Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing Originally performed at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia, It became popular among the masses when these were introduced in films. Qawwali has apparently found in films since it became Talking. The earliest evidence was a Qawwali 'Allah Hu ' in the 1935 film Talash-e-Haque. Another very popular Qawwali was 'Aahen Na Bhari' from the 1945 movie 'Zeenat' sung by Noor Jehan.Phir Aah Dil Se Nikli Tapka Lahu Jigar Se composed by Naushad and sung again by Zohrabai Ambalewalli in Mela (1949) also became a craze.
During the Golden Era, Qwawali was in its peek, almost every film used to have at least one Qwwali, The success of the qawwali 'Hame to Loot Liya Milke Husn Walon Ne' from the 1958 film Al Hilal sung by the professional Azad Qawwal, opened the gate for other Qawwals like Shakeela Bano Bhopali, , Jaani BQawwal Ismailabu Qawwal, Aziz Nazan, Nusrat Fateh Ali and Altaf Raja
Shakeela Bano Bhopali was India's first female Qawwal. She came to Bombay in the late 50s on the invitation of BR Chopra and Dilip Kumar. She was offered many films, Jagir(1959) was the first film
A Qawwali group consists of eight or nine men including a lead singer, one or two side singers, one or two harmoniums, and percussion. There is also a chorus of four or five men who repeat key verses, and who aid and back up percussion by hand-clapping.
The performers generally sit in two rows with the lead singer, side singers, and harmonium players in the front row, and the chorus and percussionists in the back row. The harmonium got preferred in Qawwalis as the earlier used sarangi needed to be retuned between songs.
There have been many changes in Bollywood Qawwali, some composers have infused it with modern and western musical instruments and with techno beats and are called Techno-qawwali. Techno qawwalis with dance-oriented tracks are also in vogue nowadays and are called Club qawwali. The most popular Qawwali was Na Toh Karwan Ki Talash Hai was from the 1960 film Barsat Ki Raat composed by Roshan. After the popularity of this Qawwali Roshan became the Qawwali king who gave many more popular Qawwalis to Bollywood
Here are a few Bollywood Qawwali
