Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal | Bulleh Shah | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Zeeshan Ali

#livemusic #nimainjanajogidenaal #bullehshah #nusratfatehalikhan
Zeeshan Ali renders the beautiful composition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, originally written by Baba Bulleh Shah for Guru Nanak's Message of peace through Music performance at the barbican centre.
Though why did he pick this qawali / kalam for this specific event? Read the full meaning below to know more.

History and meaning of the poem
"Ni Main Jana Jogi De Naal" stands as one of Bulleh Shah's most profound spiritual declarations, immortalized through Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's transcendent qawwali rendition. The poem captures the essence of a seeker's radical choice—the narrator's determination to abandon worldly attachments and follow the path of the spiritual master (jogi).
At its core, the verses embody the Sufi concept of fana (annihilation of the ego in divine love), mirroring Guru Nanak's revolutionary teachings that emphasized direct communion with the Divine over ritualistic practices and social hierarchies.
Like Guru Nanak, who rejected caste distinctions and empty ceremonies, Bulleh Shah's poem celebrates the supremacy of spiritual truth over societal conventions—the protagonist is willing to face family disapproval and social ostracism to pursue authentic enlightenment.
The repeated refrain "Ni main jana jogi de naal" (I will go with the jogi) becomes a mantra of liberation, echoing Guru Nanak's principle of "Ik Onkar" (One Divine Reality) and the belief that true spirituality transcends religious boundaries. Both poets understood that the journey toward the Divine requires surrendering worldly identity and embracing a path of love, humility, and unwavering devotion—a message that Nusrat's passionate vocals amplified into a timeless call for spiritual awakening.


About the Project

Performance Date: 6 April 2025  
Venue: Barbican Centre, London  
This project explored how Guru Nanak’s timeless message of equality, compassion and spiritual awakening continues to resonate. Music was central to his mission—he travelled with Bhai Mardana, a Muslim rababi, using song to share spiritual wisdom beyond caste and creed. Darbar honoured this tradition by bringing musicians of diverse faiths onto one stage, spreading unity and peace.  

 

*Credits*:

Musicians
Aruna Sairam (carnatic vocals) 
Zeeshan Ali (sufi vocals) 
Bhai Anantvir Singh (kirtania) 
Amrita Kaur (kirtania) 
Momin Khan (sarangi) 
Patri Satish Kumar (mridangam) 
Giridhar Udupa (ghatam) 
Surdarshan Chana  (tabla & jori) 
Gurdain Rayatt (tabla) 
Beibei Wang (da ga drum) 

 

Darbar Team
Sandeep Virdee OBE (Artistic Director) 
Simrat Lall (Darbar Festival Manager) 
María Guardiola (Festivals and Events Manager) 
Depesh Patel (Events Manager) 
Jamie Craven (Head of Design) 
Rahul Ravindran (Creative Video Editor) 
Sana Ejaz (Marketing Executive) 
Zahabiya Patharia (Marketing Executive) 
Christoph Bracher (Head of Sound) 

 

Filming Crew
Pritpal Sagoo (Digital Consultant) 
Gurwinder Soor (Content Creator and Platform Manager) 
Tom Grancia (Technical Production) 
Carl Owen (Camera Operator) 
Chris Connel (Camera Operator) 
Anup Parmar (Camera Operator) 
Nick Morchang (Camera Operator) 

 

Technical Team
Phil Jones (Front of House Sound) 
John Duckett (Sound Monitors) 
Mark Gardner (Lighting Designer) 
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Darbar believes in the power of Indian classical arts to stir and inspire. Since 2006, we have delivered live events, education, broadcasts and digital experiences, while supporting new talent from India and the UK. 

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