Waheed Murad

Biography

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Waheed Murad – 2 October 1938 – 23 November 1983:

Waheed Murad is also known as Chocolate Hero, was a Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Famous for his charming expressions, attractive personality, tender voice and unusual talent for acting, Waheed is considered one of the most famous and influential actors of South Asia and has influenced the film industry in the subcontinent.

Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, he graduated from the S.M. Arts College Karachi, and then earned a master’s degree in English literature from University of Karachi. He started his film career in a cameo in 1959 in the film Saathi when he was 21 years old. One of his films, Armaan, which was produced by him, was a great success. Murad is the only actor of film industry to secure the highest number of platinum, diamond, golden and silver jubilees. He mesmerized Pakistani nation during 1960s and 1970s more than anyone before or after and is considered to be evergreen chocolate hero of Pakistan’s silver screen history. He acted in 125 feature films and earned 32 film awards.

In November 2010, 27 years after his death, the Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari posthumously awarded him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the third highest honour and civilian award by the State of Pakistan, given in the fields of literature, arts, sports, medicine, or science. On 2 October 2019, Google celebrated Murad’s 81st birthday with a doodle on its homepage for Pakistan, India, Nepal and several other countries.

 

Early life:

Murad was an only child. His mother was Shireen Murad, and his father was Nisar Murad, a film distributor. He did graduation from S.M. Arts College, Karachi, and then masters in English literature from University of Karachi. His father was a Punjabi whose family belonged to the cultural elite of Sialkot. The Murads claimed Turkish ancestry; one of their ancestors, Murat, was a soldier of Ottoman-origin serving in the Mughal army who settled in Punjab.

 

Personal Life:

Waheed Murad married Salma, the daughter of a Karachi-based industrialist, on 17 September 1964. They had two daughters, Aaliya and Sadia, and one son, (Adil). Sadia died in infancy.

 

Career:

Waheed Murad started his film career by joining his father’s established ‘Film Art’ in 1961 as producer of the film Insaan badalta hai. In his second film as producer Jab se dakha hai tumhein he cast Darpan with Zeba as heroine. Afterwards, Darpan most of the time started coming late at studio. Zeba suggested Waheed to cast himself as hero in his next film. Waheed was not ready to sign himself in his own movies. But when the same suggestion came from his old good friend Pervaiz Malik, he accepted it on the condition that if Zeba would be his co-star, Zeba accepted in return (according to Zeba). As a result, he firstly appeared in a supporting role in 1962’s Aulad. The film was directed by his friend S.M. Yousuf. Aulad got much more acclaims from critics, and it also got the Nigar award in the best film’s category for the year. Heera aur pathar was his first movie as a leading actor. He got the Nigar award in the best actor category for the same film.

In 1966, he produced and acted in Armaan. The film broke all the box office records at that time and completed 75 weeks in theatres. The film were sung by Ahmed Rushdi. Murad received two Nigar awards for the categories best producer and best actor for the film.

In 1967, he appeared as the leading actor in films like Devar bhabi, Doraha, Insaaniyat and Maan baap. From 1964 to 1968, Murad and Pervaiz Malik made Heera Aur Pathar, Armaan, Ehsaan, Doraha and Jahan tum wahan hum. The combination of Waheed Murad, Pervaiz Malik, Masroor Anwar, Sohail Rana, Ahmed Rushdi and Zeba created a number of films. Waheed Murad brought Malik, Anwar and Rana under the umbrella of ‘Film Arts’. Film Arts broke up and Pervaiz Malik started creating his own projects with new actors. A total of seven films, including two films, i.e., Usey dekha usey chaha and Dushman released after a long gap of 6 years in 1974, were produced with the combination of Waheed and Pervaiz (but not under ‘Film Art’ Production).

In 1969, Waheed produced, wrote and directed the movie Ishaara. It was released in 1969. Other co-stars included Shabnam, Aliya, Talish and Mustafa Qureshi. Murad received a Nigar award in the best actor category for the film.

In his 25-year career, Murad paired with many actresses like Zeba, Shamim Ara, Rani, Naghma, Aaliya, Sangeeta, Kaveeta, Aasia, Shabnam, Deeba, Babra Sharif, Rukhsana, Bahar Begum and Neelo. He acted in a total of 124 films (two were released after his death), of which 38 were black and white and 86 were in colour. He also appeared in six films as a guest star including his first and shortest appearance in 1959’s Saathi. He acted in 115 Urdu films, 8 Punjabi films and 1 Pushto film, and earned 32 film awards including ones for best producer and for best actor.

 

Film Art Productions:

Waheed Murad produced eleven films under his father’s company Film Art. He was the youngest film producer in the Pakistani film industry at that time. Most of his produced films were either Golden Jubilee or Silver Jubilee. During the 1960s and early 1970s, he produced films like Insaan Badalta Hai (1961) (his first film as producer), Armaan (1966), Ehsaan (1967), Naseeb Apna Apna (1970) and Mastana Mahi (Punjabi film of 1971). However, after Mastana Mahi, he produced no film except Hero which was produced in the 1980s and was released after his death.

As a director, he had directed as well as produced Ishaara (1969) with co-star Deeba.

 

Playback Singers:

In Waheed’s career, most of the songs picturised by him were sung by Ahmed Rushdi. He sang more than 200 duet and solo songs for him. Other playback singers who provided voice for him were Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Saleem Raza, Akhlaq Ahmed, Mujeeb Aalam, Asad Amanat Ali Khan, Bashir Ahmad, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and A Nayyar.

 

Later life:

By the late 1970s, Waheed was being cast in supporting roles either with Nadeem or with Mohammad Ali. Most of the leading heroines like Zeba, Shabnam and Nisho were not allowed to play lead roles with Waheed by their husbands.

Pervaiz Malik wrote in a local newspaper: “Not even once during that time Waheed come to me seeking work in my films. Waheed was becoming depressed. His close friends revealed that he was becoming addicted to alcohol, oral tobacco and sleeping pills. Even his domestic life suffered and his wife Salma left for the United States. A combination of bad habits and stress caused ulceration in Waheed’s stomach in 1981. He suffered from bleeding and had to undergo stomach removal to save his life. His many fans came to the hospital to donate blood to save the life of their favourite hero. Although, he recovered, he lost a significant amount of weight. Even then, Iqbal Akhtar and Iqbal Yousuf, who proved to be real friends in difficult times, cast Waheed Murad in their movies. Waheed appeared old and charmless in Dil ney phir yaad keya and Ghairao. Even his loyal admirers felt that it was all over for him.”

In 1983, Anwar Maqsood, a TV writer and anchor and a close friend, invited Waheed to his TV comedy show Silver Jubilee.

Babra Sharif, revealed that during the filming of a scene of Hero, Waheed lost his balance while walking toward her and fell down. He took several minutes to catch his breath prior to standing up on his feet again.

In July 1983, Waheed was driving his car too fast and struck a tree. He was left with a scar on his face. A few days after the accident, Waheed asked his friend Pervez Malik for a role. Malik said, “Get better and you will be the lead in my next film.” He replied, “You give me the role and I will get better”. He was going to Karachi to get the scar fixed to complete the last few scenes of Hero when he met the chief editor, Ilyas Rasheedi, of the film magazine ‘Nigar’ at the airport. Rasheedi wrote in his magazine:

By chance a famous film producer was also present in the waiting area and Waheed put him on the spot by asking if he had a role for him for Javed Sheikh’s father in his movie. The producer had a difficult time dodging Waheed.

 

Last days and Death:

Waheed’s son Aadil was in Karachi staying with his grandmother. A day before his face surgery, Waheed celebrated his son’s birthday. He bought several gifts for Aadil and wished him a happy year.

