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[[File:Sufi singer Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty).jpg|thumb|Artiste Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty)]]
[[File:Sufi singer Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty).jpg|thumb|Artiste Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty)]]
'''Dhruv Sangari''' also known as Bilal Chishty Sangari بلال ڇݜتى سنگارى is a Sufi and Classical Indian vocalist, composer, lyricist, savant and teacher. He is the son of well known scholar and author [[Kumkum Sangari]] and noted painter Mahendra 'Manu' Sangari.
'''Dhruv Sangari''' also known as Bilal Chishty Sangari بلال ڇݜتى سنگارى is a Sufi and Classical Indian vocalist, composer, lyricist, savant and teacher. He is the son of well-known scholar and author [[Kumkum Sangari]] and noted painter Mahendra 'Manu' Sangari.


==Early Life and training==
==Early life and training==
Born in 1981, Dhruv began his training in [[Hindustani classical music]] at the age of seven with Shahana Bannerjee and continued under Ustad [[Iqbal Ahmad Khan]]. He also trained in the tabla from Pandit [[B.S. Ramanna]]. Later, he developed an interest in Sufism and Sufi music and started learning qawwali from [[Ustad Meraj Ahmed Nizami]] of the [[Qawwal-Bachhe]] [[Gharana]] at the [[dargah]] of the Sufi saint [[Nizamuddin Auliya]] in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/sufism-isn-t-confined-to-religion-it-is-the-path-to-peace/story-yI8wBdGYBJmg0fmclBbw6N.html|title='Sufism isn't confined to religion, it is the path to peace'|date=17 May 2016}}</ref>
Born in 1981, Dhruv began his training in [[Hindustani classical music]] at the age of seven with Shahana Bannerjee and continued under Ustad [[Iqbal Ahmad Khan]]. He also trained in the tabla from Pandit [[B.S. Ramanna]]. Later, he developed an interest in Sufism and Sufi music and started learning qawwali from [[Ustad Meraj Ahmed Nizami]] of the [[Qawwal-Bachhe]] [[Gharana]] at the [[dargah]] of the Sufi saint [[Nizamuddin Auliya]] in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/sufism-isn-t-confined-to-religion-it-is-the-path-to-peace/story-yI8wBdGYBJmg0fmclBbw6N.html|title='Sufism isn't confined to religion, it is the path to peace'|date=17 May 2016}}</ref>


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==Biography, career profile and discography==
==Biography, career profile and discography==
Popularly known as 'Prince of Qawwali' Dhruv has sung and composed the mystic verses of poets and saints such as [[Baba Farid]], [[Amir Khusrau]], [[Mirabai]], [[Rumi]], [[Jami]], [[Bulleh Shah]], [[Kabir]], [[Saim Chishty]], [[Allama Iqbal]], [[Abdul-Qādir Bedil|Bedil]] and [[Shah Niyaz]] among others. His early experimental works were with Swiss electronic musicians Lionel Dentan and David Scruffari with the band [[Da-Saz]]. Their debut album 'Jet-Lag was released by [[Phat-Phish]] Records in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/hncqOilXxGTLeAbi6SI3NM/Rock-on-in-Malayalam.html|title=Rock on, in Malayalam... - Livemint|website=www.livemint.com}}</ref>
Popularly known as 'Prince of Qawwali' Dhruv has sung and composed the mystic verses of poets and saints such as [[Baba Farid]], [[Amir Khusrau]], [[Mirabai]], [[Rumi]], [[Jami]], [[Bulleh Shah]], [[Kabir]], [[Saim Chishty]], [[Allama Iqbal]], [[Abdul-Qādir Bedil|Bedil]] and [[Shah Niyaz]] among others. His early experimental works were with Swiss electronic musicians Lionel Dentan and David Scruffari with the band [[Da-Saz]]. Their debut album 'Jet-Lag was released by [[Phat-Phish]] Records in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/hncqOilXxGTLeAbi6SI3NM/Rock-on-in-Malayalam.html|title=Rock on, in Malayalam... – Livemint|website=www.livemint.com}}</ref>


