It doesn't get much better than a Sufi concert under the stars. That's what Bengaluru will receive this weekend, with Bollywood's blue eyed boy, Gurinder Seagal, accompanied by a 12-piece band with musicians who have performed with the likes of Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Sunidhi Chauhan and even Mohammad Rafi.
"As a musician, I want to explore different genres and learn new things," says 28-year-old Seagal, whose song, GF-BF, took the internet by storm in 2016, featuring Sooraj Pancholi and Jacqueline Fernandez. "At the same time, I understand that not everybody is familiar with Sufi music and many don't speak Hindi or Urdu as primary languages in the South. The idea is to create a show that stays faithful to the genre but still gives the audience an evening of music they can appreciate. Of course, having musicians of such calibre on stage plays a big role in this!"
Greatly influenced by the maestro, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the set list for the evening comprises favourites like Mazaa Aa Gaya, Yeh Jo Halka Halka and Maulah Meri Maulah, Seagal explains. Born and raised in London, in a British Asian community, this is a step in a new direction for the acclaimed RnB singer / composer. "Nusrat Sahib sets a high benchmark, but I've studied under some wonderful teachers."
Seagal, who always had a deep love for music, began his career playing the tabla at the Gurdwara his parents went to in London. "I would also compose shabad for them, which is where it began, really," he said. Although he started out as a businessman, it wasn't long before he moved to Mumbai to further his music career, where he met his mentor, Rahmat D'Souza. "He liked my sound and the way I put songs together, so he took me under his wing and has been advising me ever since."
The set also contains a smattering of folk music from Punjab and Pakistan, reminiscent of the Coke Studio style. "We have backing vocalists and harmonies, which is different from a traditional setup," he said. The band features four vocalists accompanied by a flute, guitar, dholak, tabla, drums and dhol. "The idea is to make people let go of the boundaries that a genre brings with it and come together instead for art, which is at the heart of Sufi music too."
What: Sufi evening with Gurinder Seagal
When: October 14, 7 pm
Where: The amphitheatre, UB City, Vittal Mallya Road
