“Mast Qalandar” is perhaps the most celebrated and widely rendered of all Qawwalis. Reverberating through the annals of South Asian musical heritage, this spiritual Sufi qawwali has been graced by the voices of the most esteemed singers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran. Despite the myriad renditions, the timeless melody of this iconic qawwali has remained gloriously intact, honoring its deep-rooted tradition.
This qawwali pays homage to Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, the revered Sufi saint of Sindh, who lived from 1177 to 1274 and is venerated at the sacred shrine of Sehwan Sharif. Like many ancient qawwali poems, the origins of “Mast Qalandar” are shrouded in mystery. Some attribute its creation to the illustrious poet Amir Khusrow, while others believe it was later enriched by the lyrical prowess of Punjabi poet Bulleh Shah in the 18th century.
“Mast Qalandar” stands as a testament to the enduring power of Sufi devotion, weaving a spellbinding tapestry of spiritual ecstasy and cultural unity. Each note and lyric resonates with the timeless quest for divine love, transcending borders and bridging hearts across nations.
ओ लाल मेरी पट रखियो बल झूले लालन
सिन्ध्ड़ी दा सेहवन दा सखी शाबाज़ कलंदर
O laal meri pat rakhio bala jhoole laalan
Sindri da sehvan da sakhi shabaaz kalandar
O lord of Sindh, Jhulelal, and Sire of Shewan.
The red robed God-intoxicated Qalandar, glory unto you!
दमा दम मस्त कलंदर, अली दम दम दे अंदर
दमा दम मस्त कलंदर, अली दा पहला नंबर
Dama dam mast kalandar, ali dam dam de andar
Dama dam mast kalandar, ali da pehla number
May I always have your benign protection.
Your shrine is always lighted with four lamps
Credits:
Composer: Various
Language: Sindhi
Lyrics: Bulleh Shah
Arranged & Produced by: Balamurali Balu
Featuring Shivani Joshi on Vocals
Rohan Misra, Sarangi
Satya Vaidyanathan, Tabla
Sudeip Ghosh, Electric guitars
Mario Diaz, Acoustic guitars
Michael Dougherty, Bass guitar
Martín Zarzar, Drums
Audio: Aloha Sounds & Portland Center Stage
Audio Mixing & Mastering: Balamurali Balu & Rishi Varman
Cameras: Jesus Contreras, Lani Milton, Julio Romano & Karen Weliky
Light: Joel Ferraro, Portland Center Stage
Video Editing: Who Edited This???
Video Post Production:
Technical Manager: Todd Baize
Rehearsal: St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Stage Manager: Carissa Rodriguez
Location Manager: Kelsey Tyler
Executive Producer: Sankar Raman
Recorded Live in The U.S. Bank Main Stage at the Portland Center Stage, Portland, OR, USA
Recorded on September 22nd, 2023