About
The Nizami Bandhu are a qawwali trio led by Ustad Chand Nizami with his nephews Shadab Faridi Nizami and Sohrab Faridi Nizami, of the Sikandra gharana. They are hereditary court singers at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya dargah in Delhi, where they perform every Thursday, and are descendants of the qawwals who served the shrine for some seven centuries. They render Amir Khusrau's qawwalis in honour of Nizamuddin Auliya.
The group reached a mass audience after appearing in the song Kun Faya Kun, filmed at the dargah for the film Rockstar, and went on to perform an Amir Khusrau bandish in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Long known to devotees at the shrine and admired by musicians including A.R. Rahman, they balance their devotional shrine service with concerts across India and abroad, and have appeared at festivals such as Jashn-e-Rekhta.
The artistry
The Nizami Bandhu sing shrine qawwali in the Sikandra gharana style, blending Amir Khusrau's classical kalaam with the emotional immediacy of dargah performance. Their music retains its devotional core while reaching contemporary and film audiences.
The Nizami Bandhu offer a host an authentic dargah-tradition qawwali mehfil with the added recognition of their film fame. Ideal for Sufi, heritage and devotional programmes. [Atlas Assessment]
Living custodians of the Nizamuddin dargah's qawwali tradition, carrying a seven-century lineage to contemporary audiences.