Filmi qawwali (Urdu:فلمی قوٌالی.Bengali:ফিল্মি কাওয়ালি,Hindi:फ़िल्मी क़व्वाली) is a form ofqawwali music found in theLollywood,Dhallywood,Tollywood, andBollywood film industries.[1]
It represents a distinct subgenre offilm music, although it usually bears little resemblance to traditional qawwali, which is the devotional music of theSufis. One example of filmi qawwali is the songPardah Hai Pardah sung byMohammed Rafi, and composed byLaxmikant–Pyarelal in Indian filmAmar Akbar Anthony (1977).[2] Another example of filmi qawwali is the song "Qurbani Qurbani Qurbani" rendered byKishore Kumar,Anwar and Aziz Nazan and composed byKalyanji-Anandji for the Indian filmQurbani(1980).[3]
Within the subgenre of filmi qawwali, there exists a form of qawwali that is infused with modern andWestern instruments, usually withtechno beats, calledtechno-qawwali. An example of techno-qawwali isKajra Re, a filmi song composed byShankar–Ehsaan–Loy. A newer variation of the techno-qawwali based on the more dance oriented tracks is known as the "club qawwali". More tracks of this nature are being recorded and released.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan andA.R. Rahman have composed filmi qawwalis in the style of traditional qawwali. Examples include Arziyan (Delhi 6), Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar)[4] and Kun Faya Kun (Rockstar).
Examples in theBengaliTollywood cinema include the song Remix Qawwali (Bindaas) sung byNeha Kakkar andNakash Aziz.[5] In addition to this, theBengaliDhallywood cinema also includes qawwalis such as the song Tikatuli (Dhaka Attack) sung by Motin Chowdhury.[6]
One ofNusrat Fateh Ali Khan's famous Qawwali songs, "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda"[7] ("I am restless without you"),[8] appeared on two of his 1996 albums,Sorrows Vol. 69[9] andSangam (as "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda Dil"), the latter a collaborative album with Indian lyricistJaved Akhtar.[10]Lata Mangeshkar recorded acover version called "Tere Bin Nahin Jeena" forKachche Dhaage[7] Composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, theKachche Dhaage soundtrack album sold 3 million units in India.[11]British-Indian producerBally Sagoo released a remix of "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda", which was later featured in the 2002 British filmBend It Like Beckham, starringParminder Nagra andKeira Knightley.[8] A cover version called "Tere Bin" was recorded by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan withAsees Kaur for the 2018 Bollywood filmSimmba[12]
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's music had a big impact onBollywood music, inspiring numerous Indian musicians working inBollywood, especially during the 1990s. For example, he inspiredA. R. Rahman andJaved Akhtar, both of whom he collaborated with. However, there were many instances of Indianmusic directors plagiarising Khan's music to produce hitfilmi songs.[13]Viju Shah's hit song "Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast" inMohra (1994) was plagiarised from Khan's popular Qawwali song "Dam Mast Qalandar".[13]