He returned late to spend the night at Anita Ayub’s mother Mumtaz Ayub’s home. When Waheed did not wake up until late, the door had to be forced open and Waheed was found lying on the floor, dead for several hours. A paan leaf with an unidentified substance in it was found in his mouth. It is not clear if the cause of death was a heart attack or suicide. Waheed was buried near his father’s grave in Gulberg Graveyard in Lahore.

 

List of Awards:

This is a list of his awards, honours and recognitions.

 

Nigar Awards
  • 1964 – Best Actor for Heera aur Pathar
  • 1966 – Best Producer for Armaan
  • 1969 – Best Actor for Andleeb
  • 1971 – Best Actor for Mastana Mahi
  • 2002 – Legend Award for Lifetime achievement

 

Rooman Awards
  • 1965 – Best Actor for Eid Mubarak
  • 1966 – Best Actor for Armaan
  • 1966 – Best Producer for Armaan
  • 1969 – Best Actor for Andleeb
  • 1974 – Best Actor for Phool Mere Gulshan Ka

 

Graduate Awards
  • 1969 – Best Actor for Andleeb
  • 1971 – Best Actor for Mastana Mahi
  • 1975 – Best Actor for Jab Jab Phool Khile

 

Noor Jahan Awards
  • 1966 – Best Actor for Armaan
  • 1966 – Best Producer for Armaan

 

Mussawir Awards
  • 1975 – Best Actor for Jab Jab Phool Khile
  • 1983 – Life Time Achievement Award

 

Sindh Awami Awards
  • 1975 – Best Actor for Jab Jab Phool Khile
  • 1976 – Best Actor for Shabana

 

PIA Arts Academy Award
  • 1978 – Best Actor for Awaz
  • 1979 – Best Actor for Behen Bhai

 

AlFankar Awards
  • 1978 – Best Actor for Awaz
  • 1980 – Best Actor for Badnaam

 

Shabab Awards / Shabab Memorial Awards
  • 1967 – Best Actor for Insaniyat
  • 1985 – Best Supporting Actor for Anokha Daj

 

Other Awards
  • 1969 – Chitrali Award: Best Actor for Andleeb
  • 1969 – Khalil Qaiser Award: Best Actor for Andleeb
  • 1969 – Curtex Award: Best Actor for Andleeb
  • 1975 – Aghaz Award: Best Actor for Jab Jab Phool Khile
  • 1978 – Chaministan International Award for Public Popularity Competition: Most Popular Film Star
  • 1979 – National Award: Best Actor for Behen Bhai
  • 1981 – Riaz Shahid Award: Best Actor for Gherao
  • 1982 – National Academy Award: Best Supporting Actor for Ahat
  • 2011 – Sitara-e-Imtiaz: Lifetime achievement award
  • 2016 – ARY Film Awards: Legend award

Umer Shareef

Biography

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Mohammad Umer – April 19, 1955 :

Muhammad Umer is known professionally as Umer Shareef, is a Pakistani actor, comedian, director, producer and television personality. He is regarded as one of the greatest comedians in the sub-continent.

Early life:

Mohammad Umer was born on April 19, 1955, in an Urdu speaking family in Liaquatabad, Karachi.

Career:

Stage work

In 1974, Umer started his career from Karachi as a stage performer at the age of 14. He joined theatre, using the stage name Umer Zarif but later renamed that to Umer Sharif. Some of his extremely popular comedy stage plays were 1989’sBakra Qistoon Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai.

Sharif became a very popular star during this period. Much of the success came from the fact that he started to record his stage shows and his videotapes were rented out in a similar manner to movies. Yes Sir Eid and No Sir Eid were among the first stage plays to come out on video.

Television:

In October 2009, Sharif started hosting his own late-night talk show, The Shareef Show, on Geo TV. He interviewed many actors, entertainers, musicians, and politicians on the show. He also appeared as a guest judge on the Indian stand-up comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, alongside Navjot Singh Siddhu and Shekhar Suman.

Humanitarian work:

In 2006, the Umer Sharif Welfare Trust was formed with the stated goal of creating a “state of the art health center that provides services free of cost.”

Awards:

Sharif has received National awards for Best Director and Best Actor in 1992 for Mr. 420. He has received ten Nigar Awards. Sharif is the only actor to receive four Nigar Awards in a single year. He received three Graduate Awards. Sharif is also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.

Legacy:

Referred to as the “King of Comedy”, Sharif is considered as one of the greatest comedians of Indian subcontinent. Popular Indian comedians like Johnny Lever and Raju Srivastav hailed him as “The God Of Asian Comedy”.

Controversies:

For the 50-year anniversary of Pakistan’s independence, Sharif performed a play called Umer Sharif Haazir Ho. In the play, a representative from every occupation was called into court and asked what they had done for Pakistan in the past 50 years. The Lawyer’s Association stated a case against Sharif as a result.

Stage dramas:
  • Bakra Qiston Pay Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (1989)
  • Dulhan Main Lekar Jaonga
  • Salam Karachi
  • Andaz Apna Apna
  • Meri Bhi To Eid Karade
  • Nayee Aami Purana Abba
  • Yeh Hay Naya Tamasha
  • Yeh Hay Naya Zamana
  • Yes Sir Eid No Sir Eid
  • Eid Tere Naam
  • Samad Bond 007
  • Nach Meri Bulbul
  • Lahore se London
  • Angoor Khatay Hain
  • Petrol Pump
  • Lotay te Lafafey
  • Loot Sale
  • Half Plate
  • Meri Jaan Thanedaar
  • Umar Sharif in Jungle
  • Beauty Parlour
  • Makeup Room
  • Chaudhary Plaza
  • Mamu Mazak Mat Karo
  • Hum Se Milo
  • Yeh To House Full Hogaya
  • Bakra Munna Bhai
  • Behrupia
  • Lal Qile ki Rai Lalu Khet ka Raja
  • Chand Baraye Farokhat
  • Hanste Raho Chalte Raho
  • Umar Sharif Hazir Ho
  • Baby Samjha Karo
  • Doctor aur Kasai
  • Budha Ghar Pe Hai
  • Eid Aashiqon Ki
  • Nehle pe Dehla
  • One Day Eid Match
  • Police Ho To Aisi
  • Paying Guest
  • Aao Sach Bolain
  • Flight 420
  • Coolie 420
  • Hamsa Ho To Samn Aaye
  • Walima Taiyar Hai
  • Filmi Pariyan
  • Akbar e Azam in Pakistan
  • Jeet Teri Peda Mera
  • Shadi Magar Aadhi
  • Bebia
  • Mano Meri Baat
  • Gol Maal
  • Female Ki Email
  • Eidy Chupa ke Rakhna
  • Dulha (2002)
Filmography:
Film
Year  Title
1986   Hisab   
1987  Kundan   
1992    Mr. 420   
1994   Khandan   
1994   Laat Sahb
Reality shows:
Year  Show  Role Channel
2009  The Shareef Show Host Geo TV 

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Bioraphy

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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (RFAK) – 9 December 1974

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a Pakistani musician, primarily of Qawwali, a devotional music of the Muslim Sufis. Khan is one of the biggest and highest paid singers in Pakistan. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and also grandson of Qawwali singer Fateh Ali Khan. In addition to Qawwali, he also performs ghazals and other light music. He is also popular as a playback singer in Bollywood and the Pakistan film industry.

Early life:

Rahat was born into a Punjabi family of Qawwals and classical singers in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. He is the son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, grandson of Fateh Ali Khan and the nephew of legendary Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Rahat displayed an adoration for music from a very young age and was often found to be singing with his uncle and father, as young as three. From an age of seven, he was already being trained by his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the art of singing Qawwali.

Career:

Rahat performed publicly for the first time, when he was nine, at the death anniversary of his grandfather. Since he was fifteen, he was an integral part of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s well-known qawwali group and toured the UK with his uncle in 1985. He also performed solo songs at different concerts, in addition to fulfilling his roles in the Quawalli group.

