Mumbai : India’s
first-ever ghazal symphony, ‘Whispers of the Infinite’ by Nisschal
Zaveri’, concluded its Delhi and Mumbai showcases to standing ovations. The
opening leg of the tour reaffirmed that when tradition is approached with
sensitivity and imagination, it can feel both evergreen and contemporary. Conceptualised
and led by ghazal singer and composer Nisschal Zaveri, the 90-minute
production unfolded as an immersive musical dialogue, one that united
the grandiosity of 30 musicians with the timeless soul of Hindustani gayaki.
The performance resonated equally with the seasoned audience and younger
generation discovering the form with fresh curiosity.
Whispers of the Infinite – A Ghazal Symphony is an immersive experience that takes you into a world where Hindustani
melodies rise on orchestral wings, telling stories of longing, devotion,
celebration, and the infinite human spirit. “The orchestration is like
the clothes we dress the music in richer, layered, more textured, but the body
and soul remain purely ghazal,” Zaveri explains. “I’m not trying to
change the essence; I’m simply giving it a new experience, a new space to
breathe.”
With Delhi and Mumbai setting a strong foundation,
Whispers of the Infinite is now poised for expansion. Zaveri has
confirmed plans to take the symphony to multiple Indian cities, followed by an
international tour. “There’s a global audience today that is hungry
for authenticity wrapped in a contemporary experience”, says Zaveri. If the
response so far is any indication, ‘Whispers of the Infinite – A Ghazal
Symphony’ is not just a concert; it is the beginning of a larger
cultural movement led by Zaveri, one that gently but confidently reclaims space
for the ghazal in today’s listening culture.
The Delhi premiere at the India International Centre
drew an eminent gathering of cultural custodians, diplomats, industry veterans,
and prominent voices from politics, art, and fashion. Presented by Sotheby’s
International Realty, the evening received a warm and deeply appreciative
response. Many noted the purity of Nisschal Zaveri’s gayaki (style of singing)
and the restraint of the orchestration, where even silence spoke as powerfully
as the music itself.
Mumbai’s public unveiling on December 5th at the Nehru
Centre Auditorium carried that momentum forward with an added layer of energy.
The audience was strikingly diverse, with young listeners filling the hall
alongside seasoned rasikas (connoisseurs). For many first-time ghazal
listeners, Zaveri’s storytelling became the gateway. His gentle
introductions, contextual cues, and seamless weaving of ghazals, nazms, and
Sufi originals made it feel personal. By framing each composition as a lived
emotion rather than a distant classical form, Zaveri enabled younger audiences
to connect instinctively with the music, presented with an elevated aesthetic
approach.
The TBZ Entertainment production brought together 30
musicians on-stage from around the world, including a symphony orchestra featuring
a string chamber, choir, and a core Indian classical ensemble. Under the
baton of conductor Shantanu Patel(APD), with arrangements by
Japjisingh Valecha, the soundscape felt both rooted and refreshingly
global.
The ambition was evident. Zaveri trains under Pt.
Dayal Thakur of the Patiala Gharana and Pt. Shirish Shah,
having previously studied under Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan of the Kirana Gharana.
His Western classical training at KM Music Conservatory (founded by
A.R. Rahman) and the Los Angeles College of Music gives him the technical
vocabulary to orchestrate complex arrangements while maintaining the emotive
core of Hindustani gayaki. It’s this duality of classical rigour meeting
contemporary sensibility that makes Whispers of the Infinite a rare
proposition in India’s live music landscape.
About Nisschal Zaveri
Nisschal Zaveri is a ghazal vocalist, composer, and
storyteller committed to bringing traditional forms to contemporary audiences.
He trains under Pt. Dayal Thakur of the Patiala Gharana and Pt. Shirish Shah,
and previously studied under Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan of the Kirana Gharana. His
Western classical training at KM Music Conservatory and the Los Angeles College
of Music informs his approach to arrangement and sound design. Through his
nuanced vocal style and original compositions, he introduces younger
generations to the lyrical world of ghazal and thumri while maintaining the
purity of the craft.
