Students of UoH gathered in the DST auditorium on August 7, 2017 in anticipation of an exciting Qawwali night organised by the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth, popularly known as SPIC MACAY.
The qawwali concert by Warsi brothers from Hyderabad was a curtain raiser program for Yamini, 2017. The series of overnight concerts, Yamini, has been an annual event hosted by the university and organised by SPIC MACAY on August 14, the eve of Indian Independence Day.
The program was initiated by lighting of a ceremonial lamp by the Chief Guest of the evening, Prof. B.P. Sanjay, Pro-VC of our university, along with the Warsi Brothers; Dr. Zahidul Haque, cultural coordinator, UoH; Ms. Ranjana, volunteer with the SPIC MACAY Telangana subchapter and, the senior student volunteers.
Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi and Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi, known as the Warsi brothers belong to the “Qawwal Bachche of Delhi Gharana”. They were trained in music by their father, Ustaad Zaheer Ahmed Khan Warsi, and their grandfather, Padmashri Aziz Ahmed Khan Warsi. The brothers are recipients of the SNA award and have achieved great international acclaim as qawwali singers.
Beginning with a prayer the brothers sang classical hymns of Kabir in qawwali style following which they mesmerised the audience with their rendition of the popular Sufi composition, khwaja mere khwaja. Warsi brothers were accompained by the talented young tabla player Md Jabbar and supporting singers Ghulam Mehboob, Ubed Warsi, Sami Warsi, Murtaza Warsi. Together they presented Amir Khusro’s evergreen poems chap tilak sab cheeni and duma-dum- mastkalandar in qawwali style. While chap tilak was playful, intoxicating, and dynamic, mast kalandar was percussion-soaked and delightful. The auditorium remained jam packed till the very end of the concert and the audience cheered as they thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Towards the concert finale, all qawwali fans yearned for more and applauded the artists with a standing ovation.
While the Warsi brothers set the stage on fire, the logistics of the whole program was planned and worked upon by the student volunteers of our university, with a large number of them being integrated masters students and students of the dance department. They also made an effort to enhance the ecstatic experience of a live concert by decorating the entrance and the auditorium with floral designs that were appreciated by all.
The event was concluded with an invitation for all music and dance lovers to the dusk till dawn overnight concert series – Yamini, 2017.
Contributed by C. Samyukta