ArtistQawwali ensembleClassical qawwaliHyderabad, Telangana, India

Warsi Brothers

Among the finest living custodians of classical qawwali, Hyderabad-based descendants of the Amir Khusrau lineage and 2025 honourees of the Aga Khan Music Awards.
GhazalThumriBhajan Mid (200-500)Large (500-1500) Active since 1990

About

The Warsi Brothers, Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi and Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi, are an Indian qawwali ensemble based in Hyderabad, performing with their party of accompanists. They belong to the Qawwal Bachhey lineage of the Delhi gharana, tracing their descent to the thirteenth and fourteenth-century poet-musician Amir Khusrau, and their ancestors served as court musicians to the Nizam of Hyderabad. They trained under their grandfather, Padma Shri Aziz Ahmad Khan Warsi.

The Warsis are regarded as among the finest living exponents of traditional, classically rooted qawwali, faithfully rendering Amir Khusrau's repertoire alongside ghazal, thumri and bhajan. They received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for their contribution to qawwali, and in 2025 were honoured at the Aga Khan Music Awards in London for their preservation and transmission of the Khusrau legacy. They tour widely in India and abroad.

The artistry

The Warsis sing classically rooted qawwali with powerful voices, rich improvisation and the call-and-response and harmonium-led arrangements of the Delhi gharana. Their renditions of Amir Khusrau's compositions are marked by devotional depth and musical rigour.

⬩ Atlas Perspective

The Warsi Brothers offer a host an authentic, classically rigorous qawwali mehfil from one of the most respected living parties. Ideal for Sufi, heritage and shrine-tradition programming at the highest level. [Atlas Assessment]

Custodians of a 700-year-old classical qawwali tradition, sustaining Amir Khusrau's repertoire and the Delhi gharana's rigour.

Repertoire

Classical qawwali mehfilTraditionalQawwali partyMusicalFull concert
classical qawwali · Urdu-Persian
Traditional qawwali of Amir Khusrau in the Delhi gharana style.
Ghazal, thumri & bhajanTraditionalWith partyMusical
semi-classical & devotional · Urdu-Hindi
Allied semi-classical and devotional forms.

Performance

Qawwali party

Publications & productions

Amir Khusrau qawwali
classical renderings of Amir Khusrau's qawwali repertoire
Repertoire
Qawwali recordings
numerous audio and video recordings of traditional qawwali
Discography

Career & milestones

Continued the Qawwal Bachhey lineage
family tradition of shrine and court qawwali
2025
Honoured at the Aga Khan Music Awards
South Bank Centre, London

Festivals & appearances

Aga Khan Music Awards
London
Qawwals · 2025
Sufi and world-music festival circuit
India and international tours
Qawwals

Lineage & training

Padma Shri Aziz Ahmad Khan Warsi
grandfather and guru
Guru
Ustad Zaheer Ahmed Khan Warsi
father; National Award-winning qawwal
Guru
Amir Khusrau
the Qawwal Bachhey lineage they descend from
Parampara

Recognition

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi · for their contribution to qawwali
Aga Khan Music Award honour
Aga Khan Music Awards · for preservation and transmission of Amir Khusrau's legacy
2025
Connected Discoveries

Connected Discoveries

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