Soulful notes

SD Sharma

“Ghazal mein bandish-o- alfaaz hi nahin kafi
Jigar ka khoon bhi chahiye asar ke liye…!!”

With remarkable insight into the genre of ghazal, young and enterprising Nangal-based ghazal singer Sunil Dogra visualises it as a ‘soul-to-soul affair’ and puts his heart and musical dexterity for its nuanced presentation during his concerts. The Urdu ghazal, deriving its roots from Arabic and Persian literary form, despite being very old has never given up its place, rather is credibly popular even today, shares Sunil.

“However, while appreciating the brilliance of imagery and felicitous use of language in Urdu ghazals, I have ventured to promote and propagate ghazals in my mother tongue Punjabi,” says Sunil Dogra, reiterating his resolve to popularise his maa boli.

Sunil has seven Punjabi ghazal albums to his credit including his live concerts. In an interaction with Lifestyle Tribune, Sunil shares about his passion and profession.

You are trained in classical music and render Urdu ghazals but you have produced seven albums of Punjabi geet and ghazals. Is it to promote Punjabi maa boli?

No. Punjabi maa boli is already flourishing; I am too small to claim its promotion. But since the Punjabi folk music and dance is popular world over, I feel the Punjabi ghazal has no entity. So, all I am trying is to bring the Punjabi flavour to ghazal lovers everywhere.

What is the overall scenario of music in Punjab? And what kind of music do the Punjabi NRIs like?

There is certainly a paradigm shift in the taste of people from pop to pristine folk. They now like Sufi, ghazal music with meaningful lyrics. In private concerts abroad, I’ve noticed Punjabi NRIs have a fine taste and welcome musical compositions woven with ornate poetry of top poets like Shiv Batalvi, Amrita Pritam, Mohan Singh and others besides Sufiana kalams of mystics.

Do you practice the Guru-Shishya tradition?

Not in school but yes with my disciples. This is the only age-old Indian format of imparting and imbibing good taleem.

How has this time affected your work?

I follow a disciplined routine to stay away from Covid-19. In the absence of concerts, I am composing music for an album of Punjabi ghazals by popular NRI poet Shammi Jalandhari from Australia.