He debuted as a playback singer in Bollywood with the movie Paap (2003), in the song “Mann Ki Lagan”.

In April 2012 Rahat toured in the UK, performing at Wembley Arena and the Manchester Arena, playing to a combined audience of over 20,000 people and creating a record of maximum ticket-sales.

The song “Zaroori Tha” from the album Back 2 Love (2014) became the first original non-film music video from the Indian subcontinent to cross 100 million views on youtube after two years, and 200 million views within three years of its release. Eventually it reached to 1 Billion views. He is also touring with Leo Twins from Nescafé Basement on a regular basis.

Soundtracks and Collaboration:

In a subordinate role with his uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, working in collaboration with Eddie Vedder, of the American rock band, Pearl Jam, Rahat contributed to the soundtrack of the 1995 Hollywood film, Dead Man Walking. In 2002, he worked on the soundtrack of The Four Feathers in collaboration with the American composer of orchestral and film music, James Horner. In 2002, Rahat guested with The Derek Trucks Band on the song “Maki Madni” for Trucks’ album, Joyful Noise. In 2006, his vocals were featured on the soundtrack of Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto.

Television:

He judged the show, Chhote Ustaad alongside Sonu Nigam. He was also one of the judges on the singing reality show Junoon, premiered on NDTV Imagine in 2008.

Nobel Peace Prize Concert:

Rahat became the first Pakistani to perform at any Nobel Prize concert, when he was invited to the concert at 2014 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. He performed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s most memorable qawwali “Tumhe Dillagi” and “Mast Qalandar”, and he also sang “Aao Parhao” there.

Controversy:

In 2018, the daughter of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan said she intended to take legal action against copyright infringement of singers who sing her father’s songs. To this Rahat responded saying he was the adopted successor of Nusrat and doesn’t need anyone’s permission to sing his songs. In January 2019, Khan was accused of smuggling foreign currency and summoned by the Enforcement Directorate of Government of India.

Musical Shows:

Coke Studio

Rahat has appeared in four seasons of the Pakistani musical show Coke Studio.

He first appeared in season 1, where he collaborated with singer Ali Azmat for the track “Garaj Baras”. He then collaborated with Abida Parveen in season 6 for “Chhaap Tilak Sab Chheeni”.

In season 9, he sang “Afreen Afreen” along with Momina Mustehsan which has garnered more than 300 million views on YouTube, becoming the first Pakistani song to cross that mark. He collaborated with Amjad Sabri for “Aaj Rang Hai”, which was the final performance of the latter, prior to his assassination on 22 June 2016.

He appeared in Coke Studio Pakistan (season 10) where he performed “Sayonee” with Ali Noor and a solo number called Rangreza.

MTV Unplugged

Rahat had appeared in MTV Unplugged (India) in 2016

Awards:

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a Pakistani Sufi singer and musician, primarily of Qawwali, devotional music of the Muslim Sufis. He has won awards including Lux Style Awards, UK Asian Music Awards, ARY Film Awards, and Hum Awards. On June 26, 2019, Rahat was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Oxford. He also won the Wembley Arena Award in 2019. Rahat has won four Lux Style Awards and four UK Asian Music Awards. He also has been nominated four times for Filmfare Awards, four times for IIFA Awards, and four times for Mirchi Music Awards. Rahat received a Lifetime Achievement Award from, and honorary membership in, the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi.

  • Lux Style Awards: 04
  • ARY Film Awards: 02
  • Hum Awards: 02
  • Pakistan Media Awards: 02
  • UK Asian Music Awards: 04
  • Filmfare Awards: 01
  • IIFA Awards: 01
  • Star Screen Awards: 02
  • Producers Guild Film Awards: 01
  • Mirchi Music Awards: 03
  • Pakistan Prestige Awards: 01
  • PTC Punjabi Film Awards: 01
  • London Asian Film Festival: 01
  • BIG Star Entert. Awards: 01
  • The Musik Awards: 01
  • Masala Lifestyle Popular Choice Awards: 01

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Biography

Born on: 13 October 1948 – Lyallpur (Faislabad), Punjab, Pakistan
Died: 16 August 1997 (aged 48) London, England
Burial Place: Jhang Road Graveyard, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Spouse(s): Naheed Nusrat (1979)
Children: Nida Fateh Ali Khan
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Music director, Composer, Vocalist
Years active: 1964 – 1997

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Genres:    
  • Qawwali
  • Ghazal
  • Sufi
  • Classical
  • Folk world
  • Punjabi

 

Relatives:
  • Mubarak Ali Khan (Uncle)
  • Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan (Brother)
  • Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan (Cousin)
  • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Nephew)
  • Rizwan-Muazzam (Nephew)

 

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; 13 oct 1948 – 16 August 1997

Parvez Fateh Ali Khan known as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was a Pakistani vocalist, musician, composer and music director primarily a singer of qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music. He is considered to be the greatest Sufi singer in the Punjabi and Urdu language, and World’s greatest qawwali singer ever; he is often referred to as “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” (The King of Kings of Qawwali). He was described as the 4th greatest singer of all time by LA Weekly in 2016. He was known for his vocal abilities and could perform at a high level of intensity for several hours. He belonged to the Qawwal Bacchon Gharana (Delhi gharana) extending the 600-year old qawwali tradition of his family, Khan is widely credited with introducing qawwali music to international audiences.

Born in Lyallpur (Faisalabad), Khan had his first public performance at the age of 15, at his father’s chelum. He became the head of the family qawwali party in 1971. He was signed by Oriental Star Agencies, Birmingham, England, in the early 1980s. Khan went on to release movie scores and albums in Europe, India, Japan, Pakistan and the U.S. He engaged in collaborations and experiments with Western artists, becoming a well-known world music artist. He toured extensively, performing in over 40 countries. In addition to popularising qawwali music, he also had a big impact on contemporary South Asian popular music, including Pakistani pop, Indian pop and Bollywood music.

Early Life and Career

Khan was born into a Muslim family in (Lyallpur) Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan, in 1948. His family originates from Basti Sheikh Darvesh in Jalandhar, Punjab in present-day India. His ancestors learned music and singing there and adopted it as a profession. He was the fifth child and first son of Fateh Ali Khan, a musicologist, vocalist, instrumentalist, and qawwal. Khan’s family, which included four older sisters and a younger brother, Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, grew up in central Faisalabad. The tradition of qawwali in the family had passed down through successive generations for almost 600 years. Initially, his father did not want Khan to follow the family’s vocation. He had his heart set on Nusrat choosing a much more respectable career path and becoming a doctor or engineer because he felt qawwali artists had low social status. However, Khan showed such an aptitude for and interest in qawwali, that his father finally relented.

In 1971, after the death of his uncle Mubarak Ali Khan, Khan became the official leader of the family qawwali party and the party became known as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan & Party. Khan’s first public performance as the leader of the qawwali party was at a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival organized by Radio Pakistan, known as Jashn-e-Baharan. Khan sang mainly in Urdu and Punjabi and occasionally in Persian, Braj Bhasha and Hindi. His first major hit in Pakistan was the song Haq Ali Ali, which was performed in a traditional style and with traditional instrumentation. The song featured restrained use of Khan’s sargam improvisations.

Later Career

In the summer of 1985, Khan performed at the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival in London. He performed in Paris in 1985 and 1988. He first visited Japan in 1987, at the invitation of the Japan Foundation. He performed at the 5th Asian Traditional Performing Art Festival in Japan. He also performed at Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, in 1989, earning him admiration from the American audience.

Khan, throughout his career, had great understanding with many south Asian singers such as Alam Lohar, Noor Jehan, A. R. Rahman, Asha Bhosle, Javed Akhtar, and the Lata Mangeshkar.

In the 1992 to 1993 academic year, Khan was a Visiting Artist in the Ethnomusicology department at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.

In 1988, Khan teamed up with Peter Gabriel on the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, which led to Khan being signed to Gabriel’s Real World label. He would go on to release five albums of traditional qawwali through Real World, along with the more experimental albums Mustt Mustt (1990), Night Song (1996), and the posthumous remix album Star Rise (1997).

Khan’s experimental work for Real World, which featured his collaborations with the Canadian guitarist Michael Brook, spurred on several further collaborations with a number of other Western composers and rock musicians. One of the most noteworthy of these collaborations came in 1995, when Khan grouped with Pearl Jam’s lead singer Eddie Vedder on two songs for the soundtrack to Dead Man Walking. Khan also provided vocals for The Prayer Cycle which was put together by Jonathan Elias, but died before the tracks could be completed. Alanis Morissette was brought in to sing with his unfinished vocals. In 2002, Gabriel included Khan’s vocals on the posthumously released track “Signal to Noise” on his album Up.

Khan’s album Intoxicated Spirit was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album in 1997. That same year, his album Night Song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.

Khan contributed songs to, and performed in, several Pakistani films. Shortly before his death, he composed music for three Bollywood films, which includes the film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, in which he also sang for “Koi Jaane Koi Na Jaane” on-screen with the lead pair, and “Zindagi Jhoom Kar”. He also composed music for Kartoos where he sang for “Ishq Da Rutba”, and “Bahaa Na Aansoo”, alongside Udit Narayan. He died very shortly prior to the movie’s release. His final music composition for Bollywood was for the movie, Kachche Dhaage where he sang in “Iss Shaan-E-Karam Ka Kya Kehna”. The movie was released in 1999, two years after his death. The two singing sisters of Bollywood, Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar sang for the songs he composed in his brief stint in Bollywood. He also sang “Saya Bhi Saath Jab Chhod Jaye” for Sunny Deol’s movie Dillagi. The song was released in 1999, two years after Khan’s death. He also sang “Dulhe Ka Sehra” from the Bollywood movie Dhadkan which was released in 2000. Khan was used by Imran Khan to source funds for his Cancer Hospital as told by Appo G, his eldest of four sisters. Khan contributed the song “Gurus of Peace” to the 1997 album Vande Mataram, composed by A. R. Rahman, and released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of India’s independence. As a posthumous tribute, Rahman later released an album titled Gurus of Peace which included “Allah Hoo” by Khan. Rahman’s 2007 song “Tere Bina” for the film Guru was also composed as a tribute to Khan.

Tributes, Legacy and Influence

Khan is often credited as one of the progenitors of “world music”. Widely acclaimed for his spiritual charisma and distinctive exuberance, he was one of the first and most important artists to popularise qawwali, then considered an “arcane religious tradition”, to Western audiences. His powerful vocal presentations, which could last up to 10 hours, brought forth a craze for his music all over Europe.

Alexandra A. Seno of Asiaweek wrote;

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice was otherworldly. For 25 years, his mystical songs transfixed millions. It was not long enough … He performed qawwali,which means wise or philosophical utterance, as nobody else of his generation did. His vocal range, talent for improvisation and sheer intensity were unsurpassed.

Jeff Buckley cited Khan as a major influence, saying of him “He’s my Elvis”, and performing the first few minutes of Khan’s “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai” (including vocals) at live concerts. Many other artists have also cited Khan as an influence, such as Nadia Ali, Zayn Malik, Malay, Peter Gabriel, A. R. Rahman, Sheila Chandra, Alim Qasimov, Eddie Vedder, and Joan Osborne, among others. His music was also appreciated by singers such as Mick Jagger, socialites such as Parmeshwar Godrej, actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Trudie Styler, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins, and authors such as Sam Harris, who cited Khan as one of his favourite musicians of all time.

Paul Williams picked a concert performance by Khan for inclusion in his 2000 book The 20th Century’s Greatest Hits: a ‘top-40’ list, in which he devotes a chapter each to what he considers the top 40 artistic achievements of the 20th century in any field (including art, movies, music, fiction, non-fiction, science-fiction). The Derek Trucks Band covers Khan’s songs on two of their studio albums. Their 2002 album Joyful Noise includes a cover of “Maki Madni”, which features a guest performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Khan’s nephew. 2005’s Songlines includes a medley of two of Khan’s songs, “Sahib Teri Bandi” and “Maki Madni”. This medley first appeared on the band’s live album Live at Georgia Theatre (2004).

In 2004, a tribute band called Brooklyn Qawwali Party (formerly Brook’s Qawwali Party) was formed in New York City by percussionist Brook Martinez to perform the music of Khan. The 13-piece group still performs mostly instrumental jazz versions of Khan’s qawwalis, using the instruments conventionally associated with jazz rather than those associated with qawwali.

In 2007, electronic music producer and performer Gaudi, after being granted access to back catalogue recordings from Rehmat Gramophone House (Khan’s former label in Pakistan), released an album of entirely new songs composed around existing vocals. The album, Dub Qawwali, was released by Six Degrees Records. It reached no. 2 in the iTunes US Chart, no. 4 in the UK and was the no. 1 seller in Amazon.com’s Electronic Music section for a period. It also earned Gaudi a nomination for the BBC’s World Music Awards 2008.

On 13 October 2015, Google celebrated Khan’s 67th birthday with a doodle on its homepage in six countries, including India, Pakistan, Japan, Sweden, Ghana, and Kenya, calling him the person “who opened the world’s ears to the rich, hypnotic sounds of the Sufis”. “Thanks to his legendary voice, Khan helped bring ‘world music’ to the world”, said Google.

In February 2016, a rough mix of a song recorded by Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1998 called “Circle of the Noose” was leaked to the internet. Guitarist Dave Navarro described the song saying, “It’s pop in the sense of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, hook. I really love it and we use a loop of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It’s really nice. The best way I can describe it is it’s like pepped- up ’60s folk with ’90s ideals, but I would hate to label it as folk because it’s not, it moves.”

The 2018 book The Displaced Children of Displaced Children (Eyewear Publishing) by Pakistani American poet Faisal Mohyuddin includes the poem “Faisalabad”, a tribute to Khan and to the city of Khan’s birth. “Faisalabad” includes a number or references to Khan, including the excerpt, “There are no better cures for homesickness / than Nusrat’s qawwalis, / except when you’re a mother / and you find comfort in the unfolding / hours of a child’s existence.” The poem was first published by Narrative Magazine in Spring 2017

Awards and Titles:

The world of awards always falls too short in front of a great man of stature of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. No award can exceed the Unimaginable Enduring love and respect  poured by millions of fans and thousands of artists around the globe on Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Once a magazine wrote ” Nusrat’s voice has conquered more Alexander’s sword”. World knows that the statement was true. However for the very simple and humble Nusrat, the greatest achievement ever always remained the same “A fan liking his song”.

 

Lists Featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan:-

  1. 1. Mojo 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time
  2. The 20th Century Greatest Hits: What works of Art should be remembered and why
  3. 3. Artists, writers, and musicians: an encyclopedia of people who changed the world
  4. The 100 Greatest Stars Of 20th Century………….Q Magazine (August 1999)
  5. 5. Top 12 Artists and Thinkers in the last 60 years………TIME Magazine,2006
  6. 50 Most Influential Artists Of Music ………. SPIN Magazine,1998
  7. NPR 50 Great Voices…………. National Public Radio,USA,2010
  8. 20 Most Iconic Musicians From Past 50 Years ……. CNN,2010
  9. 100 Minorities who changed the World: ……..by Sacred-Bridge
  10. Spin Magazine 100 greatest singers
  11. UGO, Best Singers of All Times

 

Major Awards (in chronological order)

  • Best Qawwal 1982 Punjab Youth Academy Lahore
  • Award by Cultural Association of Pakistan
  • Pride of Performance Presidential Award Government of Pakistan
  • Grand Prix 1989 Deola France
  • 5th Asian Traditional Performing Art Festival Japan Foundation (Best Singer)
  • Award for Great Contribution to Qawwali by Pakistan Workers Association London
  • Shield Presented by Urdu Revival and Cultural Society South Africa
  • For Services to Pakistan Music by Pakistan Welfare Association Birmingham UK
  • Award Presented by His Worship Councillor Frank Carter Lord Mayor Birmingham
  • Dycct Award
  • Adelaide Music Festival, Most Popular Singer (1992)
  • UNESCO Music Prize (Gretest Musician, 1995) Young Writers Award, Italy
  • Grand Prix des Amériques at Montreal World Film Festival for exceptional contribution to the art of cinema.(1996)
  • Two Grammy Nominations (1997, for fusion work)
  • “Legends” award at the UK Asian Music Awards (2005)

 

Titles

  • A voice from Heaven
  • Shahanshah-e-Qawwali
  • Khusrau-e-Sani
  • Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
  • Doctor Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
  • Professor Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
  • Niak Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
  • Best Qawwal Graduate Award
  • Peace Award Faisalabad
  • Living Legend
  • Guders Award Faisalabad
  • Super Star of Music
  • Popular Voice of Islam
  • Power of Pakistan
  • Pakistan’s Wall of Sound
  • A Man Called Qawwali
  • Nusrat the Magnificent
  • Singing Buddha
  • Shining Star of Music
  • Messenger of Peace
  • De Jays Award
  • Inner Wheel Club of Lahore
  • The Legend of Music World Raja Entertainers
  • Shaharyar-e-Mosseqi

 

Popular Culture

One of Khan’s famous qawwali songs, “Tere Bin Nahin Lagda” (“I am restless without you”), appeared on two of his 1996 albums, Sorrows Vol. 69 and Sangam (as “Tere Bin Nahin Lagda Dil”), the latter a collaborative album with Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar; Sangam sold over 1 million copies in India. Lata Mangeshkar recorded a cover version called “Tere Bin Nahin Jeena” for Kachche Dhaage, starring Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and Manisha Koirala. Composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Kachche Dhaage soundtrack album sold 3 million units in India. British-Indian producer Bally Sagoo released a remix of “Tere Bin Nahin Lagda”, which was later featured in the 2002 British film Bend It Like Beckham, starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. A cover version called “Tere Bin” was recorded by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with Asees Kaur for the 2018 Bollywood film Simmba, starring Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s music had a big impact on Bollywood music, inspiring numerous Indian musicians working in Bollywood since the late 1980s. For example, he inspired A. R. Rahman and Javed Akhtar, both of whom he collaborated with. However, there were many hit filmi songs from other Indian music directors that plagiarised Khan’s music. Viju Shah’s hit song “Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast” in Mohra (1994) was plagiarised from Khan’s popular qawwali song “Dam Mast Qalandar”.

Despite the significant number of hit Bollywood songs plagiarised from his music, he was reportedly tolerant towards the plagiarism. In one interview, he jokingly gave “Best Copy” awards to Viju Shah and Anu Malik. In his defense, Malik claimed that he loved Khan’s music and was actually showing admiration by using his tunes. However, Khan was reportedly aggrieved when Malik turned his spiritual “Allah Hoo, Allah Hoo” into “I Love You, I Love You” in Auzaar. Khan said “he has taken my devotional song Allahu and converted it into I love you. He should at least respect my religious songs.”

His music also appears on soundtracks for Hollywood films such as The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Natural Born Killers (1994) and Dead Man Walking (1995)

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Discography

Most of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s early music was recorded with Rehmat Gramophone House later turned RGH Label. Throughout the ’70s and early ’80s Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan released hundreds of cassettes, most of them containing one or two lengthy songs. Chris Nickson, of Global Rhythm, argues that trying to make order of Khan’s entire discography would be a nightmare.

Nusrat Fateh recorded hundreds of albums around the globe. OSA, Birmingham released about 125 audio albums and 30-35 concert films. His international labels included Real World Records, Virgin Music, Ocora, World Music Network, Shanachie, Nascente, American Records, EMI Arabia & France. He recorded 40-50 cassettes in Pakistan, many of which are available under the EMI Label. More than a decade after his death music companies around the world are releasing new albums every year.

Albums:

Original Sound Track (OSA):
  • Vol 1, Best of Shahenshah
  • Vol 2, Tumhain Dillagi Bhool
  • Vol 3, Je Toon Rab Noon Manana
  • Vol 4, Wadah Kar Ke Sahjjan
  • Gorakh Dhanda – Vol 05
  • Yadon ke Sayeay – Vol 06
  • Jani Door Gaye – Vol 07
  • House of Shah – Vol 08
  • Dam Dam Ali Ali – Vol 9
  • Jhoole Laal – Vol 10
  • Marhaba Marhaba – Vol 11
  • Magic Touch – Vol 12
  • Shabads – Vol 13
  • Mast Qalander – Vol 14
  • Maikadah – Vol 15
  • Bari Bari – Vol 16
  • Nit Khair Mangan – Vol 17
  • Mae Ni Mae – Vol 18
  • Sham Savere – Vol 19
  • Naat – Vol 20
  • Bulle Shah – Vol 21
  • Aansoo – Vol 22
  • Mighty Khan – Vol 23
  • Dhol Mahia – Vol 24
  • Allah Hoo – Vol 25
  • Chithhi – Vol 26
  • Kali Kali Zulfon – Vol 27
  • Sanson Ki Mala – Vol 28
  • Saqi Mere Saqi – Vol 29
  • Vird Karo Allah Allah – Vol 30
  • Akhian – Vol 31
  • Beh Ja Mahi – Vol 32
  • Neendran – Vol 33
  • Sanam – Vol 34
  • Mere Man Ka Raja – Vol 35
  • Piya Ghar Aaya – Vol 36
  • Washington University – Vol 37
  • Mast Nazron Se – Vol 38
  • House of Shah 2 – Vol 39
  • Kande Utte Mehrman Way – Vol 40
  • Yadan – Vol 41
  • Jana Jogi De Naal – Vol 42
  • Ali Maula – Vol 43
  • Tere Main Ishq Nachaian
  • Charkha Naulakha – Vol 45
  • Kehde Ghar Jawan – Vol 46
  • House Of Shah 3 – Vol 47
  • Jewel – Vol 48
  • Mighty Khan 2 – Vol 49
  • Must Mast 2 – Vol 50
  • Bandit Queen – Vol 51
  • Prem Deewani – Vol 52
  • Kalam-e-Iqbal – Vol 53
  • Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum – Vol 54
  • Chan Sajna – Vol 55
  • Loay Loay Aaja Mahi – Vol 56
  • Wohi Khuda Hai – Vol 57
  • Pilao Saqi – Vol 58
  • Samandar Maen Samandar – Vol 59
  • Ishq – Vol 60
  • Piala – Vol 61
  • Kulli Yar Dee – Vol 62
  • Gali Wichoon Kaun Langia – Vol 63
  • Sufi Qawwalies – Vol 64
  • Pyar Karte Hain – Vol 65
  • Sorrows – Vol 69

 

