Thursday, December 29, 2005

Parvathy Paul, Sufi singer: An interview

Parvathy Paul, Sufi singer, on the upcoming Sufi music festival.

By Anil Sadarangani - Nov. 17, 2005 The Times of India

What is so special about Sufi music?

It's the most truthful performance one can witness. I can talk to you about a Sufi singer and tell you when she is playing her instrument, she is giving it her all, but you have to see it to know it.

She is in unity with all. There is nothing to hide anymore. When you get into that state of being, she (or he) has to give everything away. There is no time to think. When someone sings for hours on end, the body becomes light.

It's then when one is connected to Sufi music. It has inspired a lot of people. Also, just look at the condition of the world. Don't you think it's time we listened to music that gives us a feeling of universal love?

How excited are you at being a part of the Sufi festival to be held in Mumbai on November 19 and 20??

I am very, very excited to be in Mumbai and be part of the Ruhaniyat. It's a very special festival for me. I am a resident of Trivandrum but I live between Bengal and Trivandrum.

That is because most of my teachers and ashrams are based in Bengal and whenever I get time to practise, I go there. My husband is Malyalee.

What made you take up Sufi singing?

As a child, growing up, I knew about this music tradition because Bengal is full of it. Then I've always interacted with people from this genre of music. When I was 16 I was really moved by this.

What happened was that as I was about to take admission in Shanti Niketan, I saw a blind man on the road singing a Sufi song.

His song was was so full of light and brightness that it created another world for me in that moment, it took me beyond the world. I knew my path was already there, I just had to take it. I've been singing for 12 years now.

anil.sadarangani@timesgroup.com

No comments:

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Parvathy Paul, Sufi singer: An interview
Parvathy Paul, Sufi singer, on the upcoming Sufi music festival.

By Anil Sadarangani - Nov. 17, 2005 The Times of India

What is so special about Sufi music?

It's the most truthful performance one can witness. I can talk to you about a Sufi singer and tell you when she is playing her instrument, she is giving it her all, but you have to see it to know it.

She is in unity with all. There is nothing to hide anymore. When you get into that state of being, she (or he) has to give everything away. There is no time to think. When someone sings for hours on end, the body becomes light.

It's then when one is connected to Sufi music. It has inspired a lot of people. Also, just look at the condition of the world. Don't you think it's time we listened to music that gives us a feeling of universal love?

How excited are you at being a part of the Sufi festival to be held in Mumbai on November 19 and 20??

I am very, very excited to be in Mumbai and be part of the Ruhaniyat. It's a very special festival for me. I am a resident of Trivandrum but I live between Bengal and Trivandrum.

That is because most of my teachers and ashrams are based in Bengal and whenever I get time to practise, I go there. My husband is Malyalee.

What made you take up Sufi singing?

As a child, growing up, I knew about this music tradition because Bengal is full of it. Then I've always interacted with people from this genre of music. When I was 16 I was really moved by this.

What happened was that as I was about to take admission in Shanti Niketan, I saw a blind man on the road singing a Sufi song.

His song was was so full of light and brightness that it created another world for me in that moment, it took me beyond the world. I knew my path was already there, I just had to take it. I've been singing for 12 years now.

anil.sadarangani@timesgroup.com

No comments: