Dawn Images

Pakistani music documentary film Songs of the Sufi (SOTS) has won the Best Documentary — Audience Choice Award at the 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival.

The feature documentary film tells the story of classical qawwali through qawwals of the Qawwal Bachay Gharana, aficionados, devotees, and music scholars. The film uses Sufi-inspired art by leading Pakistani artists and Mughal miniature paintings, qawwalis, interviews, and verité-style storytelling to create a cinematic musical visual experience.

“Songs of the Sufi is a wonderful craft that explores the history, culture, and universal message of love. I’m very thrilled that the film won at our festival and stood out for masterful direction, and the emotional depth. Sharukh Waheed and Kamran Anwar have brought this masterpiece in a very tasteful and divine way to the big screen!” said Chicago South Asian Film Festival Director Jigar Shah, according to a press release issued by SOTS.

Director Waheed said, “It feels great that our film is getting appreciated by audiences at home and abroad. This is our ode to the art of qawwali and the qawwal families keeping this sacred art form alive and we want to share it with the world.”

Producer Anwar said, “We are heartened at the responses and pleased that the film is resonating with juries and audiences far and wide. We thank the judges and the audiences who have recognized this film and hope that the core message of unity, tolerance, and inclusion that is embodied in the message of the great Sufis will continue to light the way.”

Originally published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024