‘Qawwali is more than music; it’s a universal expression of devotion that unites people’

Fresh off his Bollywood playback debut in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Sarfira, singer Sagar Bhatia returned to Hyderabad for his third performance in the city. The evening was full of energy as the audience swayed and sang along to his qawwali songs. Speaking to Hyderabad Times, Sagar opened up about his musical roots, inspirations and the strong bond he shares with the city and its listeners.Speaking about his musical roots, he said, “I’ve always been drawn to this kind of music. Even as a kid, my voice had a certain depth, and I naturally gravitated towards qawwali,” adding, his journey has been shaped by two musical legends: “Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahab is a huge inspiration, I’ve learned so much from him. And then there’s Gurdas Maan sahab. While qawwalis are usually performed seated, I like to stand and move with the music — that energy, I picked up from him. These two are like gods to me. What I do today comes from their influence.”Talking about the city and its audience, he shared, “Qawwali unites people regardless of caste, religion, or background. No matter where I perform, the crowd always joins in, and Hyderabad is no different. However, there’s something uniquely special about this place. The audience here has always been incredibly energetic. This is my third performance in the city, and each time, their energy elevates the entire experience.” He also couldn’t stop praising the city’s food. “I’m from Delhi, but there’s something magical about Hyderabad’s spices. I love spicy food, and every meal here is a full experience — I just can’t resist it.”Talking about his experience in performing live in India and abroad, he said, “The stage often brings unexpected moments despite all the planning. I prepare for every tour, but things on stage often take a different turn. Once, during a show, I was performing a track called Biba and had also prepared some shayari for it. But the audience’s energy was so infectious that I spontaneously came up with something completely new on the spot — Rukhte rukhte beh gaye na jaane kyun, woh mujhse itna sab kuch keh gaye na jaane kyun. Khwaab saare mere beh gaye na jaane kyun, woh mujhse itna sab kuch keh gaye na jaane kyun. Conclusion yeh hai ki hum toh buddhu ban ke reh gaye na jaane kyun. This entire piece was created in the moment, and the fact that people connected with it so deeply means the world to me.” Reflecting on his playback debut Khudaya from Sarfira, he shared, “It was my first-ever playback experience. That month, I was doing 25–26 back-to-back shows and was completely exhausted. I even told the director I didn’t think I could sing. But he said, ‘We need this grunge in your voice.’ I gave it a try, and it turned out beautifully. I’m grateful to God and the entire Sarfira team, the whole process happened so naturally. In fact, we wrapped up the recording in just 45 minutes.” When you sing a Bollywood or indie song, you’re usually expressing a specific emotion or telling a story. But qawwali is something else, it’s not just music, it’s a form of devotion. You can offer it to your love, to God, to your parents, or to any belief you connect with. We don’t limit it to one person or religion, and that’s what makes it truly universal.Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahab and Gurdas Maan sahab have been huge inspirations. They’re like gods to me — everything I do today is shaped by their influence- Sarmistha Ganguli