The voice of spirituality

Songstress Kavita Seth is of the opinion that, with so much substance in sufi poetry and music, its future is certainly bright

ANJALI SINGH

AFTER she was awarded as the Best Fresh Voice of 2005 by a private channel, it did not come as a surprise to her fans when Kavita Seth topped the honour by being named the most sensational singer the following year as well. A sufi singer par excellence, Kavita Seth is all set to take music to new heights.
In town recently Kavita took out time to chat with Lucknow Times about making sufi music popular in Bollywood, and why she feels there is a need for such music these days.
“Though I am trained in Hindustani and classical music, I used to sing ghazals and Punjabi folk songs for a while. Gradually through the feedback that I got, I realised that even though it was unconscious, I preferred to sing sufi kalams. So I began to research and study the famous Iranian sufi poet Maulana Rumi. The more I read about him the more sure I was destined to be a sufi singer,” says Kavita.
So how has her education in sufi poetry and subsequent training in sufi singing changed her as a person? “It automatically brings in the transformation from within. Prior to singing sufi songs I used think that I had achieved a lot in life. But once my journey through sufism began, I realised I had not even achieved even a fraction of what is called success in the true sense. Insaniyat se judna aur usse mohabbat karna – these words define accomplishment in its actual sense. These teachings, which Rumi’s verses also talk of, go a long way in life,” she concurs.

Blessed with a soulful but powerful voice, Kavita’s renditions have stood out in Bollywood as well, even amidst the many established voices within the industry. Her debut solo sufi number Maula in Satish Kaushik’s flick Vaada, which was what earned her the award of the Best Fresh Voice in 2005.

Appreciation followed for Mujhe mat roko, a sanguine sufi number in Mahesh Bhatt’s film Gangster as well, making her stand out in the film industry. “Sufi music has a great potential where film music is concerned. The masses identify with it like no other music. That’s why I feel a lot many music directors prefer to have two or more sufi numbers in their films now. I am currently working on sufi compositions for N Chandra’s latest, It’s Breaking News, and I am amazed at the lyrics being penned by poets like Wasim. They touch one’s soul. With so much substance in sufi poetry and music, the future is certainly bright for the medium.”

And what does her family have to say about Kavita being known as a sufi singer? “My biggest support comes from my husband Krishna. His encouragement has given me the strength to come so far and achieve so much in life. He is also my biggest fan and critic, as he advises me on most of my work, which helps me work on my mistakes. Usne kya laaj rakhi meri gumraahi ki, main bhatkun to bhatak kar bhi usee tak pahuchun,” she quotes, describing the depths she has delved into, where sufism is concerned.

But powerful rendition, unforgettable stage presence, and flawless pronunciation were not achieved overnight, as Kavita informs us. “When I began reading Rumi’s work, I had the option to sing the rubaiyees (couplets) in Hindi or Urdu. But I felt it would not be as soul-stirring as it sounded in Persian, the language it was originally written in. So I decided to learn Persian and got myself a tutor, Maulana Islami, in Mumbai who taught me the correct talaffuz (pronunciation). This training helped me give my songs that ethereal touch, which finds an instant connect with the audience.”

Going by the appreciation that her recently released album on sufi songs, released by Times Music, Kavita is on her way to finding that divine success she is destined for.

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Sufi Singing Sensation

Kavita Sufi Singing Sensation Published in DELHI Plus.

Sufiana Released

Kavita Seth Sufiana is released.

To purchase the album visit: www.timesmusic.com

Eternal Euphony

Her journey to connect with the one, who reigns over the celestial kingdom, began at a time she was just learning to walk. And what could be a better way than Sufi music, which in itself is never just an entertainment, but more about spirituality. Sufi-Ghazal singer Kavita Seth has done just that. Kavita’s self-composed debut solo Sufi song ‘Maula’, starring Amisha Patel in Satish Kaushik’s film ‘Vaada’, got her nominated for the Best Fresh Voice of The Year at the Sahara Sangeet Awards 2005. And with this the industry was introduced to an emerging voice in Sufi music. “Sufi music is all about singing for the almighty (Khuda), and singing Sufi only facilitates the journey towards God,” says Kavita, amidst soul stirring Sufi music played at the background at her Vile Parle residence. Her next major break came in the form of Mahesh Bhatt’s blockbuster Gangster in 2006, with ‘Mujhe Mat Roko’. Written by Sayeed Quadri, a cry of pain and anguish was best brought out by Kavita through this song depicting the sorrow of a female longing to get close to her beloved.

Kavita, who has been trained in Hindustani and classical music, has a fresh voice, which is rather unique as compared to the other voices dominating the industry. “While training in Hindustani and classical music, I got inspired by the Sufi style of singing, because of its seraphic purity,” she states. Kavita has also been instrumental in forming two Sufi groups, ‘Maula’ and ‘Karavan’, with musicians on drum, guitar, duff, dholak, keyboard, violin, tabla, harmonium. Mother of two equally talented kids, Kavish and Kanishk, she traveled through the entire length and breadth of India, many times, enthralling the audience with her melodious renditions of Sufi, Geet, Ghazal and Folk. She has given live performances in a number of locations such as London, Birmingham, Scotland, Berlin, Olso, Stockholm and San Francisco.

Even today, not everyone can understand the lyrics or the spiritual significances of Sufi music. “In an attempt to spread this form of music, I try to seek a new dialogue with my audience each time I perform with my troupe,” says Kavita. She claims that Sufi music is more about spirituality, rather than entertainment, “Its powerful lyrics talk about reaching the divine by spreading love and harmony. With tension and turmoil all around today, the works of Sufi saints and mystics are more relevant than ever,” she avers. Ask her about the changes that this music has brought about within her, and she relates it to a maxim of Helen Keller, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.”

This talented singer, who is currently singing for renowned producer and director N Chandra’s forthcoming film ‘Breaking News’ likes to conclude by saying, “Music, including Sufi, helps in breaking down the narrow boundaries of cast, creed, religion and nationality. In return, giving you an awareness, and uplifting of consciousness, teaching you that there is no better way to reach closer to God then through music.”

Mumbai Mirror

Exploring spiritualism musically

Spirituality took on a whole new meaning at the Lucknow Mahotsav when sufi singer Kavita Seth came down with her troupe to give Lucknow ki janta a feel of the ethereal world.

She captivated the audience with her soulful renditions of Maulana Rumi’s verses which the singer sang both in Urdu and Persian.

She began the performance with a couplet of Rumi describing his connection with the rabab as, Khuda ka naam bataya rabab ne mujhko, sada khuld sunaya Rabab ne mujhko. Yeh fark sunne mein hota hai tere mere beech, ki tu be dilli se sune aur mein gark ho ke sunoo.(In the strains of rabab I hear the voice of Allah, thats the difference between you hearing its music and my hearing it.)

Also accompanying her was an Iranian dance and music group who wowed all by their sufi songs in Persian. Nima on the daf, Mazdak Shaidi on the kamanche, Farbod on the guitar and Sahr on the flute the group enthralled those present at the venue.

But the highpoint of the evening was the presence of a Dervesh, a sufi dancer, who set the mood for a divine ambience twirling to the songs and music sung by Kavita and Sahr.

RK Mittal lit the inaugural lamp and DM Chandra Bhanu released Kavita Seth’s latest sufi album. Times of India

Kavita Rumi Concert