The Karachi-based Saami Brothers claim descent from the original 'qawwal bachchas' trained by Ameer Khusraw in 13th century Delhi. Here, they talk to TFT about their lofty lineage, their difficult riaz regimen and their favorite contemporary music.
The Friday Times: You are known as the ‘Qawwal Bachchas’. Who are the Qawwal Bachchas?
Saami Brothers: Hazrat Ameer Khusraw had one disciple, and his name was Mian Saamat. Thereafter, Hazrat Ameer created a group of twelve children who were all to be instructed by Mian Saamat in the art of devotional singing. All those students of qawwali went on to have families; none of those families have survived, none except the line of Mian Saamat.
Azeem Saami
TFT: Who coached you in the art of qawwali?
SB: The ‘ilm’ or art of qawwali is our ancestral heritage. We are lucky to have been coached in it by men who were and are masters of their craft. These are Ustad Naseeruddin Saami (our father), Ustad Nizamuddin Saami (our uncle) and Munshi Raziuddin Saami (our maternal grandfather). We were especially privileged to learn at the feet of Munshi Raziuddin Sahib.
TFT: You have gained a lot of attention lately by claiming to sing ‘rivayati’ or traditional qawwali. How is your qawwali different from that which is common today?
SB: We believe the kalaam or lyric has primacy in any performance of qawwali. Our aim when rendering an aarifana kalaam is to bring out the meaning of the words, to bring out their intended spiritual effect. We feel the qawwali that is being performed nowadays often lacks this dimension.
Urooj Saami
The purpose of Khayal is to express and elaborate the state of a person's soul by use of the voice alone
TFT: Whose kalaam are you most fond of rendering? Who are your favorite poets and mystics?
SB: Our favorites are Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Hazrat Abdur Rehman Jaami, Hazrat Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, Hazrat Sheikh Saadi, Hazrat Ameer Khusraw, Hazrat Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah and Hazrat Baba Zaheen Shah Taji, to name a few.
TFT: Traditional music is enjoying a comeback in Pakistan. It’s as if young singers in our country are thirsting for what is ancient and sublime. Do you feel this is true?
SB: ‘Har cheez ko apni asl ki tarf lautna hai.’Everything must return to its source, to its origins. We may wander for long periods, or become distracted, but when we hear the call of what is truly ours, we can never deny it for long. We will always be drawn to the truth. Something like that is happening in Pakistan today. It is a good sign.
Ahmed Saami and his brothers at a performance
We were especially privileged to learn at the feet of Munshi Raziuddin Sahib
TFT: Your father Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami is a well-regarded singer of Khayal, the other, more austere, branch of musical knowledge attributed to Ameer Khusraw. Why aren’t the Saami Brothers singers of Khayal?
SB: Our father and late grandfather coached us in Khayal as well – it is not as if we are without that other knowledge. In fact, our ibtidai taaleem or initial education was in Khayal since it is the foundation of all musical knowledge. In our family, these twin branches of music have traveled side by side, and even today we are ardent students of Khayal.
The Saami Brothers with their father, Ustad Naseeruddin Saami
Munshi Raziuddin with Farid Ayaz Qawwal
TFT: What is the difference between the types of training imparted for Khayal and Qawwali? Are there any parts of your riaz that you enjoy especially?
SB: There is a world of a difference. Qawwali’s purpose is to bring out the meaning of the words of Allah, his Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and other messengers of peace. The purpose of Khayal, which is an extremely difficult and demanding art form, is to express and elaborate the state of a person’s soul by use of the voice alone. So whereas Qawwali is about the words, Khayal is about the voice. Of course, that is not to say that Khayal is without words or that Qawwali is without music, but you get the point, which is about a difference in stress or emphasis.
As for our riaz regimen, the most challenging and indeed enjoyable part has to do with establishing qayyaam or steadiness in sur. It just so happens that this qayyaam is a specialty, a trademark even, of our Gharana.
Ameer Khusraw with his disciples (from 'Majlis al-Ushshaq' by Husayn Bayqarah)
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami
TFT: Is there anything that you like about contemporary music? Are there any acts or artistes you are drawn to?
SB: We like all those who sing in sur – those who sing with conviction, whose music has an effect on the soul or spirit, those are the musicians we tend to like. And such musicians are happily found all over the world.
TFT: Are you planning on releasing an album?
SB: Very soon, Allah-willing, we will release an album of rivayati qawwali.
