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{{short description|Indian singer (b. 1981)}}

[[File:Sufi singer Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty).jpg|thumb|Artiste Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty)]]
'''Dhruv Sangari''' also known as Bilal Chishty Sangari بلال ڇݜتى سنگارى is a Sufi and Classical Indian vocalist, composer, lyricist, savant and teacher. He is the son of well-known scholar and author [[Kumkum Sangari]] and noted painter Mahendra 'Manu' Sangari.

==Early life and training==
Born in 1981, Dhruv began his training in [[Hindustani classical music]] at the age of seven with Shahana Bannerjee and continued under Ustad [[Iqbal Ahmad Khan]]. He also trained in the tabla from Pandit [[B.S. Ramanna]]. Later, he developed an interest in Sufism and Sufi music and started learning qawwali from [[Ustad Meraj Ahmed Nizami]] of the [[Qawwal-Bachhe]] [[Gharana]] at the [[dargah]] of the Sufi saint [[Nizamuddin Auliya]] in [[Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/sufism-isn-t-confined-to-religion-it-is-the-path-to-peace/story-yI8wBdGYBJmg0fmclBbw6N.html|title='Sufism isn't confined to religion, it is the path to peace'|date=17 May 2016}}</ref>

His journey in music led him to discover the genius of Pakistani [[Qawwali]] maestro [[Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], whom he eventually met and learnt from in the mid 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/entertainment/Learning-from-legends/article14403057.ece|title=Learning from legends|first=Narendra|last=Kusnur|date=26 June 2016|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

Having completed his studies in Hindustani classical music from the University of Delhi under such musical stalwarts as Dr. [[Krishna Bisht]], Dr. [[Najma Parveen Ahmad]] and Ustad [[Ghulam Sadiq Khan]], Dhruv went on to become a full-time concert and recording artiste and has been performing with various bands since 2000. During this period he anchored a 25 episode series based on Indian classical [[Ragas]] 'Tarang ki Mehfil' broadcast on [[ETV Urdu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2016/01/160104_artist_at_work_dhruv_sangari_tk|title=सूफ़ी संगीत का है रूहानी रिश्ता|first1=प्रीति मान फ़ोटो|last1=पत्रकार|first2=बीबीसी हिंदी डॉटकॉम के|last2=लिए|website=BBC News हिंदी}}</ref>

A decade ago a chance meeting with [[Syed Salman Chishty]] and Syed Dr. Peer [[Najmul Hassan Chishty]] led him down the spiritual path and he took hand with the latter in the city of [[Ajmer]], thus being formally inducted into the [[Chishti]] [[Sufi]] Order. During his travels across the world as a musician he also became close to [[Sheikh Ibrahim Farajaje]] and [[Sheikh Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ninowy]]. A follower of Sufi Islam, Dhruv remains an active voice on issues of [[Sufism]] and Sufi Culture and regularly performs offerings at various Sufi shrines across the Indian Subcontinent. His spouse is [[Anam Hassan]], whom he married in 2016.

[[File:Artiste Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert.jpg|thumb|Singer Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty)]]

==Biography, career profile and discography==
Popularly known as 'Prince of Qawwali' Dhruv has sung and composed the mystic verses of poets and saints such as [[Baba Farid]], [[Amir Khusrau]], [[Mirabai]], [[Rumi]], [[Jami]], [[Bulleh Shah]], [[Kabir]], [[Saim Chishty]], [[Allama Iqbal]], [[Abdul-Qādir Bedil|Bedil]] and [[Shah Niyaz]] among others. His early experimental works were with Swiss electronic musicians Lionel Dentan and David Scruffari with the band [[Da-Saz]]. Their debut album 'Jet-Lag was released by [[Phat-Phish]] Records in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/hncqOilXxGTLeAbi6SI3NM/Rock-on-in-Malayalam.html|title=Rock on, in Malayalam... – Livemint|website=www.livemint.com}}</ref>

In 2008 Dhruv scripted and anchored another series based on [[Indian Classical Music]] titled 'Raagon ki Haseen Duniya' that aired on [[DD Urdu]]. In 2011 he went on to collaborate on the album 'Hope' with artists Timothy Hill and Eric Thomas for the [[Nasreen & Alam Sher Foundation]], US. In 2012 he sang Saim Chishty's famous poem '[[Haq Ali Maula]]'(originally sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) with his band Humble mystic for [[Coke Studio (India)|[Coke Studio]] [[MTV]] at Reliance Studios, [[Mumbai]].

