The Nizami brothers delve deep into the qawwali tradition and reveal the secrets of the artform to Upasana Singh
When Nizami brothers first heard the composition of the Kun Faya Kun song to be featured in Rockstar, they immediately wanted the integration of the place from which they derive their passion for Qawwali. AR Rahman was of the same opinion as well and that is how the genius song came to be shot at the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.
Ustad Chand Nizami, Shadab Faridi Nizami and Sohrab Faridi Nizami belong to the family of qawwals, who belong to a family that are the descendants of singers at the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya for several centuries. Generation after generation, their predecessors kept taking the qawwali legacy to newer heights.
The song clearly struck a chord with the audience at large. Ustad Chand reveals, “Once a girl came to me who believed that the song was her life. She had a major operation which was successful and she believed that it was the power of the qawwali which she heard that kept her alive.”
And the film appearance have helped. “We have become famous and people recognise us. Our appearance in Rockstar has been fruitful because we too became rockstars in our own way even though I believe that we have been rockstars for the last 700 years as we bear the torch of qawwali in India,” says Ustad Chand. The artist is the son of late Ustad Mehmood Nizami. Shadab Faridi Nizami and Shorabh Faridi Nizami also comprise the qawwali group that has been active for the last seven years.
People often say that the Nizami brothers came to the lime light due to the qawwali being featured in the movie. But then there are others who disagree. “Once someone told me that the movie garnered recognition because of you. If the song is sung from deep within your heart, then it automatically resonates with the lives of others. During the shooting, it felt as if the presence of the Dargah was supporting us,” asserts Ustad Chand.
But then Hazrat Nizamuddin has always held a special place in their heart. “We have been living here for the past 700 years and our qawwali is a gift bestowed by him. We have earned respect and people have loved our songs and have treated us with unconditional love because of him. The Nizamuddin dargah is our soul. Without it, we are just a body which will be burnt to the ashes. There are a lot of qawwals here but I am the only one who stays in close vicinity to the dargah and listen to the music that has been born here, where my ancestors lived. Till I depart from my journey on this planet, I will continue to stay here,” he added.
And there is a reason for their devotion. The brothers credit the Nizamuddin Dargah for shaping their life and giving them the opportunities that have made them a household name.
Their journey into music began at a tender age. “I have been singing qawwali since I was eight. Classical music and qawwali are my roots. Performing in films was important to keep in touch with the evolving trends. My forefathers would never have dreamt about Nizami Brothers giving their soulful voice to Bollywood,” says Ustad Chand.
Revealing a little about their forthcoming projects associated with Bollywood, Shadab Faridi said, “Both Ranbir Kapoor and AR Rahman are fondly looking forward to experimenting with the traditional Sufi music or Sufism.”
For the brothers, singing is soul food. “Without singing for a few times in a week, we are unable to eat our food. Though the shayari is usually in Hindi, but sometimes when there are foreigners in the audience, it is spoken in English to please the public,” says Sohrab Faridi.
The brothers have sung in various festivals and concerts. Though, the profession fetches them money but for them, it is an act of worship.
Talking about the genre, Ustad Chand elaborated, “Qawwali is all about a state of calm and peace that descends on individuals when one hears the melodies which have the names of the Prophets and verses from the Quran. Every flower has its own unique individuality and smell that cannot be imitated.” The Nizami Brothers add an essential element to each song that has already been sung before them.
Elaborating upon the song that made them famous, they say that Kun Faya Kun was written in Arabic. “Earlier Persian dominated the compositions as people were able to comprehend the lyrics easily. But now we use Urdu, Persian and Braj Bhasha.
The instruments too have undergone a change. The instruments while singing this form are Tabla, Dholak and harmonium but now synthesisers and guitars also make an appearance. “The content changes with the audience. The tradition of the family has always been to learn and teach this art form to take the legacy forward,” says Shadab Faridi.
But some things remain the same. Allahu is a tradition of qawwali that began 200 years ago. “In every art form, be it dance or music, the gods are worshiped. Before starting anything good, it is important to take the name of the higher power. Even when I am out at a cocktail party, I still take the name of Allah for a few minutes to thank him and ask him for his blessings,” says Ustad Chand.
And for them a thread runs through, “Whenever you sing, sing it with your heart, honesty and your ancestors are always supporting you,” Chand added.
With the ability to soothe one’s soul and connecting at a deeper level, there is a reason why the Nizami brothers are teary eyed while singing. Chand says, “It’s true that I do cry while singing because that makes me feel his (God) presence around me. Often, it happens by remembering the betrayal, hate of people from whom I had immense expectations. Sometimes when you are deeply involved in something and suddenly feel or recall something bad that happened to you, people tend to cry and that is what happens to me at times.”
But it is not just the singers that break down during a performance. “I have seen people crying while listening to us sing. Such Nisbat (affinity in Urdu) among people is something which connects us with them and with God,” he added.
“Jab tak bika na tha, koi puchhta nah tha; tumne khareed kar mujhey anmol kar diya (till the time we were sold no one cared and after you , this perfectly fits with our musical life, said Ustad Chand Nizami who believes that Rockstar has made their existence noticeable among the country and has garnered a positive recognition in the society.
Shedding light on their traditional Sikandra Gharana and performing qawwali written by the Sufi saint’s primary disciple Amir Khusro, he shared, “It’s a seven hundred years old gharana. Not just us but our forefathers learnt from the same gharana,” he asserted with a quick added note stating, “The genre of qawwali was first coined by our elder generation and since then we are working hard to make it reach worldwide.”
Ustad Chand, like every grandfather, too wishes to see their future generation taking the family profession forward. “I have begun training my grandsons and granddaughters and they are attentive.”
Following their passion with utmost dedication and being spiritually grounded, the Nizami brothers credit the singer AR Rahman for imparting Sufism to cinema. “A number of films show what they call the Sufi qawwali, but doesn’t hold its true essence. Pia Haji Ali, Khwaja Mere Khwaja, Maula Mere Maula are the examples of a real qawwali and audience to connect with them,” says Ustad Chand.