In 2008 Dhruv scripted and anchored another series based on [[Indian Classical Music]] titled 'Raagon ki Haseen Duniya' that aired on [[DD Urdu]]. In 2011 he went on to collaborate on the album 'Hope' with artists Timothy Hill and Eric Thomas for the [[Nasreen & Alam Sher Foundation]], US. In 2012 he sang Saim Chishty's famous poem '[[Haq Ali Maula]]'(originally sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) with his band Humble mystic for [[Coke Studio (India)|[Coke Studio]] [[MTV]] at Reliance Studios, [[Mumbai]].
In 2008 Dhruv scripted and anchored another series based on [[Indian Classical Music]] titled 'Raagon ki Haseen Duniya' that aired on [[DD Urdu]]. In 2011 he went on to collaborate on the album 'Hope' with artists Timothy Hill and Eric Thomas for the [[Nasreen & Alam Sher Foundation]], US. In 2012 he sang Saim Chishty's famous poem '[[Haq Ali Maula]]'(originally sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) with his band Humble mystic for [[Coke Studio (India)|[Coke Studio]] [[MTV]] at Reliance Studios, [[Mumbai]].


Apart from singing the 2013 chartbuster '[[Lutt Jawaan]]' for Music Director [[Mannan Shah]] in the movie [[Commando: A One Man Army]] starring Vidyut Jamwal, and the hit [[Coke Studio (India)]] MTV track '[[Kyun Na]]' with composer [[Amit Trivedi]]; Dhruv penned the lyrics for song '[[Abr e Karam]]' sung by [[Shilpa Rao]] for the movie [[Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain]] released in 2014 starring Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton and Kal Penn. Dhruv was also featured in [[Fox Life]]’s series [[Sound Trek]] (season 2) in the episode 'Dumdam Must Qalandar' in 2014. In 2017 he gave voice for the score of Andy Serkis's film [[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]] with London-based composer [[Nitin Sawhney]]. Currently Dhruv is working on a series of single tracks and on reviving old and less heard [[South Asian]] Sufi melodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/410973/indias-coke-studio-raises-the-bar-with-new-season/|title=India's 'Coke Studio' raises the bar with new season - The Express Tribune|date=20 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/music/music-review-commando-632701|title=Music review: Commando  - NDTV Movies|date=10 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bestmediainfo.com/2014/08/fox-life-is-back-with-soundtrek-2nd-season/|title=Fox Life is back with Soundtrek 2nd season|website=www.bestmediaifo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/bhopal-a-prayer-for-rain-12205/song/abr-e-karam-66313|title=Abr E Karam listen online - All songs from Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (2014)|website=Cinestaan}}</ref>
Apart from singing the 2013 chartbuster '[[Lutt Jawaan]]' for Music Director [[Mannan Shah]] in the movie [[Commando: A One Man Army]] starring Vidyut Jamwal, and the hit [[Coke Studio (India)]] MTV track '[[Kyun Na]]' with composer [[Amit Trivedi]]; Dhruv penned the lyrics for song '[[Abr e Karam]]' sung by [[Shilpa Rao]] for the movie [[Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain]] released in 2014 starring Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton and Kal Penn. Dhruv was also featured in [[Fox Life]]’s series [[Sound Trek]] (season 2) in the episode 'Dumdam Must Qalandar' in 2014. In 2017 he gave voice for the score of Andy Serkis's film [[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]] with London-based composer [[Nitin Sawhney]]. Currently Dhruv is working on a series of single tracks and on reviving old and less heard [[South Asian]] Sufi melodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/410973/indias-coke-studio-raises-the-bar-with-new-season/|title=India's 'Coke Studio' raises the bar with new season – The Express Tribune|date=20 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/music/music-review-commando-632701|title=Music review: Commando  – NDTV Movies|date=10 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bestmediainfo.com/2014/08/fox-life-is-back-with-soundtrek-2nd-season/|title=Fox Life is back with Soundtrek 2nd season|website=www.bestmediaifo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/bhopal-a-prayer-for-rain-12205/song/abr-e-karam-66313|title=Abr E Karam listen online – All songs from Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (2014)|website=Cinestaan}}</ref>