Apart from singing the 2013 chartbuster '[[Lutt Jawaan]]' for Music Director [[Mannan Shah]] in the movie [[Commando: A One Man Army]] starring Vidyut Jamwal, and the hit [[Coke Studio (India)]] MTV track '[[Kyun Na]]' with composer [[Amit Trivedi]]; Dhruv penned the lyrics for song '[[Abr e Karam]]' sung by [[Shilpa Rao]] for the movie [[Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain]] released in 2014 starring Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton and Kal Penn. Dhruv was also featured in [[Fox Life]]’s series [[Sound Trek]] (season 2) in the episode 'Dumdam Must Qalandar' in 2014. In 2017 he gave voice for the score of Andy Serkis's film [[Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle]] with London-based composer [[Nitin Sawhney]]. Currently Dhruv is working on a series of single tracks and on reviving old and less heard [[South Asian]] Sufi melodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/410973/indias-coke-studio-raises-the-bar-with-new-season/|title=India's 'Coke Studio' raises the bar with new season – The Express Tribune|date=20 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/music/music-review-commando-632701|title=Music review: Commando – NDTV Movies|date=10 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bestmediainfo.com/2014/08/fox-life-is-back-with-soundtrek-2nd-season/|title=Fox Life is back with Soundtrek 2nd season|website=www.bestmediaifo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/bhopal-a-prayer-for-rain-12205/song/abr-e-karam-66313|title=Abr E Karam listen online – All songs from Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (2014)|website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

[[File:Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert.jpg|thumb|Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty) in concert]]
Primarily influenced by [[Sufi]] and classical maestros including [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Sabri Brothers]], [[Ustad Rashid Khan]], [[Madan Gopal Singh]] and [[Shubha Mudgal]]; Dhruv-Bilal, in addition to his music, has also collaborated, taught, performed and presented papers at conferences with several artistes, scholars, international institutions and universities. He worked with Theater director [[Habib Tanvir]] on the proscenium Hypatia, with [[Joachim Schloemer]]'s PVC Tanz at [[Auroville]], India, Stadttheater and [[House of World Cultures]], Germany for the critically acclaimed play The Abduction of Sita, based on artist [[Nina Paley]]'s 'Sita sings the Blues ; at the [[Smithsonian Institution]], DC; as [[Artist in Residence]] at [[Colby College]], Maine; and in various events at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, SAIS, DC; Berkeley, SFO; New York University, NY, US Library of Congress and the University of Virginia, US, National College of Art, Lahore and the National Center for Performing Arts, Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/colbycollegelibrary/docs/2009_v098_n1|title=Colby Magazine vol. 98, no. 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freersackler.si.edu/research/scholarly-programs/piety-poetry-and-politics-sufi-muslims-in-south-asia/13100-2/|title=Freer-Sackler|website=www.freersackler.si.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/246250/auliya-council-in-new-york-holds-conference-to-celebrate-urs-of-khawaja-moinuddin-chishti/|title=Auliya Council in New York holds conference to celebrate Urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti – Daily Times|date=30 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.asia.si.edu/events/sascSchedule.asp|title=Schedule: Piety, Poetry, and Politics: Sufi Muslims in South Asia – Events – Freer and Sackler Galleries|website=archive.asia.si.edu}}</ref>

