The Qawwali Project – An Untold Story

Ustad Ranjhan Ali is a traditional Qawwal from Punjab where Qawwali is notably popular. He belongs to the Qadiri Silsila Sufi tradition. This region has been home to many Sufi saints and mystical traditions. The Qawwal sings at the shrine: in contrast to the bright colours around him, he is in a sombre mood, lost in praise of the Almighty where he leads with just his voice. His team of musicians wait for their turn to add to the music.

The Qawwali Project, is an initiative conceptualized by Manjari Chaturvedi where the untold story of Qawwali unfolds through the eyes of photographers. The practitioners are photo-documented with their performance art, their lives and their association with the Sufi shrines where they perform. Qawwali is the performance art and Qawwal is the practitioner. This is an attempt by the Sufi Kathak Foundation to document the traditions as they exist at the shrines itself.