Adnan Sami turns Sufi bard for Salman

It’s a double whammy of sorts for Salman Khan fans to have the much-awaited Bajrangi Bhaijan releasing on the Eid weekend and also get a taste of the movie through a soulful sufi quwwali. The quwwali, which is being touted as Khan’s first-ever Dargah (mosque) song has been sung by music virtuoso Adnan Sami.

For the first time, Sami agree to play the cameo of a sufi bard in the song that was shot in the picturesque Ashmuqam Dargah nestled in the mountains of Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Kashmir, India.

Sami, the multi-talented Canadian musician who has never sung in this genre was absolutely excited about it.

Speaking to tabloid! from Mumbai he said: “This song is special as it has several firsts to its credit. I have never sung in the quwwali genre before. I agreed to sing it on the special request of Salman bhai who as we have been very old family friends and I hold a special place in my heart for him. I have never agreed to appear in my own song. Then this is the first time anyone was granted permission to shoot in the Ashmuqam Dargah, which was an absolutely breathtaking and phenomenal experience.”

Sung in the typical nasal twang that is the hallmark of Sami, he has rendered it in a pitch that is much higher than his normal one. Higher pitches are the hallmark of this traditional genre and the song succeeds in garnering piety votes as it is fast-paced with Kauser Munir’s profound lyrics giving it a note of a persistent plea to the Almighty that is bound to resonate with every listener.

Narrating his experience in venturing out to try a new genre, Sami said: “Sufi quwaaalis are usually sung at a higher pitch and I felt this song took me out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed the experience. This is an old traditional genre and the lyrics are also classically traditional, but I must say that the music director Pritam has lent it a certain freshness in the manner in which he composed the music.”

The song, which was released on June 27 on YouTube can now be downloaded by fans.