The Institute of Ismaili Studies recently hosted filmmakers Kamran Moin Anwar and Professor Katherine Butler Schofield (King’s College London) at an exclusive screening of their film Songs of the Sufi (2023). The event was oversubscribed within days of its announcement and for good reason: Songs of the Sufi captivated the audience that evening with its personal expressions and moving musical pieces.
The screening was followed by a Q&A, moderated by Dr William Rees Hofmann of the South Asian Studies unit. The audience asked questions about the composition of qawwali and the efforts put into the preservation of its practice. The filmmakers and audience members also shared their personal connections to the music genre.
Songs of the Sufi intertwines the stories of two families who grew up surrounded by qawwalis with five Qawwals who practice in Karachi, Pakistan. The film offers a compelling narrative not only of the history of qawwalis but also of the enlightening effects it can have on those who listen to and participate in the practice.
