribed in better words that these!!! ..... AFREEN..meaning ’’the purest, most beautiful and heavenly’’
Read here a couplet or two from the song...


Husn-e-jana ki tareef mumkin nahi, tu bhi dekhe agar to kahe hum-nasheen...
Afreen afreen afreen afreen...

Aisa Dekha nahi khoobsoorat koi,
Jism jaise ajanta ki moorat koi,
Jism jaise nigaho ka jaadoo koi,
Jism nagma koi, Jism khushboo koi,
jism jaise machalti hui raagini,
Jism jaise mehekti hui chandani,
jism jaise ki khilta hua ik kamal,
jism jaise ki sooraj ki pehli kiran,
jism tarsha hua dilkash-o-dil nasheen
sandali sandali, marmari marmari.

and....

Aankhe dekhi to main dekhta reh gaya,
Jaam do aur dono hi do aatisha,
Aankhe yaan maikade ke wo do baab hain,
Aankhein unko kahun yaan kahun khaab hain,
Aankhein neechi hui to haya ban gayi,
Aankhein oonchi hui to dua ban gayi,
Aankhein jhuk kar uthi to kaza,
Aankhein uth ker jhuki to ada,
Aankhein jin mein hai faila aasmaan-o- zameen,
nargisi nargisi, surmagi surmagi!!!

saiyyan by Kailash Kher

There are very few musicians or artistes who can perform 'live' the music they produce. And perhaps, Kailasa are the only band who time and again prove their virtuosity - be it in studio or on stage – a quality which separates real musicians from the lip syncing lot. The band now comes with their third studio album Kailasa Chaandan Mein which has an intelligent mix of ballads, energetic songs and Sufi music.

The opening track Chaandan Mein is a slow, mellow, sonorous track with simple lyrics to hum. However, the ‘saiyyan’ chorus in the song does remind you of their previous offering – I think it's time to send that word (saiyyan) on a sabbatical. The energetic Na Batati Tu (na dhin dhin na) starts with ‘bolish’ that furthers into a great groove. The intermittent sitar solos in the song give it an unexpected world music touch – a good experiment by the band. The next, Teri Yaad Mein, startswith a great hook, but too many variations with the arrangements pulls down the melody.