From classical to Sufi

Classical musician Smita Bellur hails from North Karnataka and has left her software domain to become a fulltime musician and practitioner of Sufi music.

She specialises in Hindustani Khayal and the traditional Sufi music.

Smita collaborates with rock and pop bands to create the mesmerising fusion music. She also rendered her voice for many Bollywood songs and live concerts.

She was in Hyderabad to perform at the LV Prasad Eye Institute recently.

Excerpts:
How did music happen in your life?
It was at a very young age that my father felt I had some talent in music. And in my fourth class, I was initiated into Carnatic music.

That did not last long and I got an opportunity to learn Kannada 'Bhav Geet' from P R Bhagwat. Later, I was enrolled in Hindustani classical music under the aegis of Arjunsa Nakod.

How did ‘Sufi music’ come into your classical music style?
It was around the year 2007 when I heard the song “Allah Hu” by Aziz Ahmed Warsi.

The lyrics of the song were overpowering and left a lasting impression on me and made me asking for more.

And my journey into ‘knowing the unknown’ was ignited. I am now learning ‘Sufiana Kalam and Qawalli’ from Warsi Brothers of Hyderabad.

Who is your inspiration?
For some time, my journey in music continued under the guidance of Alka Deo Marulkar.

She sowed the ‘seeds of thought’ in my mind about the music that I sing. The Sufi lyrics are so much to do with day to day life, that they reach the common listener with ease.

These are songs which can be identified by the listener about their ‘situation in life’. Dr Ejazuddin Ashrafi and Murshad Hazrat Akhtar Ali Shah have always shown me the path of ‘Sufism’ in life.

Does the younger generation take Sufi music seriously?
The younger generation enjoys Sufi music very much. Maybe it is because the songs come early with lyrics, unlike the detailed ‘alaap’ in classical music.

In fact, I have seen the younger generation appreciating ‘Khayal Gayaki’, which comes in small doses along with the Sufi music.

Can Sufi music change the way of living life?
Sufism is all about the thought that the almighty is always close to his beloved ones.

Even for me, the experience of being one with the almighty came through music without going through any rituals. Everything is one. In fact, we all musicians are a happy ‘one family’.

Sufi music will free the individual from the burden and leave everything to almighty. We can bring the grammar in Sufi music. But it is the almighty who can show the path through our music.

When not singing what do you do?
I like gardening, but I hardly find the time and also I don’t have that kind of open space.

I also read many books on poetry, Vedanta and other philosophies of life which speak about ‘oneness’ of the universe.

What is your impression of Hyderabad city?
Hyderabad has been a very lucky city to me and I have many well wishers and scholars who continuously guide me on my journey of music.

Ever since I quit my software job to take up music on a full-time basis, I have always found the much-needed guidance and support from this beautiful city.