[[File:Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert.jpg|thumb|Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert]]
[[File:Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert.jpg|thumb|Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert]]
Primarily influenced by [[Sufi]] and classical maestros including [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Sabri Brothers]], [[Ustad Rashid Khan]], [[Madan Gopal Singh]] and [[Shubha Mudgal]]; Dhruv-Bilal, in addition to his music, has also collaborated, taught, performed and presented papers at conferences with several artistes, scholars, international institutions and universities. He worked with Theater director [[Habib Tanvir]] on the proscenium Hypatia, with [[Joachim Schloemer]]'s PVC Tanz at [[Auroville]], India, Stadttheater and [[House of World Cultures]], Germany for the critically acclaimed play The Abduction of Sita, based on artist [[Nina Paley]]'s 'Sita sings the Blues ; at the [[Smithsonian Institution]], DC; as [[Artist in Residence]] at [[Colby College]], Maine; and in various events at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, SAIS, DC; Berkeley, SFO; New York University, NY, US Library of Congress and the University of Virginia, US, National College of Art, Lahore and the National Center for Performing Arts, Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/colbycollegelibrary/docs/2009_v098_n1|title=Colby Magazine vol. 98, no. 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freersackler.si.edu/research/scholarly-programs/piety-poetry-and-politics-sufi-muslims-in-south-asia/13100-2/|title=Freer-Sackler|website=www.freersackler.si.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/246250/auliya-council-in-new-york-holds-conference-to-celebrate-urs-of-khawaja-moinuddin-chishti/|title=Auliya Council in New York holds conference to celebrate Urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti - Daily Times|date=30 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.asia.si.edu/events/sascSchedule.asp|title=Schedule: Piety, Poetry, and Politics: Sufi Muslims in South Asia - Events - Freer and Sackler Galleries|website=archive.asia.si.edu}}</ref>
Primarily influenced by [[Sufi]] and classical maestros including [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Sabri Brothers]], [[Ustad Rashid Khan]], [[Madan Gopal Singh]] and [[Shubha Mudgal]]; Dhruv-Bilal, in addition to his music, has also collaborated, taught, performed and presented papers at conferences with several artistes, scholars, international institutions and universities. He worked with Theater director [[Habib Tanvir]] on the proscenium Hypatia, with [[Joachim Schloemer]]'s PVC Tanz at [[Auroville]], India, Stadttheater and [[House of World Cultures]], Germany for the critically acclaimed play The Abduction of Sita, based on artist [[Nina Paley]]'s 'Sita sings the Blues ; at the [[Smithsonian Institution]], DC; as [[Artist in Residence]] at [[Colby College]], Maine; and in various events at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, SAIS, DC; Berkeley, SFO; New York University, NY, US Library of Congress and the University of Virginia, US, National College of Art, Lahore and the National Center for Performing Arts, Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/colbycollegelibrary/docs/2009_v098_n1|title=Colby Magazine vol. 98, no. 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freersackler.si.edu/research/scholarly-programs/piety-poetry-and-politics-sufi-muslims-in-south-asia/13100-2/|title=Freer-Sackler|website=www.freersackler.si.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/246250/auliya-council-in-new-york-holds-conference-to-celebrate-urs-of-khawaja-moinuddin-chishti/|title=Auliya Council in New York holds conference to celebrate Urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti – Daily Times|date=30 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.asia.si.edu/events/sascSchedule.asp|title=Schedule: Piety, Poetry, and Politics: Sufi Muslims in South Asia – Events – Freer and Sackler Galleries|website=archive.asia.si.edu}}</ref>