Major International Releases
  • In Concert in Paris, VolNitin Sawhney, Musician, 17 June 2004, Observer.co.uk 1. Ocora.
  • Shahen-Shah. RealWorld/CEMA.
  • Mustt Mustt. RealWorld/CEMA. Collaboration with Michael Brook.
  • Magic Touch OSA.
  • Shahbaaz. RealWorld/CEMA.
  • The Day, The Night, The Dawn, The Dusk. Shanachie Records.
  • Devotional Songs. Real World Records.
  • Love Songs. EMI.
  • Ilham. Audiorec.
  • Traditional Sufi Qawwalis: Live in London, Vol. 2. Navras Records.
  • Pakistan: Vocal Art of the Sufis, Vol 2 – Qawwali. JVC.
  • Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party. Real World Records.
  • The Last Prophet. Real World Records.
  • Traditional Sufi Qawwalis: Live in London, Vol. 4. Navras Records.
  • Revelation. Interra/Intersound.
  • Back to Qawwali. Long Distance
  • In Concert in Paris, Vol. 3–5. Ocora.
  • Qawwali: The Art of the Sufis. JVC
  • Night Song. Real World Records.
  • Dead Man Walking: The Score. Columbia/Sony
  • Intoxicated Spirit. Shanachie Records.
  • Mega Star. Interra.
  • Bandit Queen. Milan.
  • The Prophet Speaks. M.I.L. Multimedia.
  • Sangam. EMI.
  • Live In India. RPG.
  • Akhian. M.I.L. Multimedia.
  • Live in New York City. M.I.L. Multimedia.
  • Farewell Song: Alwadah. M.I.L. Multimedia.
  • In Concert in Paris, Vol 2. Ocora.
  • Oriente/Occidente: Gregorian Chant & Qawwali Music. Materiali Sonori.
  • Dust to Gold, Realworld Recordings.
  • Allah & The Prophet. Ex Works.
  • Star Rise: Remixes. EMI.
  • Live at Royal Albert Hall. M.I.L. Multimedia.
  • Missives from Allah. BCD.
  • Imprint: In Concert. Hi Horse Records. (Selections from the 23 January 1993 concert at Meany Hall, University of Washington in Seattle, during Khan’s residency at their Ethnomusicology program.)
  • Peace. Omni Parc.
  • Live at Islamabad, Vol 1–2. M.I.L. Multimedia.
  • Passion. NYC Music.
  • Visions of Allah. Ex Works.
  • Swan Song. Narada.
  • Jewel. MoviePlay.
  • Live in London, Vol 3. Navras Records.
  • Opus. Vanstory.
  • The Final Studio Recordings. Legacy/Sony.
  • Pukaar: The Echo. Navras Records.
  • The Final Moment. Birdman Records.
  • Body and Soul. RealWorld/CEMA.
  • Sufi Qawwalis. Arc Music.
  • Allah Hoo. Saregama.
  • Aur Pyar Ho Gaya. Saregama.
  • Ishq Da Rutba. Saregama.
  • Kartoos. Saregama.
  • Main Aur Meri Awargi. Saregama.
  • Ye Jo Halka. Saregama.
  • Nami Danam. JVC Compact Discs.
  • Mitter Pyare Nu. Nupur Audio

 

Album Features
  • Passion (1989) – with Peter Gabriel
  • Only One (1997) – with Mahmood Khan
  • Vande Mataram (1997) – with A. R. Rahman

 

Death

Various reports said Khan weighed over 135 kilograms. He had been seriously ill for several months, according to a spokesperson at his U.S. label, American Recordings. After traveling to London from his native Pakistan for treatment for liver and kidney problems, he was rushed from the airport to Cromwell Hospital in London.

He died of a sudden cardiac arrest at Cromwell Hospital on 16 August 1997, aged 48. His body was repatriated to Faisalabad, and his funeral was a public affair. He was buried in Kabootran Wala Qabristan also known as Jhang Road Graveyard on Jhang Road, Faisalabad.

His wife, Naheed Nusrat, died on 13 September 2013 in Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Naheed had moved to Canada after the death of her husband. She is survived by their daughter Nida Khan. Khan’s musical legacy is now carried forward by his nephews, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Rizwan-Muazzam.

Nadeem Baig

Biography

Image Credit Source – Facebook

Mirza Nazeer Baig – 19 July 1941 :

Mirza Nazeer Baig – 19 July 1941 better known by his stage name,

Nadeem Baig is a Pakistani actor, singer and producer. Since the beginning of his career in 1967, he has appeared in over two hundred films and has won various awards, including the 1997 Pride of Performance award. In Pakistan Nadeem enjoys the same status as Amitabh Bachchan enjoys in India.

 

Early life:

Baig was born in Vijayawada in modern Andhra Pradesh which, in 1941, was part of Madras Presidency in British India. Nadeem Baig migrated to Pakistan along with his family after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. He finished his high school at Sindh Madrasa-tul-Islam and attended some years of college at Government Islamia Science College, Karachi before he entered the Pakistani film industry.

Nadeem, along with artistes Talat Hussain, M. Zaheer Khan, Aftab Azeem, Saleem Jafry, and TV producer Iqbal Haider, were all discovered at a club in Karachi in the 1960s. He and his friends, Ameer Ahmed Khan and Qasim Siddiqui, won several music competitions. At one of those musical competitions, he was noticed by singer Ferdausi Rahman. She was impressed by his singing talent and encouraged him to try playback singing in Dhaka’s film industry.

 

Career:

Nadeem’s film career spans more than 50 years in 2019. He started his career in 1967 and appeared in his first film Chakori (1967) in a leading role with actress Shabana. The film was produced and directed by Captain Ehtesham, who, in real life, became his father-in-law in 1968 when Nadeem married Farzana, Ehtesham’s daughter. The film did well in both circuits of Pakistani film industry, i.e., West and East Pakistan. He won a Nigar Award in the best actor’s category for Chakori. Nadeem’s films include Nadan (1973), Anari, Pehchan (1975), Talash (1976), Aina (1977), Hum Dono (1980), Lajawab, Qurbani (1981), Sangdil (1982), and Dehleez (1983). He made a popular screen pairing with actress Shabnam with whom he acted in most of his films. Besides acting, Nadeem has sung many songs for films. Nadeem has worked with veteran film directors of Pakistani film industry including Pervez Malik, Nazrul Islam, S. Suleman, Shamim Ara, Sangeeta and Samina Peerzada. Among the well-known actors, he has worked with Santosh Kumar, Darpan, Waheed Murad, Allauddin and Syed Kamal over his long career.

 

Playback Singers:

In his career, Nadeem is mostly voiced by Ahmed Rushdi and latter Akhlaq Ahmed provided his voice. He himself acknowledged that songs in Rushdi’s voice made his work easier and played a significant role in his success. Other playback singers who provided voice for him were Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Mujeeb Aalam, Asad Amanat Ali Khan, Bashir Ahmad, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and A Nayyar.

 

Filmography:

Nadeem Baig has acted in over 200 Pakistani Films from his debut film Chakori (1967); and in his hit films such as Diya Aur Toofan (1969), and Aina (1977) to modern superhits such as Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013).

  • Chakori (1967) (Nadeem’s debut film)
  • Diya Aur Toofan (1969)
  • Daman Aur Chingari (1973)
  • Aina (1977)
  • Bandish (1980)
  • Dil Lagi (1973)
  • Shama (1974)
  • Phool Mere Gulshan Ka (1974)
  • Anari (1975)
  • Jab Jab Phool Khile (1975)
  • Pehchan (1975)
  • Umang
  • Naadan
  • Chote Sahab
  • Daagh
  • Muthi Bhar Chawal (1978)
  • Amber (1978)
  • Pakeeza (1979)
  • Doordesh (1983)
  • Mukhra (1988)- a film produced by Nadeem Baig also
  • Bulandi (1990)
  • Anhoni (1993)
  • Sargam (1995)
  • Jeeva (1995)
  • Jo Darr Gaya Woh Mar Gaya (1995)
  • Umar Mukhtar (1997)
  • Dupatta Jal Raha Hai (1998)
  • Inteha (1999)
  • Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (2005)
  • Mein Ek Din Laut Kay Aaoon Ga (2007)
  • Love Mein Gum (2011)
  • Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013)
  • The System (2014)
  • Hijrat (2016)
  • Sikander (2016)
  • Shaan-e-Ishq (2017)
  • Superstar (2019)
  • Parey Hut Love (2019)
  • Zarrar (2020)

 

Television:
Year     Drama Title Channel
2005   Riyasat  ARY Digital
2007  Saheli Hum TV
2014    Jaan Hatheli Par    PTV Home
2015 Mol  Hum TV 
2016 Tum Yaad Aaye ARY Digital 
2016 Rishta Hai Jaisey  Aaj Entertainment  

 

Awards and Recognition:
  • Nigar Award for a total of 16 times between 1967 and 2002 as an actor including the Nigar Award Millennium Award in 1999
  • Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1997

Noor Jehan

Biography

Image Credit Source – Facebook

Madam Noor Jehan (21 September 1926 – 23 December 2000)

Noor Jehan (Allah Rakhi Wasai) 21 September 1926 – 23 December 2000, also known by her honorific title Malika-e-Tarannum (The Queen of Melody), was a Pakistani playback singer and actress who worked first in British India and then in the cinema of Pakistan. Her career spanned more than six decades (the 1930s–1990s). She was renowned as one of the greatest and most influential singers of all time especially throughout South Asia and was given the honorific title of Malika-e-Tarannum in Pakistan. She had a command of Hindustani classical music as well as other music genres.

