Sufi music blended with Punjabi tunes at "Jahan e Khusrau"

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) The mystic strains of Sufi music blended with vibrant Punjabi tunes, in mesmeric performances by Daler Mehndi, Sukhwinder Singh, Abida Parveen and Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan at the just-concluded 6th International Sufi Music festival here.

The presentation of film director and ardent sufi follower Muzaffar Ali, the three-day annual festival "Jahan-e-Khusrau", saw renowned artistes from several countries including Pakistan, Germany, Iran and Uzbekistan besides India converging at Arab Ki Sarai in the Humayun tomb for three days beginning March 4.

The audience were pleasantly surprised as Punjabi pop singer, 'Tara ra ra" icon, Daler Mehndi, rendered songs like 'Allaho'-'Aankhan Nam Huee' while Sukwinder Singh, whose all-time hit 'Chhayya Chhayya' set the dance floors ablaze, left listeners spell-bound with "Eid Aaye Mera Yaar Milade".

Daler Mehndi, a seventh generation progeny of a known musical family, said just before the last performance of the first day's event, "I hope the performance will re-invent my new image in the hearts of the people." Impressed by his new style of singing, Muzaffar Ali and Abida Parveen hugged him on stage.

Sukhwinder Singh said he was grateful to Muzaffar Ali for giving him an opportunity to sing at the Sufi music festival when he had thought that after 20 years down the line, he would be stuck in the rut with only pop and rock music..

Commenting on huge rounds of applause after he sang a few compositions, he said, "I should start rehearsing these kinds of songs very often so that people will come to know about it." MORE UNI HS NK KP1345