As lead vocalist for a number of bands like Da-Saz, Rooh Sufi Ensemble, Humble Mystic etc., Dhruv has performed at Indian and international festivals such as [[Bhakti]] Utsav, Gurgaon Utsav, [[ICCR]] International Sufi Festival, International Sufi Festival of Kolkata, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad Jayanti, Hriday Drishyam, Samagam, [[Prem Rawat]], [[Sahaj Yoga]], [[Navras]], [[Siddhartha Festival]], [[Vana Foundation]], [[The Sufi Route]] (headlined by [[A.R. Rahman]], Gaana BMP, [[Krishnakriti]], [[Phool Walon Ki Sair]], [[Serendipity Arts Festival]], [[Parramasala]] Festival, [[Parramatta]] (with [[David Hykes]]), [[Serpentine Gallery]], London, [[Chhandayan]], NYC and Sufism at the Smithsonian, Washington DC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Sufi-concert-to-open-Sayajiraos-150th-birth-anniversary-celebrations/articleshow/11329308.cms|title=Sufi concert to open Sayajirao's 150th birth anniversary celebrations - Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australia.etbtravelnews.global/116140/parramasala-offers-an-international-cultural-feast-of-outstanding-arts/ |title=Parramasala offers an international cultural feast of outstanding arts ·ETB Travel News Australia |publisher=Australia.etbtravelnews.global |date=2011-08-31 |access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Capital-gets-ready-for-Bhakti-Sangeet-Festival/articleshow/19615595.cms|title=Capital gets ready for Bhakti Sangeet Festival - Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2017/sep/10/ar-rahman-led-the-sufi-route-concert-to-be-held-in-delhi-nooran-sisters-to-perform-amongst-others-1655003.html|title=AR Rahman led The Sufi Route concert to be held in Delhi; Nooran sisters to perform amongst others}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/seventh-edition-of-gurugram-utsav-to-start-friday/story-qsuU8uVxHAZKFSVIU31QSP.html|title=Seventh edition of Gurgaon Utsav to start Friday|date=9 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/article/BMP-reaffirms-popularity-of-Bollywood-music-second-time-around-in-Delhi-/02-02-2018-139316/|title=BMP reaffirms popularity of Bollywood music second time around in Delhi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freersackler.si.edu/podcast/sufi-music-from-india-the-chishty-sufi-sama-ensemble/|title=Sufi Music from India: The Chishty Sufi Sama Ensemble – Freer-Sackler|website=www.freersackler.si.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Dhruv-Sangari-lives-by-the-Sufi-way/article13994090.ece|title=Dhruv Sangari lives by the Sufi way|first=Srivathsan|last=Nadadhur|date=11 January 2016|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
As lead vocalist for a number of bands like Da-Saz, Rooh Sufi Ensemble, Humble Mystic etc., Dhruv has performed at Indian and international festivals such as [[Bhakti]] Utsav, Gurgaon Utsav, [[ICCR]] International Sufi Festival, International Sufi Festival of Kolkata, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad Jayanti, Hriday Drishyam, Samagam, [[Prem Rawat]], [[Sahaj Yoga]], [[Navras]], [[Siddhartha Festival]], [[Vana Foundation]], [[The Sufi Route]] (headlined by [[A.R. Rahman]], Gaana BMP, [[Krishnakriti]], [[Phool Walon Ki Sair]], [[Serendipity Arts Festival]], [[Parramasala]] Festival, [[Parramatta]] (with [[David Hykes]]), [[Serpentine Gallery]], London, [[Chhandayan]], NYC and Sufism at the Smithsonian, Washington DC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Sufi-concert-to-open-Sayajiraos-150th-birth-anniversary-celebrations/articleshow/11329308.cms|title=Sufi concert to open Sayajirao's 150th birth anniversary celebrations – Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australia.etbtravelnews.global/116140/parramasala-offers-an-international-cultural-feast-of-outstanding-arts/ |title=Parramasala offers an international cultural feast of outstanding arts ·ETB Travel News Australia |publisher=Australia.etbtravelnews.global |date=2011-08-31 |access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Capital-gets-ready-for-Bhakti-Sangeet-Festival/articleshow/19615595.cms|title=Capital gets ready for Bhakti Sangeet Festival – Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2017/sep/10/ar-rahman-led-the-sufi-route-concert-to-be-held-in-delhi-nooran-sisters-to-perform-amongst-others-1655003.html|title=AR Rahman led The Sufi Route concert to be held in Delhi; Nooran sisters to perform amongst others}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/seventh-edition-of-gurugram-utsav-to-start-friday/story-qsuU8uVxHAZKFSVIU31QSP.html|title=Seventh edition of Gurgaon Utsav to start Friday|date=9 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/article/BMP-reaffirms-popularity-of-Bollywood-music-second-time-around-in-Delhi-/02-02-2018-139316/|title=BMP reaffirms popularity of Bollywood music second time around in Delhi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freersackler.si.edu/podcast/sufi-music-from-india-the-chishty-sufi-sama-ensemble/|title=Sufi Music from India: The Chishty Sufi Sama Ensemble – Freer-Sackler|website=www.freersackler.si.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Dhruv-Sangari-lives-by-the-Sufi-way/article13994090.ece|title=Dhruv Sangari lives by the Sufi way|first=Srivathsan|last=Nadadhur|date=11 January 2016|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>


