India, June 27 -- S inger Sagar Bhatia aka Sagar Wali Qawwali has been touring India. He performed in Mumbai recently and will take the stage in Kolkata tomorrow (June 28). Often credited for giving the qawwali a modern twist, is it his way of keeping the genre relevant among the youth? "I've been into Sufi music for 15 years. I've just followed what felt right to me. People connected with it, and that's what made it feel relevant. I'm a kid of today's generation, so I presented qawwali in the way I understand music," he says. A fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sagar is known for giving the late legend's qawwalis a rock twist: "Qawwali has always been alive and Bollywood has played a huge role in that. From Parda Hai Parda (Amar Akbar Anthony; 1977) and Kun Faya Kun (Rockstar; 2011) to Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar; 2008) and Bhar Do Jholi (Bajrangi Bhaijaan; 2015) - qawwali has always been a part of our culture," he adds. Talking about the audience that attends his gigs, he says, "People from every generation connect with my music. I try to simplify my language. I don't know a lot of Urdu, so I use more Hindi and relatable words. That's why even Gen Z connects with my songs." Having started his career from playing at jagrans and bars, did he ever envisage being the artiste he is today? He says, "I started by playing the guitar at jagrans in Delhi. I learned everything on the streets and survived on the money people showered on me at jagrans. I never learnt music formally. Later, I played the guitar at dance bars in Malaysia. I got my first break as a singer at a club in Chandigarh and earned Rs.10,000. I realised qawwali was what I truly wanted to pursue. I wanted to be a singer, and now my dream is to become a composer."...