Along with Ahmed Rushdi, she holds the record for having given voice to the largest number of film songs in the history of Pakistani cinema. She is estimated to have made more than 40 films and sung around 20,000 numbers during a career which lasted more than half a century. She is thought to be one of the most prolific singers of all time. She is also considered to be the first female Pakistani film director.

Early life:

Noor Jehan was born as Allah Rakhi Wasai into a Punjabi Muslim family in Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan and was one of the eleven children of Imdad Ali and Fateh Bibi.

She came from a Muslim family with a rich musical tradition. She began singing at the age of 5 and received early training in classical singing under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, a famous Hindustani vocalist.

As a young girl, Noor Jehan appeared in the K.D. Mehra directed Punjabi movie Pind di Kuri (1935) and next acted in a film called Missar Ka Sitara (1936). Noor Jehan also played the child role of Heer in the film Heer-Sayyal (1937).

In 1938 Noor Jehan moved to Lahore. Her first major film role was opposite the Indian actor Pran in Khandaan (1942). The film became a major hit and she moved to Mumbai with its director, Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, who she later married.

After the Partition in 1947, Jehan decided to move to Pakistan and settled in Karachi.

 

Career:

Her Career in British India

Jehan began to sing at the age of five and showed a keen interest in a range of styles, including traditional folk and popular theatre. Realising her potential for singing, her mother sent her to receive early training in classical singing under Ustad Ghulam Mohammad. He instructed her in the traditions of the Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music and the classical forms of thumri, dhrupad, and khyal.

At the age of nine, Noor Jehan drew the attention of Punjabi musician Ghulam Ahmed Chishti, who would later introduce her to the stage in Lahore. He composed some ghazals, na`ats and folk songs for her to perform, although she was keener on breaking into acting or playback singing. Once her vocational training finished, Jehan pursued a career in singing alongside her sister in Lahore, and would usually take part in the live song and dance performances prior to screenings of films in cinemas.

Theatre owner Diwan Sardari Lal took the small girl to Calcutta in the early 1930s and the entire family moved to Calcutta in hopes of developing the movie careers of Allah Wasai and her older sisters, Eiden Bai and Haider Bandi. Mukhtar Begum encouraged the sisters to join film companies and recommended them to various producers. She also recommended them to her husband, Agha Hashar Kashmiri, who owned a maidan theatre (a tented theatre to accommodate large audiences). It was here that Wasai received the stage name, Baby Noor Jehan. Her older sisters were offered jobs with one of the Seth Sukh Karnani companies, Indira Movietone and they went on to be known as the Punjab Mail.

In 1935, K.D. Mehra directed the Punjabi movie Pind di Kuri in which Noor Jehan acted along with her sisters and sang the Punjabi song “Langh aja patan chanaan da o yaar”, which became her earliest hit. She then acted in a film called Missar Ka Sitara (1936) by the same company and sang in it for music composer Damodar Sharma. Jehan also played the child role of Heer in the film Heer-Sayyal (1937). One of her popular songs from that period “Shala jawaniyan maney” is from Dalsukh Pancholi’s Punjabi film Gul Bakawli (1939). All these Punjabi movies were made in Calcutta. After a few years in Calcutta, Jehan returned to Lahore in 1938. In 1939, renowned music director Ghulam Haider composed songs for Jehan which led to her early popularity, and he thus became her early mentor.

In 1942, she played the main lead opposite Pran in Khandaan (1942). It was her first role as an adult, and the film was a major success. The success of Khandaan saw her shifting to Bombay, with the director Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi. She shared melodies with Shanta Apte in Duhai (1943). It was in this film that Jehan lent her voice for the second time, to another actress named Husn Bano. She married Rizvi later the same year. From 1945 to 1947 and her subsequent move to Pakistan, Noor Jehan was one of the biggest film actresses of the Indian Film Industry. Her films: Badi Maa (1945), Zeenat (1945 film), Gaon Ki Gori (1945), Anmol Ghadi (1946), and Jugnu (1947 film) were the top-grossing films of the years 1945 to 1947.

 

Career in Pakistan:

In 1947, Rizvi and Jehan decided to move to Pakistan. They left Bombay and settled in Karachi with their family.

Three years after settling in Pakistan, Jehan starred in her first Pakistani film Chan Wey (1951), opposite Santosh Kumar, which was also her first Pakistani film as a heroine and playback singer. Shaukat Hussain Rizvi and Noor Jehan directed this film together, making Jehan Pakistan’s first female director. It became the highest-grossing film in Pakistan in 1951. Jehan’s second film in Pakistan was Dupatta (1952) which was Produced by Aslam Lodhi, Directed by Sibtain Fazli and assisted by A. H. Rana and as Production Manager. Dupatta turned out to be an even bigger success than Chan Wey (1951).

During 1953 and 1954, Jehan and Rizvi had problems and got divorced due to personal differences. She kept custody of the three children from their marriage. In 1959, she married another film actor, Ejaz Durrani, nine years her junior. Durrani pressured her to give up acting, and her last film as an actress/singer was Ghalib (1961). This contributed to the strengthening of her iconic stature. She gained another audience for herself. Her rendition of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s “Mujh se pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang” is a unique example of tarranum, reciting poetry as a song with superb music of Rasheed Attre in the Pakistani film Qaidi (1962). Jehan last acted in Baaji in 1963, though not in a leading role.

Jehan bade farewell to film acting in 1963 after a career of 33 years (1930–1963). The pressure of being a mother of six children and the demands of being a wife to another fellow film actor, forced her to give up her career. Jehan made 14 films in Pakistan, ten in Urdu and four in Punjabi as a film actress.

 

As Playback Singer:

After quitting acting she took up playback singing. She made her debut exclusively as a playback singer in 1960 with the film Salma. Her first initial playback singing for a Pakistani film was for the 1951 film Chann Wey, for which she was the film director herself. She received many awards, including the Pride of Performance in 1965 by the Pakistani Government. She sang a large number of duets with Ahmed Rushdi, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mujeeb Aalam.

She had an understanding and friendship with many singers of Asia, for example with Alam Lohar and many more. Jehan made great efforts to attend the “Mehfils” (live concerts) of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Roshan Ara Begum. Lata Mangeshkar commented on Jehan’s vocal range, that Jehan could sing as low and as high as she wanted, and that the quality of her voice always remained the same. Singing was, for Jehan, not effortless but an emotionally and physically draining exercise.  In the 1990s, Jehan also sang for then débutante actresses Neeli and Reema. For this very reason, Sabiha Khanum affectionately called her Sadabahar (evergreen). Her popularity was further boosted with her patriotic songs during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India.

In 1971 Madam Noor Jehan visited Tokyo for the World Song Festival as a representative from Pakistan.

Jehan visited India in 1982 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Indian talkie movies, where she met Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi and was received by Dilip Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar in Bombay. She met all her erstwhile heroes and costars, including Surendra, Pran, Suraiya, composer Naushad and others. The website Women on Record stated: “Noor Jehan injected a degree of passion into her singing unmatched by anyone else. But she left for Pakistan”.

