With a splendid performance in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the nine
acts of ‘Sufi Sutra’ are eagerly waiting to perform in Goa. The show was
performed for the first time in Dhaka and after getting the response from the
audience, Amitava Bhattacharya, Founder Director of banglanatak dot com is
pretty confident that the festival will be accepted by Goan music lovers. ‘Sufi
Sutra’ is a three day peace music festival to bring about a convergence of
ideas on harmony, peace and divinity. The festival aims at connecting Indian
folk artists to the world through cultural exchange.
“The idea of a Sufi festival originated in Kolkata, five
years back. Banglanatak dot com came up with the idea to celebrate the cultural
diversity and traditional music that is acoustic and folk music brought together
through Sufi. The festival is held annually in Kolkata while this time, we had
our first show in Dhaka from January 27 and 29, 2015 before heading to Goa, for
the first edition here. We wanted the local artists to reach out to the global
music scene,” says Amitava.
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Kala Academy Goa in association with banglanatak dot com
will present ‘Sufi Sutra’ from February 2 to 4, 2015 at Kala Academy, Panjim.
The performing acts includes musicians and singers of the groups, Projecto
Sarava (Brazil), Serenas (Denmark), Mawlawiyahh (Egypt), Hadarrattes
Souiriyattes (Morocco), Mechket (Tunisia), Zikr (Flamenco from Spain), Sidi
Goma (Gujarat), The Langas (Rajasthan) and East west Local (Bengal-Goa).
“We have been working for the past eight months in Goa and
we came across a pool of talented musicians. Through the festival, we hope to
see a cultural, musical collaboration between the artists. Some of the best
known folk dance forms like Flamenco, Samba and whirling Deverishes will be
performed to the sound of Sufi music. The festival in Goa will be fabulous
because when it comes to music, music lovers show their openness to all genres
of music,” says Amitava. East West Local, an innovative form of Bengali
traditional folk based world music with acoustic musical arrangement will
feature urban and rural musicians of West Bengal and Goa on the first day of
the festival.
Two all women groups will be present for the festival,
‘Serenas’ (Denmark) and Hadarrattes Souiriyattes (Morocco). ‘Serenas’ with its
emerging female artists has toured both nationally in Denmark and abroad,
engaging various communities particularly women as well as wider section of
people as audience. Hadarrattes Souiriyattes, the team from Morocco is a nine
member all women team. The traditions of Hadarrates intervene for the ritual
nights called Hadra, which includes all the rites performed by families and
individuals, from baptism and circumcision, to marriage and death.
Workshops will also be held by the visiting groups on
February 3 and 4, 2015 at the Black Box, Kala Academy, Panjim from 11am to 3pm.
