I’ve been searching for good writing on sufism & musical histories of qawalli. Something of the flavour of the Winds of Change podcast or Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat. A good movie on the subject was Had Anhad. I also enjoyed Ali Sethi’s essay on Farida Khanum and this piece on Nusrat sahab. If you have recommendations for me, please write to me.

A few of my favourite Qawalli performances (if you have a better rendition to recommend, or another performance by these artists, or something completely new & novel, I would love to hear about it):

1. 01
   Tina Sani’s performance of Shikwa Jawaab-e-Shikwa
2. 02
   Ye Na Thi Hamari Qismat by Tina Sani
3. 03
   Iqbal Bano’s version of Hum Dekhenge is only matched by a live rendition I once heard by TM Krishna
4. 04
   Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat by Noor Jehan
5. 05
   Dasht E Tanhai by Iqbal Bano
6. 06
   Not purely a qawalli, but this has a special place in my heart: Dr. Bachchan’s rendition of the first stanza of Madhushala
7. 07
   Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo by Farida Khanum
8. 08
   Hamari Sanson Main Aaaj Tak Hina by Noor Jehan (my favourite song by the Malika-e-Tarannum)
9. 09
   Chandni Raatein by Noor Jehan
10. 10
    A Suitable Boy had a fantastic musical score. Kavita Seth’s renditions of Dil-e-Nadaan, Lutf woh ishq mein, Na-rawa kahiye, Mehfil barkhaast hui, are all spellbinding.
11. 11
    Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi by Jagjit Singh
12. 12
    Sanun Nahar Wale Pool by Noor Jehan
13. 13
    When it comes to Nusrat, getting the version right is crucial. This is my favourite rendition of Halka Halka Suroor.
14. 14
    Mera Piya Ghar Aaya by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
15. 15
    Sab Ambiya Ke Saiyado Sarwar Hazoor Hai by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
16. 16
    Kali Kali Zulfon Ke Phande Na Dalo by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
17. 17
    Ae Wadah Shikan by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
18. 18
    Jis Dil Wich Sajnan Vas Jaiye by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
19. 19
    Barson ke intezaar mein by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
20. 20
    Kanhaiyaa by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad is a rare Qawwalli about Krishna
21. 21
    Shab-e-hijr woh by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad
22. 22
    Har Lehza Ba Shakal Aaan by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad
23. 23
    This is my favourite qawalli by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad (it’s also the first work of theirs I’d ever heard)
24. 24
    Main nijaam se naina by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad
25. 25
    I really liked Atif Aslam’s version of Tajdar-e-haram
26. 26
    Aaqa by Ali Sethi and Abida Parveen

Send me a recommendation.