Zeeshan Ali grasps the hearts of the audience as he presents the famous poem ‘Tere Ishq Nachaya’, accompanied by Momin Khan, Patri Kumar, Surdarshan Chana, Giridhar Udupa, and Gurdain Rayatt. Ali’s voice is vulnerable and sincere, acting as a storyteller for an unorthodox stance of Divine love and encouraging intimate communication between the musicians and the audience.

This poem was written by Bulleh Shah (1680-1757), who is often acclaimed for his poems that reflect the ‘middle ground’ of religion; straying from certain traditional and cultural norms of the time, whilst still remaining devoted to God, having compassion and kindness in the heart and a significant humility as a human being.
This Sufi kalam is unique due to its exploration of more uncommon themes. The narrator is ‘dancing like mad’- not in a traditional, joyful way, but because the love he has for God has sent him into a frenzy of madness. The poem is an insight to an unconventional view of Guru Nanak’s message of devotion to God; the narrator expresses how he wishes the ‘Angel of Death’ would come and take his soul because the pain to be away from his creator is too much to bear.

TRANSLATION:

Tere Ishq nachaiyaan kar key thaiyaa thaiyaa
Your love has made me dance like mad  

Tere Ishq ne dera mere andar keeta  
Bhar ke zeher payala main taan aape peeta,  
Jhabde wahudi tabiba nahin te main mar gaiyaan  
Tere Ishq nachaiyaan kar key thaiyaa thaiyaa

Falling in love with you  
Was like taking a sip of poison  
Come my healer, forsaken, I am sad 
Your love has made me dance like mad 

 

Chupp giyah ve suraj bahar reh gayi laali  
Ve main sadqey hova, Devein murrjey wikhali  
Peera main bhul gaiyaan tere naal na gaiyaan  
Tere Ishq nachaiyaan kar key thaiyaa thaiyaa

The sun has set, its flush only is left  
I’ll give my life for a glimpse of you  
My fault I came not when you bade  
Your love has made me dance like mad  

Ais Ishq de kolon mainu hatak na maaye  
Laahu jaandre berrey kehrramorlaya  
Meri aqal jun bhulli naal mhaniyaan dey gaiyaan  
Tere Ishq nachaiyaan kar key thaiyaa thaiyaa

Dissuade me not from the path of love  
Who can hold the boats on the move?  
Stupid, I joined the boatman’s squad  
Your love has made me dance like mad  

*Ais Ishq Di Jhangi Wich Mor Bulenda  
Sanu Qibla Ton Qaaba Sohna Yaar Disenda  
Saanu Ghayal Karke Pher Khabar Na Laaiyaan  
Tere Ishq nachaiyaan kar key thaiyaa thaiyaa*  

A peacock calls in the grove of passion  
It’s Qibla, It’s Kaaba where lives my love  
You asked not once after you stabbed  
Your love has made me dance like mad  

About the Project  

Performance Date: 6 April 2025  
Venue: Barbican Centre, London  
This project explored how Guru Nanak’s timeless message of equality, compassion and spiritual awakening continues to resonate. Music was central to his mission—he travelled with Bhai Mardana, a Muslim rababi, using song to share spiritual wisdom beyond caste and creed. Darbar honoured this tradition by bringing musicians of diverse faiths onto one stage, spreading unity and peace.  

 

Credits: - 

Musicians 
Aruna Sairam (carnatic vocals) 
Zeeshan Ali (sufi vocals) 
Bhai Anantvir Singh (kirtania) 
Amrita Kaur (kirtania) 
Momin Khan (sarangi) 
Patri Satish Kumar (mridangam) 
Giridhar Udupa (ghatam) 
Surdarshan Chana  (tabla & jori) 
Gurdain Rayatt (tabla) 
Beibei Wang (da ga drum) 

 

Darbar Team:  

Sandeep Virdee OBE (Artistic Director) 
Simrat Lall (Darbar Festival Manager) 
María Guardiola (Festivals and Events Manager) 
Depesh Patel (Events Manager) 
Jamie Craven (Head of Design) 
Rahul Ravindran (Creative Video Editor) 
Sana Ejaz (Marketing Executive) 
Zahabiya Patharia (Marketing Executive) 
Christoph Bracher (Head of Sound) 

 

Filming Crew 

Pritpal Sagoo (Digital Consultant) 
Gurwinder Soor (Content Creator and Platform Manager) 
Tom Grancia (Technical Production) 
Carl Owen (Camera Operator) 
Chris Connel (Camera Operator) 
Anup Parmar (Camera Operator) 
Nick Morchang (Camera Operator) 

 

Technical Team 

Phil Jones (Front of House Sound) 
John Duckett (Sound Monitors) 
Mark Gardner (Lighting Designer) 
________________________________________________________________  

Darbar believes in the power of Indian classical arts to stir and inspire. Since 2006, we have delivered live events, education, broadcasts and digital experiences, while supporting new talent from India and the UK. 

© 2025 Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust. All Rights Reserved.