Noor Mohammad Bhat aka Sahil Santoor is a musician from Budgam, Kashmir who has popularized traditional folk music by playing santoor at Kashmiri weddings bringing a new charm to the occasions.
Sahil performs at grand Kashmiri weddings and events with his performances including Kashmiri folk, Indian Classical and Bollywood tunes he so serenely plays out on his santoor.
For Sahil despite being from a musical family getting into the genre was not easy. His brothers were reluctant for him to pursue music as a career after he had brought a guitar.
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But slowly Sahil turned things around for himself and began learning Sufiyana music under the tutelage of Ustad Mohammad Ismail Bhat. He learned playing ‘Saaz-e-Kashmir‘ and then took to santoor afterwards in 2013.
Santoor being a classical Kashmiri musical instrument comes with its own learning curve and one that Sahil has been able to master.
Sahil took up musical classes at Academy of fine arts and music at Rajbagh, and it was here where he got his first big break.
While at the academy two managers from Grand Palace Lalit needed a musician to perform at the hotel for two hours. The opportunity came to Sahil who took it and began his career in earnest.
Soon he began receiving plaudits for his music with people both from Kashmir as well as outside immersed in the sounds he would create through his musical instruments.
Now Sahil is a regular performer at grand events and weddings in Kashmir and his soulful, calm rendition of Kashmiri folk is a far cry from the noise of music usually heard at weddings.
He has received much praise and appreciation from people who have experienced his performances at weddings and other events. Some have even thanked him for reviving classical folk music in Kashmiri weddings.
Currently, the musician from Gopalpora area of Wathora, Budgam is pursuing a degree in performing arts with specialization in ‘Santoor Indian Classical’ from Kashmir University.
He is also fine tuning his art under the mentorship of Adil Tibetbakal at the University yearning to get better at his art.
Sahil has already garnered a reputation in Kashmir, while also performing in many states outside the region as well. He is a name that is steadily becoming synonymous with Kashmiri folk and santoor, so much that he he even goes by the moniker Sahil Santoor.
Now Sahil has his eyes and heart set on taking Kashmiri traditional folk beyond seas and borders and hopes to perform internationally soon.
It is hoped that Sahil will keep reviving folk music in Kashmir and also make a worldwide name for himself in the coming years.