Empaneled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations [[ICCR]] and the [[Festivals of India Abroad]], [[Ministry of Culture (India)]], Dhruv (along with filmmaker [[Yousuf Saeed]]) is a founding member of [[UNESCO]] cited organization [[Ektara India]] which has worked towards archiving and disseminating materials on Sufi-Bhakti culture based themes. The organization has also regularly conducted workshops and heritage trails highlighting the contribution of the Sufi saints. Dhruv has conducted and co-facilitated spiritual immersions across India, Pakistan, Turkey and the US and been an experience architect for [[Times Passion Trails]] (with [[Sadia Dehlvi]]) and [[Hindustan Times]] PACE among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf |title=Civil society report |date=2010 |website=decade-culture-of-peace.org |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/lifestyle/art-and-culture/talking-about-sufi-music-with-singer-dhruv-sangari|title=World Music Day: Transcending Borders Through Qawwali & Sufism}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://allevents.in/palo+alto/imrc-qawwali-concert-with-dhruv-sangari/1946464532248615|title=IMRC Qawwali Concert with Dhruv Sangari}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/events/PanelofArtists_24.08.2018.pdf |title=Panel of artists |date=2018 |website=indiaculture.nic.in |format=PDF}}</ref>
Empaneled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations [[ICCR]] and the [[Festivals of India Abroad]], [[Ministry of Culture (India)]], Dhruv (along with filmmaker [[Yousuf Saeed]]) is a founding member of [[UNESCO]] cited organization [[Ektara India]] which has worked towards archiving and disseminating materials on Sufi-Bhakti culture based themes. The organization has also regularly conducted workshops and heritage trails highlighting the contribution of the Sufi saints. Dhruv has conducted and co-facilitated spiritual immersions across India, Pakistan, Turkey and the US and been an experience architect for [[Times Passion Trails]] (with [[Sadia Dehlvi]]) and [[Hindustan Times]] PACE among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf |title=Civil society report |date=2010 |website=decade-culture-of-peace.org |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/lifestyle/art-and-culture/talking-about-sufi-music-with-singer-dhruv-sangari|title=World Music Day: Transcending Borders Through Qawwali & Sufism}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://allevents.in/palo+alto/imrc-qawwali-concert-with-dhruv-sangari/1946464532248615|title=IMRC Qawwali Concert with Dhruv Sangari}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/events/PanelofArtists_24.08.2018.pdf |title=Panel of artists |date=2018 |website=indiaculture.nic.in |format=PDF}}</ref>
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[[Category:Indian qawwali singers]]
[[Category:Indian qawwali singers]]
[[Category:Performers of Sufi music]]
[[Category:Performers of Sufi music]]
[[Category:Indian singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Coke Studio]]
[[Category:Coke Studio (Indian TV program)]]
[[Category:Bollywood]]
[[Category:Chishtis]]

Latest revision as of 19:56, 13 May 2022


Artiste Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty)

Dhruv Sangari also known as Bilal Chishty Sangari بلال ڇݜتى سنگارى is a Sufi and Classical Indian vocalist, composer, lyricist, savant and teacher. He is the son of well-known scholar and author Kumkum Sangari and noted painter Mahendra 'Manu' Sangari.

