Interview: Zila Khan, The Finest Sufi Singer from India on World Music

There are many ways to describe Zila khan - a Sufi singer par excellence, a brilliant actor, a musician upholding the tradition of Imdadkhani gharana and as someone who is infusing a new life into semi-classical forms of music. The singer is also attracting a generation of young music lovers with world music and his soulful renditions which bring the classics with the contemporary.
She was also recently touring the USA for her play Gauhar Jaan, based on the life and times of India's first female recording artist.

BWW catches up with Zila Khan on musical gharanas and world music

BWW: tell us more about Gauhar, the play that was staged across the US

ZK: The play is based on a novel titled my name is Gauhar Jaan and made its US debut earlier this year. I play the frole of Gauhar's mother, Malka Jaan who is a singer and a poet. I am glad that my singing on the stage both as Gauhar and her mother drew such a great response. It establishes that music known no boundaries. There were many audiences listening to Sufi music for first time and they were transfixed.

BWW: There is a new genre of world music where various fusions come together. What are your thoughts.

ZK: World music is an interesting way to fuse various genres together. But here we are talking about serious, disciplined fusion and not fusion just for the sake of it. When we collaborate with various artists we keep in mind that the essence of any music in not lost. There is a well-crafted plan to it and there are no random mixings. If world music follows that discipline it is an excellent way to connect with the youth.

BWW: What are the kind of response you draw from audiences in the West when it comes to sufi or ghazal music

ZK: Sufi music may be our heritage that we are proud of but i have also observed that it draws amazing response from people across the globe. Whether it is during my performances in Europe or in America I have had moments where people came and wanted to understand more about the lyrics. This for an artist is the biggest compliment.