As lead vocalist for a number of bands like Da-Saz, Rooh Sufi Ensemble, Humble Mystic etc., Dhruv has performed at Indian and international festivals such as [[Bhakti]] Utsav, Gurgaon Utsav, [[ICCR]] International Sufi Festival, International Sufi Festival of Kolkata, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad Jayanti, Hriday Drishyam, Samagam, [[Prem Rawat]], [[Sahaj Yoga]], [[Navras]], [[Siddhartha Festival]], [[Vana Foundation]], [[The Sufi Route]] (headlined by [[A.R. Rahman]], Gaana BMP, [[Krishnakriti]], [[Phool Walon Ki Sair]], [[Serendipity Arts Festival]], [[Parramasala]] Festival, [[Parramatta]] (with [[David Hykes]]), [[Serpentine Gallery]], London, [[Chhandayan]], NYC and Sufism at the Smithsonian, Washington DC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Sufi-concert-to-open-Sayajiraos-150th-birth-anniversary-celebrations/articleshow/11329308.cms|title=Sufi concert to open Sayajirao's 150th birth anniversary celebrations – Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australia.etbtravelnews.global/116140/parramasala-offers-an-international-cultural-feast-of-outstanding-arts/ |title=Parramasala offers an international cultural feast of outstanding arts ·ETB Travel News Australia |publisher=Australia.etbtravelnews.global |date=2011-08-31 |access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Capital-gets-ready-for-Bhakti-Sangeet-Festival/articleshow/19615595.cms|title=Capital gets ready for Bhakti Sangeet Festival – Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2017/sep/10/ar-rahman-led-the-sufi-route-concert-to-be-held-in-delhi-nooran-sisters-to-perform-amongst-others-1655003.html|title=AR Rahman led The Sufi Route concert to be held in Delhi; Nooran sisters to perform amongst others}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/seventh-edition-of-gurugram-utsav-to-start-friday/story-qsuU8uVxHAZKFSVIU31QSP.html|title=Seventh edition of Gurgaon Utsav to start Friday|date=9 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/article/BMP-reaffirms-popularity-of-Bollywood-music-second-time-around-in-Delhi-/02-02-2018-139316/|title=BMP reaffirms popularity of Bollywood music second time around in Delhi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freersackler.si.edu/podcast/sufi-music-from-india-the-chishty-sufi-sama-ensemble/|title=Sufi Music from India: The Chishty Sufi Sama Ensemble – Freer-Sackler|website=www.freersackler.si.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Dhruv-Sangari-lives-by-the-Sufi-way/article13994090.ece|title=Dhruv Sangari lives by the Sufi way|first=Srivathsan|last=Nadadhur|date=11 January 2016|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

Empaneled with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations [[ICCR]] and the [[Festivals of India Abroad]], [[Ministry of Culture (India)]], Dhruv (along with filmmaker [[Yousuf Saeed]]) is a founding member of [[UNESCO]] cited organization [[Ektara India]] which has worked towards archiving and disseminating materials on Sufi-Bhakti culture based themes. The organization has also regularly conducted workshops and heritage trails highlighting the contribution of the Sufi saints. Dhruv has conducted and co-facilitated spiritual immersions across India, Pakistan, Turkey and the US and been an experience architect for [[Times Passion Trails]] (with [[Sadia Dehlvi]]) and [[Hindustan Times]] PACE among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf |title=Civil society report |date=2010 |website=decade-culture-of-peace.org |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/lifestyle/art-and-culture/talking-about-sufi-music-with-singer-dhruv-sangari|title=World Music Day: Transcending Borders Through Qawwali & Sufism}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://allevents.in/palo+alto/imrc-qawwali-concert-with-dhruv-sangari/1946464532248615|title=IMRC Qawwali Concert with Dhruv Sangari}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/events/PanelofArtists_24.08.2018.pdf |title=Panel of artists |date=2018 |website=indiaculture.nic.in |format=PDF}}</ref>

For his work in the field of Sufi-Bhakti music Dhruv has received awards and recognition from institutions such as [[Rotary Club]], [[Amir Khusro Foundation]], [[Smithsonian Institution]] and [[University of Baroda]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://dhruvsangari.com/ Official site]
*[http://www.ektara.org/ Ektara India]
*[https://sites.google.com/view/dhruvsangarimusic/home Google page]

[[Category:Sufi music]]
[[Category:Indian qawwali singers]]
[[Category:Performers of Sufi music]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Coke Studio (Indian TV program)]]
[[Category:Chishtis]]

Dhruv Sangari - Revision history

UpdateBot at 14:26, 13 May 2022