Early life and training[edit | edit source]

Born in 1981, Dhruv began his training in Hindustani classical music at the age of seven with Shahana Bannerjee and continued under Ustad Iqbal Ahmad Khan. He also trained in the tabla from Pandit B.S. Ramanna. Later, he developed an interest in Sufism and Sufi music and started learning qawwali from Ustad Meraj Ahmed Nizami of the Qawwal-Bachhe Gharana at the dargah of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi.[1]

His journey in music led him to discover the genius of Pakistani Qawwali maestro Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, whom he eventually met and learnt from in the mid 1990s.[2]

Having completed his studies in Hindustani classical music from the University of Delhi under such musical stalwarts as Dr. Krishna Bisht, Dr. Najma Parveen Ahmad and Ustad Ghulam Sadiq Khan, Dhruv went on to become a full-time concert and recording artiste and has been performing with various bands since 2000. During this period he anchored a 25 episode series based on Indian classical Ragas 'Tarang ki Mehfil' broadcast on ETV Urdu.[3]

A decade ago a chance meeting with Syed Salman Chishty and Syed Dr. Peer Najmul Hassan Chishty led him down the spiritual path and he took hand with the latter in the city of Ajmer, thus being formally inducted into the Chishti Sufi Order. During his travels across the world as a musician he also became close to Sheikh Ibrahim Farajaje and Sheikh Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy. A follower of Sufi Islam, Dhruv remains an active voice on issues of Sufism and Sufi Culture and regularly performs offerings at various Sufi shrines across the Indian Subcontinent. His spouse is Anam Hassan, whom he married in 2016.

Singer Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty)

Biography, career profile and discography[edit | edit source]

Popularly known as 'Prince of Qawwali' Dhruv has sung and composed the mystic verses of poets and saints such as Baba Farid, Amir Khusrau, Mirabai, Rumi, Jami, Bulleh Shah, Kabir, Saim Chishty, Allama Iqbal, Bedil and Shah Niyaz among others. His early experimental works were with Swiss electronic musicians Lionel Dentan and David Scruffari with the band Da-Saz. Their debut album 'Jet-Lag was released by Phat-Phish Records in 2008.[4]

In 2008 Dhruv scripted and anchored another series based on Indian Classical Music titled 'Raagon ki Haseen Duniya' that aired on DD Urdu. In 2011 he went on to collaborate on the album 'Hope' with artists Timothy Hill and Eric Thomas for the Nasreen & Alam Sher Foundation, US. In 2012 he sang Saim Chishty's famous poem 'Haq Ali Maula'(originally sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) with his band Humble mystic for [Coke Studio MTV at Reliance Studios, Mumbai.

Apart from singing the 2013 chartbuster 'Lutt Jawaan' for Music Director Mannan Shah in the movie Commando: A One Man Army starring Vidyut Jamwal, and the hit Coke Studio (India) MTV track 'Kyun Na' with composer Amit Trivedi; Dhruv penned the lyrics for song 'Abr e Karam' sung by Shilpa Rao for the movie Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain released in 2014 starring Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton and Kal Penn. Dhruv was also featured in Fox Life’s series Sound Trek (season 2) in the episode 'Dumdam Must Qalandar' in 2014. In 2017 he gave voice for the score of Andy Serkis's film Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle with London-based composer Nitin Sawhney. Currently Dhruv is working on a series of single tracks and on reviving old and less heard South Asian Sufi melodies.[5][6][7][8]

Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert

Primarily influenced by Sufi and classical maestros including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Sabri Brothers, Ustad Rashid Khan, Madan Gopal Singh and Shubha Mudgal; Dhruv-Bilal, in addition to his music, has also collaborated, taught, performed and presented papers at conferences with several artistes, scholars, international institutions and universities. He worked with Theater director Habib Tanvir on the proscenium Hypatia, with Joachim Schloemer's PVC Tanz at Auroville, India, Stadttheater and House of World Cultures, Germany for the critically acclaimed play The Abduction of Sita, based on artist Nina Paley's 'Sita sings the Blues ; at the Smithsonian Institution, DC; as Artist in Residence at Colby College, Maine; and in various events at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, SAIS, DC; Berkeley, SFO; New York University, NY, US Library of Congress and the University of Virginia, US, National College of Art, Lahore and the National Center for Performing Arts, Mumbai.[9][10][11][12]

