The Sardar with a Sufi soul-- Rabbi

When you hear his name, it sounds like one of those Punjabi DJs trying to make it big with some stereotypicalbhangrasong but if you follow the satellite music channels, chances are you probably have seen him. Rabbi Shergill - a sardar, dressed in traditional Sikh attire with a guitar, singing a Sufi song. The video is striking because of the contrasting images you see. The fresh earthiness and 'straight from the heart' message of the song exalted by Rabbi's vocal skills take you to another realm, a realm of tranquility.

This song is Bulla Ki Jana Main Kaun, the highlight of his self-titled album Rabbi, was originally written by Sufi Saint Baba Bulla Shah. For those hardcore Rabbi fans, on the lookout for Bulla trivia, Baba Bulla Shah was born as Abdullah Shah in 1680 in a village in Bahawalpur called Uch Gilania, a part of Pakistan.

Baba Bulla Shah's verses are said to have influenced such eminent names as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen and Junoon.

The translated version of the lyrics provided with the album is enough to stir your mind.

The rest of the songs in the album blend well, making it a "must have". But there is no denying the fact that Bulla Ki Jana... is a class apart.

The lyrics for the songs, except Bulla Ki Jana... , Ishtihar and Heer, have been written by Rabbi himself.

Varis Shah has penned the epic love story of Heer, her lover Ranjha and their doomed love, sometime in the 18th century. Ishtihar means advertisement. Written by Shiv Kumar Batalvi, it is a song about someone looking for love Totia Manmotia is the re-interpreted version of a Punjabi bedtime fable about two parrots.

Travels to such places as Kashmir, Punjab, Bombay and Delhi and some anecdotes form the theme for Jugni.

Rabbi's `love affair' with his guitar is evident throughout the album. Gill te guitar narrates the escapades with his chums. It was those friends who introduced Rabbi to Bruce Springsteen, U2 and to his fascination for the guitar. The compositions of Tere Bin, Ajj Nachna and Ek Geet Hijar Da too succeed in maintaining the mood created by Bulla Ki Jana...

Rabbi Shergill's talent has won him recognition. He was approached by several filmmakers, such as Shashank Ghose for his Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II but Rabbi was not ready to part with his composition of Bulla Ki Jana... and he even refused Pooja Bhatt's offer to work for Paap. The album - Rabbi, released by Phat Phish Records, has perhaps justified his decision to make a mark on his own.

Here is a translated excerpt from the song Bulla Ki Jana...

Nor did I create the difference of Faith
Nor did I create Adam-Eve
Nor did I name myself
Beginning or end I know just the self
Do not recognise "the other one”
There's none wiser than I
Who is this Bulla Shah
Bulla, I know not who I am