New Delhi: Academy and National Award-winning composer A R Rahman announced the launch of Rooh-e-Noor, a six-member all-women band, formed under the leadership of his daughter, Khatija Rahman. The band has been launched under Rahman’s KM Musiq audio label, with Kannika Urs heading the project.
Rooh-e-Noor is set to make its World Premiere debut at the Tanweer Festival on 21 November in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Apart from Khatija, the ensemble comprises musicians Pooja Tiwari, Sana Aziz, Shaoni Mojumdar, Amina Rafiq, and Shifa Ruby. Tiwari and Mojumdar are the vocal trainers, Rafiq and Ruby will lead music supervision, and production will be carried out by Sana Aziz, Sarthak Kalyani and Nakul Abhyankar. Rooh-e-Noor means “Soul of Light”, and it has been created to focus on the idea that women’s voices are transformative and can heal, inspire, and uplift.
“Rooh-e-Noor isn’t just a band, it’s a light that connects hearts. Each of these women carries the confidence of modern artistry. Their collective voice is pure, powerful, rooted, and futuristic,” said AR Rahman.
Rahman earlier dropped the teaser of the band on his Instagram account, which shows the band members dressed in purple, with headscarves covering their hair. Khatija is the only member who has also opted to wear a hijab in the video.
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A rare sight in the music industry
All-girl bands in India are still few in the music industry. Music producer Mikey McCleary created the band W.I.S.H in 2021, which released their first single Lazeez last year. The last time a girl band took over the Indian music scene was in 2002 when Viva was created.
But soon after its launch, band member Seema Ramchandani left, and the remaining members continued without her for another year.
Rahman’s band—a new step in the world of Indian girl bands, for its distinctive aesthetic—seeks to bring reimagined classics, film compositions, and spiritual renditions.
The teaser shows the girls performing the whirling dervish, a Sufi form of devotional dance. Earlier, Rahman spoke of his own spiritual journey as well as embracing Sufism and its influence on his life and music.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)