As lead vocalist for a number of bands like Da-Saz, Rooh Sufi Ensemble, Humble Mystic etc., Dhruv has performed at Indian and international festivals such as Bhakti Utsav, Gurgaon Utsav, ICCR International Sufi Festival, International Sufi Festival of Kolkata, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad Jayanti, Hriday Drishyam, Samagam, Prem Rawat, Sahaj Yoga, Navras, Siddhartha Festival, Vana Foundation, The Sufi Route (headlined by A.R. Rahman, Gaana BMP, Krishnakriti, Phool Walon Ki Sair, Serendipity Arts Festival, Parramasala Festival, Parramatta (with David Hykes), Serpentine Gallery, London, Chhandayan, NYC and Sufism at the Smithsonian, Washington DC.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Empaneled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations ICCR and the Festivals of India Abroad, Ministry of Culture (India), Dhruv (along with filmmaker Yousuf Saeed) is a founding member of UNESCO cited organization Ektara India which has worked towards archiving and disseminating materials on Sufi-Bhakti culture based themes. The organization has also regularly conducted workshops and heritage trails highlighting the contribution of the Sufi saints. Dhruv has conducted and co-facilitated spiritual immersions across India, Pakistan, Turkey and the US and been an experience architect for Times Passion Trails (with Sadia Dehlvi) and Hindustan Times PACE among others.[21][22][23][24]

For his work in the field of Sufi-Bhakti music Dhruv has received awards and recognition from institutions such as Rotary Club, Amir Khusro Foundation, Smithsonian Institution and University of Baroda.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "'Sufism isn't confined to religion, it is the path to peace'". 17 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Kusnur, Narendra (26 June 2016). "Learning from legends". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ↑ पत्रकार, प्रीति मान फ़ोटो; लिए, बीबीसी हिंदी डॉटकॉम के. "सूफ़ी संगीत का है रूहानी रिश्ता". BBC News हिंदी.
  4. ↑ "Rock on, in Malayalam... – Livemint". www.livemint.com.
  5. ↑ "India's 'Coke Studio' raises the bar with new season – The Express Tribune". 20 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Music review: Commando – NDTV Movies". 10 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Fox Life is back with Soundtrek 2nd season". www.bestmediaifo.com.
  8. ↑ "Abr E Karam listen online – All songs from Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (2014)". Cinestaan.
  9. ↑ "Colby Magazine vol. 98, no. 1".
  10. ↑ "Freer-Sackler". www.freersackler.si.edu.
  11. ↑ "Auliya Council in New York holds conference to celebrate Urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti – Daily Times". 30 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Schedule: Piety, Poetry, and Politics: Sufi Muslims in South Asia – Events – Freer and Sackler Galleries". archive.asia.si.edu.
  13. ↑ "Sufi concert to open Sayajirao's 150th birth anniversary celebrations – Times of India".
  14. ↑ "Parramasala offers an international cultural feast of outstanding arts ·ETB Travel News Australia". Australia.etbtravelnews.global. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  15. ↑ "Capital gets ready for Bhakti Sangeet Festival – Times of India".
  16. ↑ "AR Rahman led The Sufi Route concert to be held in Delhi; Nooran sisters to perform amongst others".
  17. ↑ "Seventh edition of Gurgaon Utsav to start Friday". 9 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "BMP reaffirms popularity of Bollywood music second time around in Delhi".
  19. ↑ "Sufi Music from India: The Chishty Sufi Sama Ensemble – Freer-Sackler". www.freersackler.si.edu.
  20. ↑ Nadadhur, Srivathsan (11 January 2016). "Dhruv Sangari lives by the Sufi way". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  21. ↑ "Civil society report" (PDF). decade-culture-of-peace.org. 2010.
  22. ↑ "World Music Day: Transcending Borders Through Qawwali & Sufism".
  23. ↑ "IMRC Qawwali Concert with Dhruv Sangari".
  24. ↑ "Panel of artists" (PDF). indiaculture.nic.in. 2018.

External links[edit | edit source]

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