Sonam Kalra wants to fix the world through music. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“In February 2010, I was invited to perform at the Urs of Sufi Inat Khan’s Dargah in Delhi. “A Sikh girl welcomed an Islamic space singing gospel music. That moment made me feel that the universe was trying to tell me something.” This was when Sonam thought about the Sufi Gospel Project. “I wondered why I could not mix an Irish mantra with a Buddhist mantra or ‘Halelujah’ with the verses of Bulle Shah with ‘Alla Hu’ or ‘Abide with Me’.
Today, Sonam’s faith has found global confirmation. At the Global Music Awards of 2025 held last month, he won three silver medals – two ‘Hum’ – where without mind the mind and female singer are not in the categories, and one third of the pieces of him for the pieces ‘Halelujah – Allah Hu’.,
Sonam Kalra’s Sufi Gospel Project Celebrates Inclusion and Diversity Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In both, Sonam’s music mixes poetry, cultures and faith. His interpretation of ‘Hum Dekhaz’ combines Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s revolutionary verses with a call for Rabindranath Tagore’s freedom.
Speaking on the phone, Sonam says, “This recognition matters a lot to me because it is reviewed by colleagues-by musicians and experts across the world.”
She says that becoming a voting member of Grammy Recording Academy was equally important. “This is an honor because the global music community sees the value in the kind of music I am trying to make.”
Verification of his faith
Sonam also sees the Global Music Award as a recognition of her The Sufi Gospel Project. “This is a huge verification,” she says. Recalling a recent message from Los Angeles -based symphonic music composer Matte Coach, inviting him to contribute to a global music course, she says, “The deepening to be identified for music is a different belief. It is a different belief. It tells me that I cannot be on the mainstream, but I am on my way, I am on my way.”
Sonam was started by her sitarist-ma in classical music at the age of four: Special arrangements
Sonam admitted that launching the Sufi Gospel project was a significant risk, especially in a polarized climate, but says that her punishment in its message defeated any fear. Drawing from her experiences of growing up during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Sonam held the values ​​of equality and co-existence provoked by her parents. Despite questions about why a Sikh woman will sing with gospel music or mix with Sufism, she was firm in her belief that “trust is personal” and she ,Art should reflect the truth, otherwise it is just copying. ,
Vested in classical
Sonam’s musical journey began in childhood, inspired by her mother’s deep love for music. Sonam says, “She used to play the role of a sitar and encouraged me and my brothers to pursue music. I started learning formally at the age of four.” When her sisters went away, Sonam Duboya, later training under Dagar brothers, Shubha Mudgal and PT. Sarathi Chatterjee.
Although he chased the graphic design at Art School and worked in the advertisement, the music was calling him. “I quit my job to sing professionally, and lose my voice for almost a year immediately. I felt as Saraswati was testing me,” she laughs. During this emotional period, especially when she took care of her ailing mother, Sonam found refuge in the theater: “Theater helped me express myself when I couldn’t sing. It opened a separate part of my soul.”
One of his biggest theater effects was Amal Allana, the daughter of theater legend Abrahim Alakazi. “Working with Amal was great. After 14 years of music, she brought me back to a staging of her book on Alakazi Sir.”
Sonam took ‘Man Manum’ (Ek Coke Studio Production), ‘Amazing Grace’ (2014), ‘Bol’ (2015), ‘Alfat’ (2019), ‘Hum Dekheng … Jahan Mana Vidout Fear’ (2020), ‘Om Namo Bhagavat Vasudevaya’ (2021), ” ” ” ” ‘ “” “” (2022) and more. Each of these songs examines feelings like self-discipline and reverence for Divya.
Sonam opposes boxing in any style, instead chooses her music to flow independently beyond boundaries.
Published – May 08, 2025 01:05 pm IST
