Qawwali is not what it used to be earlier

The Sabri Brothers on why classical music is so important
Performing in the city for the Times Kolkata Festival, famous qawwali singers, the Sabri Brothers, open up on how most musicians are claiming to be qawwals these days just to rake in the moolah.
One of you is known for the range of vocals and the other for sher-o-shayari. Which one of you does what?
Aftab and I (Hashim) are so involved in the music that we don���t really differentiate who is doing what.We both sing, we both recite shers and we both have a deep range of vocals. We complement each other perfectly on stage.
You started taalim in classical music, what made you shift to qawwali?
Whoever wants to take up music must start with classical music. Lekin pehle classical music mein amdani kuch achcha nahi tha. Those were tough times. Our grandfathers, Yusuf Ali Khan and Yaqub Ali Khan, realized that classical music wasn���t lucrative enough and took to qawwali. Although we trained in classical music, for the last 30 years we have been doing qawwali all over the world and people have loved us.
But is qawwali the same as what it used be earlier?
Unfortunately, many musicians now claim to beqawwals when they are not. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab was a true qawwal who trained with his uncle Mubarak Ali Khan. But all equations change with Bollywood. Once people start liking something, singers realize there is a lot of money and fame involved there and rush into it. Those who know nothing about qawwali have flooded the market with mediocre stuff.
But don���t you too sing for Bollywood films?
Yes, we do. If you look at the music of the last five years most of the hit songs are qawwali songs. Kailash Kher, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan are essentially sufi singers, but the line is really fine between sufi and qawwali. Our songs ��� Tumse milke dilka hai jo hal in Main Hoon Na, Pee loon with Mohit Chauhan and Tum jo aye with Rahat in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai were all big hits. In the upcoming Nautanki Sala also we have sung with Rahat.
You last came to Kolkata 10 years ago, how does it feel to be back for the Times Kolkata festival?
The Kolkata crowd is samajhdaar. Even if we performed here a decade back, we are not nervous. Remember we were the first ones to take qawwali to the west. We have performed in US, UK, Canada, Dubai��� virtually all over the world. We are confident that the audience in Kolkata will love us.
Can qawwali be a common thread for aman ki asha between India and Pakistan?
Kalakaaro mein bhed bhabna nahi hoti, hum chahte hain ki pyaar bana rahe. Without any offense, all Pakistani artistes who have become famous internationally have achieved fame because they started off in India. Woh Hindustan se kamyab huyen hain. Humne unhe pyaar diya hain, humne unhe ubhara hain. Unfortunately I don���t think we are as much welcome to perform
over there.