Presenting carefully selected verses in her melodious voice, Smita Bellur stole the show and enthralled the audience with her scintillating performance. Most of the Sufi verses she had selected for the concert were already popular with the masses. So it helped the audience connect themselves to the genre.
The concert began after a brief prefatory speech on Sufism and Sufi music. Smita started off with a naat in praise of Prophet Muhammad. Later, she sang compositions of Amir Khusro, Bulleh Shah, Bande Nawaz Gesu Daraz and Sant Kabir with joyful devotion.
She sang the original version of Bullah Ki Jaana Main Kaun, a composition by Bulleh Shah which was made popular by Rabbi Shergill as an album song. She also presented Oh Laal Meri by Laal Shahbaaj, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya by Bulleh Shah, Mann Laago Yaar and Udjaayega by Kabir.
“Sufi music is all about one’s experience with god. Though Sufism is connected to Islam, Sufi music is an independent genre with its sole aim being to travel into the presence of the divine. Even Hindustani music has a lot of Sufi influences. While singing a Sufi verse, imparting emotion becomes more important than the grammar,” said Smita, who has been training in Hindustani classical for the last 22 years and took to Sufi music out of her own interest in the genre.
“Bangaloreans don’t get a chance to listen to a Sufi concert. Actually, there are not many local artistes who can sing this genre. But when people come across Sufi, they fall in love with it completely. That is the beauty of Sufi music,” she added. Smita was accompanied by Nisar Ahmed on tabla, Gundappa Kalhippargi on harmonium and Shekhar on dholak.