Royal Opera House, Mumbai and Avid Learning are proud to present IBAADAT – The Voice Within is a journey into the world of Sufism through poetry and music.
Sonam Kalra takes you on a mystical journey as she explores the words of both well-known and lesser-known Sufi poets, whose verses speak of inclusion, oneness, and deep spirituality.
Her beautiful soul stirring voice and immersive performance makes you reflect on core Sufi ideas — love for the Divine, union with the Beloved, and the belief that all of creation is connected. An immersive experience, ‘Ibaadat’ invites listeners to experience inner reflection, spiritual awakening, and a sense of shared humanity, leaving them deeply moved and uplifted.
Sonam Kalra Multiple award-winning singer and composer Sonam Kalra is that rare breed of musician who has been trained in both Indian and Western traditions of music and is equally adept at both. She has a beautiful, powerful voice with an honesty and sensitivity that is rare.Sonams unique brainchild, Sonam Kalra & The Sufi Gospel Project which blends the many voices of faith, through poetry, prayer and music to create one universal voice of faith, has earned her international critical acclaim and she has performed in over 30 countries at prestigious festivals and venues around the world including the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE and the Pyramids of Gaza. Sonam has shared the stage with legendary musicians like Sir Bob Geldof and Sufi Legend Abida Parveen and she has also performed for MTV Coke Studio.Sonam Kalra's latest offering 'Partition-Stories of Separation' shows her adding more layers and dimensions to her creativity as she blends music with theatre and video to explore the very heart wrenching and tumultuous event of partition.She has received rave reviews from the press and audience alike for this show in India and abroad. Sonam has also performed at the very prestigious Women in the World Summit organised by Media legend Tina Brown, One Billion Rising, The World Sufi Peace Festival at the Pyramids, The Jaipur Literature Festival, RIFF and The World Sufi Spirit Festival in Jodhpur, the International Faiz Festival for peace in Pakistan and at the The Indo African Summit for The Indian Prime Minister, President of India and 52 heads of African States.Sonam has been felicitated for her work in music with many awards including the Femina Woman of Worth award, the Indian express Devi award and the Global WIN award for inspiring women worldwide and has been invited to share her music and work on secularism through music at various TED talks and WIN conferences globally.
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Sufism has long offered a path to the divine that is rooted in love, introspection, and lived experience rather than doctrine. Within its vast tradition, poetry has been one of the most powerful ways to express spiritual longing. Sufi poets have written of yearning, surrender, and union using the language of the heart, dissolving the boundaries between the sacred and the everyday. Their verses speak not only to faith, but to a shared human desire for connection and meaning.
While figures such as Rumi and Amir Khusrau are widely known, Sufism’s poetic legacy extends far beyond its most celebrated names. Across regions and centuries, lesser-known Sufi poets have articulated profound spiritual insights through intimate, often understated verse. Their writing reflects local cultures, languages, and personal experiences, revealing how Sufi thought has always adapted to its surroundings while remaining anchored in the ideals of compassion, humility, and oneness.
IBAADAT – The Voice Within draws attention to this wider landscape of Sufi poetry. The performance brings together verses from both recognised and lesser-known poets, allowing audiences to encounter voices that are rarely heard in mainstream presentations of Sufi music. These poems explore themes of devotion and inner awakening with quiet intensity, offering perspectives that feel deeply personal yet universally resonant.
At the heart of Sufi philosophy is the belief that love is the most direct route to the Divine. The beloved in Sufi poetry is often ambiguous, existing simultaneously as human and divine, allowing the poetry to move fluidly between earthly emotion and spiritual transcendence. Ideas of union and dissolution of the self-recur throughout these verses, suggesting that spiritual fulfilment lies in recognising the interconnectedness of all creation.
Led by Grammy Recording Academy member Sonam Kalra, the performance gives voice to this rich poetic tradition through carefully crafted musical interpretations. Her approach foregrounds the text, allowing the poetry to guide the emotional arc of the evening. Music becomes a vessel for contemplation, carrying the weight of the words without overpowering them, and creating space for listeners to engage inwardly.
Presented by the Royal Opera House, Mumbai in collaboration with Avid Learning, Ibaadat offers an immersive encounter with Sufism as a lived philosophy rather than a distant tradition. By focusing on lesser-known poets alongside familiar ones, the performance expands the understanding of Sufi expression and highlights the diversity within its canon.
IBAADAT – The Voice Within offers a space to encounter Sufism through voices that are often overlooked, yet deeply resonant. By foregrounding poetry that speaks of inclusion, devotion, and inner awareness, the performance encourages attentive listening rather than spectacle. It invites audiences to engage with Sufi thought as a living tradition, one that continues to find meaning through love, humility, and the recognition of shared humanity.
