Pakistani Sufi exponent Sanam Marvi was featured as part of the world music celebrity series at the Sanders Theater on Sunday, March 26.  The music was soul stirring. 

A gifted singer, Sanam Marvi is known as one of the finest singers of Sufi devotional music and Pakistani folk songs.  Her work with major Bollywood stars has made her one of the leading voices in India and Pakistan. Whether singing in Urdu, Sindhi, or Saraiki, Marvi aims to reach across generations and cultures to create an inspiring experience, meditative and trance inducing one moment and then thrillingly ecstatic the next. Like that of the late Nustrat Fateh Ali Khan, Marvi’s devotional joyousness and intoxication with divine love are completely awe-inspiring.

She opened the evening qith Chhaap Tilak Sab Cheeni by Hazrat Amir Khusrau. This was followed by Man Kunto Maula also a Khusrau composition. Bulleh Shah’s Tere Ishq Nachaya come next. Arieb Azhar, another singer presented a beautiful number and then joined her in the presentation of  the ever popular number Laal Meri Patt in honor of Laal Shahbaz Qalandar.  It is indeed tragic to note that the Shrine to this Saint that was built in 1356 was bombed by extremists this year on Feb 16 2017.  While Shrines can be torn, a musical tribute can never die. 

The evening was a beautiful tribute to music, melody and mysticism.