How many of you are familiar with the Qawwali songs? I believe many are acquainted with the basic idea while for a few, Qawwali is something strange-sounding thing. I blame it on Bollywood where only a few Qawwalis have been produced in its glorious history of more than 100 years. In 2021, if we wish to listen to a good Bollywood qawwali, we have to search for the old Hindi movies. The singers like Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey, Shamshad Begum, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Mahinder Kapoor are direly missed when we listen to the beautiful Qawwalis from the old Bollywood. It’s not that we lack Qawwali singers today. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Wadali Brothers and many more kept alive the golden tradition of Qawwali. The only element missing has been the inclusion of adequate Qawwali songs in the Bollywood movies. I’ve compiled a few Qawwali gems from our Bollywood movies. Enjoy:)
History of Qawwali
The great Indian poet Amir Khusrau (1326) is considered to be the founder of Qawwali. He composed Qawwali-genre songs for the first time to pay tribute to his spiritual guide Nizamuddin Aulia after his death. Qawwalis are basically the spiritual songs that transport the mystic towards the union with God.
1) Originally the Qawwalis were performed at the Sufi shrines in South Asia.
2) Not everyone had permission to listen to Qawwali. Children and women were forbidden to visit the site.
3) Musical Instruments were not allowed to be played while singing Qawwalis. According to the Sufi saints, “Musical Instruments are Haram!”
4) Qawwali gained popularity in the 20th century and entered mainstream music. That was the time when Bollywood created some outstanding Qawwalis.
5) With time, the form of Qawwali has been changed a lot. Now Qawwali can be performed using musical instruments along with the hand-clap rhythm. Women also sing Qawwalis in Bollywood movies, though I don’t have any idea about its version at religious gatherings.
6) In Bollywood Qawwali, there is a verbal battle between two parties, God’s praise sung at a Durgah or a flirting incident between the hero and the heroine.
The word Qawwali means the “words worthy of remembrance". The traditional Qawwalis were devoted to God's praise.
Bollywood Qawwalis are a unique way of expressing emotions in passionate words. The beat of the hands, the energy of the singers and the intense ambience take the listener to another world. I wish Bollywood can produce more Qawwalis and bring more folk singers into the limelight. We are waiting to clap in the praise:)
#AnybodyListening?
Trivia question of the day!
Guess the name of the movie from its plot:
"A girl and boy love each other but the boy is mysteriously killed. The girl moves to New Zealand to cope up with her loss where she meets the lookalike of her ex-lover. They then trace the boy's killer."
The one who gives the fastest and the correct answer will be given a special mention in the next post on Bollywood Gossip!
The answer to the question asked in the previous post is Mohammed Rafi and the winner is Ms Anita! Congratulations:)
PANORAMIC RIPPLES 
Beautiful qawwali all. I particularly like the first one na to qaravan ki talash hai.. i play it on loop.
Amazing selection
Deepika Sharma
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a huge Qawwali fan! The one from Hum Kisise Kam Nahin is amongst my all-time favourites. They have such beautiful poetry and music, doubt who is good enough to take that challenge today.
LikeLike
I never knew women and kids were not allowed to listen to Qawallis…. interesting stuff u have dugout. Rishi Kapoor was the best qawwal I feel..rakish with the cap sliding in front.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am very fond of Qawallis too buddy, loved the first one you shared in particular. Like your selection of topics
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Qawalli songs. The energy of the songs is so contagious.
And the answer to your question is Kaho na Pyar Hai!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Qawali is something Bollywood always did really well. Would prefer it even today to most of the usual dance numbers
Kaho Na Pyaaar Hai was the answer 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I played every song that you posted. Loved those songs. 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Wadali Brothers are my all time favorite artist. Loved all the videos shared.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love qawwalis a lot, even I remember in school annual function always there used to be one qawwali and I took part every year!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
parda hai parda is all my time favorite qawwali song. I feel qawwali songs have their own charm and magic. though nowadays, the number of qawwali songs have been reduced significantly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Parda hai parda, hume to loot liya and teri mehfil me kismat… oh wow you reminded me of some great qawwalli movies in this post. Durgah qawwalis are also seen very rarely, the latest I remember was from bajrangi bhaijaan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for this beautiful collection. It’s been a while that I have listened to any quwalies. A great refreshing change.
LikeLike
Your post was a treat for bollywood music lovers! I enjoyed watching Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s Qawaali! Keep writing the wonderful posts and entertaining us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Daisy:)
LikeLike
I wish someday I reach first here to answer the Trivia of the day before the challenge ends; I can’t stop myself answering today’s quiz movie is ‘ Kaho na pyar hai,’ can’t forget my craziness of those days for Hrithik, a collection of his posters and all, maybe that’s the reason I couldn’t stop myself from answering. Hehe! Now coming to Qawwali songs, these songs have a different fanbase. I loved it all, though my favs are ‘Parda hai parda’ and ‘bhar de jholi’!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are lovely collection Aditi. I didn’t know that women weren’t allowed.i wonder why
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for beautiful collection .I never knew women and kids were not allowed to listen to Qawallis. We need more qawallis songs in our movies .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly:)
LikeLike
Parda hai … was a favourite during our college days. With so many Bachchans and Chintus in the campus there was tough competition when it was time to enact this on stge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, this sounds interesting!
LikeLike
Qawalis are one of my favorites and Bhar do jholi meri is one song that I can listen on loop. Interesting Post.
LikeLiked by 1 person