In 1991, When Jehan was alive, Vanessa Redgrave invited her to perform at a fundraising event to benefit the children of the Middle East held at Royal Albert Hall London. Lionel Richie, Bob Geldof, Madonna, Boy George, and Duran Duran were some of the performers at the star-studded event which was attended, amongst many others, by thespian John Gielgud, Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, and Oscar-winning actor Dame Peggy Ashcroft. She has also sung “Saiyan Saadey Naal”, a song of well-known Pakistani folk singer, songwriter and composer Akram Rahi for the film Dam Mast Kalander/Aalmi Gunday.

 

Personal Life:

In 1944, Noor Jehan married Shaukat Hussain Rizvi of Azamgarh, UP, India. In 1948, Shaukat Rizvi decided to migrate to Pakistan, and Noor Jehan moved too, ending her career in India. She next visited India only in 1982. Her marriage to Rizvi ended in 1953 with divorce; the couple had three children, including their singer daughter Zil-e-Huma.

She married Ejaz Durrani in 1959. The second marriage also produced three children but also ended in divorce in 1970. She was also married to actor Yousuf Khan.

She had six children in total from both marriages: Zil-e-Huma, Hina Durrani, Mina Hasan, Nazia Ejaz Khan, Akbar Hussain Rizvi, and Asghar Hussain Rizvi. Despite her busy schedules, fame and stardom, Madam Noor Jehan maintained a balance between her home life and her career.

 

Last Years and Death:

Jehan suffered from chest pains in 1986 on a tour of North America and was diagnosed with angina pectoris after which she underwent bypass surgery. According to her Daughter, Shazia Hassan, she was suffering from Chronic Kidney disease in her last years and was on dialysis. In 2000, Jehan was hospitalised in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi and suffered a heart attack. On 23 December 2000 (night of 27 Ramadan), Jehan died as a result of heart failure. Her funeral took place at Jamia Masjid Sultan, Karachi and was attended by over 400,000 people. She was buried at the Gizri Graveyard in Karachi. When she died, then President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf said that “She deserves a state funeral”. He ordered her funeral be taken to Lahore from Karachi but her daughters insisted on burying her in Karachi on the night she died. At her death, a famous Indian writer and poet Javed Akhtar in an interview at Mumbai said that “In the worst conditions of our relations with Pakistan in 53 years in a very hostile atmosphere our cultural heritage has been a common bridge. Noor Jehan was one such durable bridge, my fear is that her death may have shaken it”.

 

Awards And Honours:

Noor Jehan received more than 15 Nigar Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, eight for best Urdu Singer Female and the rest for Punjabi playback. She has also been given the award for the Singer Of Millennum.

  • In 1945, for the film Zeenat she was awarded by a gold medal by Z.A Bukhari.
  • Noor Jehan was ranked at eighth position in a list of Most Influential Pakistanis after Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
  • She was a melodious singer of the subcontinent. Mohammad Rafi always wished to make duets with her. Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle in an interview said that;

Noor Jehan was one of my favourite singers and when I listened to her Ghazals, I realized how unusual compositions were those, so I decided to take them to a larger audience which they deserve.

She added that;

The world will never see a singer like her. Just as people have not seen another Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar there would never be another Noor Jehan.

  • Eastern Eye ranked Noor Jehan at 16th in a list of 20 Bollywood singers of all time although she had a very short career there before the Partition. The entertainment editor of Eastern Eye said that;

Noor Jehan was the first female singing star of the Indian cinema and helped to lay the foundation of playback singing as we know it. She inspired a generation of singers including Lata Mangeshkar before single-handedly kick-starting music In Pakistan and inspired subsequent generations there.

  • In 1945, she became the first Asian woman to sing Qawali in the film Zeenat. American Queen of Pop Madonna Louise Ciccone said that, “I can copy every singer but not Noor Jehan”.
  • In 1957, she received President’s Award for her acting and singing in film Intezar. It was the same film for which Khwaja Khurshid Anwar also received President’s Award for Best Music Director.
  • In 1965, she received Special Nigar Award for her wartime songs.
  • In 1965, she was awarded Pride of Performance by the President of Pakistan for her singing and acting capabilities.
  • She became the Second Pakistani Female Vocalist after Roshan Ara Begum to receive Pride of Performance.
  • In 1965, she received Tamgha-e-Imtiaz from the army for her moral support in the Indo-Pak war.
  • She was the only Pakistani singer to sing with the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.
  • In 1981, she received Special Nigar Award for her excellence in 30 years of her career in Pakistan.
  • In 1987, she received NTM Life Time Achievement Award.
  • In 1991, she became the first Pakistani singer to sing at the Royal Albert Hall London.
  • In 1996,she received Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
  • In 1999, she received Millennium Award for her services to Pakistani Cinema.
  • In January 2000, Pakistan Television PTV gave her the title of Voice of Century.
  • In 2002, she received First Lux Life Time Achievement Award.
  • In August 2014, she was declared as the Greatest Female Singer Of Pakistan of all times.
  • In August 2017, she was ranked at the top of Female Pakistani Singers.
  • She also retained the designation Cultural Ambassador of Pakistan
  • On 21 September 2017, Google Doodle commemorated her 91st birthday.

Atif Aslam

 Biography

Image Credit Source – Facebook

Muhammad Atif Aslam – 12 March 1983

Muhammad Atif Aslam mostly referred to as Atif Aslam is a Pakistani playback singer, song-writer, composer and an actor. He has recorded numerous chart-topping songs in both Pakistan and India and is known for his vocal belting technique. He predominantly sings in Urdu and Hindi, but has also sung in Punjabi, Bengali and Pashto. With a number of successful chart-topping songs, he is often considered as one of the best playback singers in the Indian and Pakistani music industries of all times. In 2008, Aslam received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, the fourth-highest civilian honour award from the Pakistani government. He is also a recipient of a number of Lux Style Awards. Aslam made his acting debut in 2011 with the Urdu social drama film Bol. In 2019, he was awarded a star in the Dubai Walk of Fame after his nomination for the best singer in Pakistan. He was also featured in the Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars, published in December, 2020. Aslam has an extensively large following at home in Pakistan as well as in neighboring countries of India and Bangladesh. He refers to his fans as “Aadeez” (عادیز‎;).

 

Early life:

Atif Aslam was born on 12 March 1983 into a Punjabi Muslim family in Wazirabad, Punjab, Pakistan. He went to Kimberley Hall School in Lahore until 1991, when he moved to Rawalpindi and continued his studies at St. Paul’s Cambridge School in Satellite Town. In 1995, Aslam returned to Lahore where he continued his studies at a Divisional Public School and College (DPSC) branch. He proceeded to attend Fazaia Inter College for his HSSC from 1999 to 2001, and later went to PICS to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science. In an interview, Aslam revealed that his ambition around this time was to become a professional cricketer.

 

Personal Life:

Atif Aslam was born in a Pakistani Punjabi Family to Mohammad Aslam and Rehana Shaheen. He has three brothers named Shahbaz, who is a Designer, Shahzad, who is a photographer and Sheraz.

He married educationist Sara Bharwana in Lahore on 29 March 2013 and they have two children.

 

Career:

Aslam has stated that he had no initial formal training in music, and was disinterested in the thought of pursuing a musical career over one in cricket. It was not until his college days that he began to actively take part in various musical competitions and eventually was encouraged by his friends to establish himself in the music industry. He has mentioned the works of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as one of his very first musical inspirations.

 

2003–2004; Jal-Formation

Aslam began his career after forming the band Jal and released the song ‘Aadat’ with another contemporary musician Goher Mumtaz in 2003. The original version was written by Goher and sung by Aslam. During this initial period of the band, Aslam was the lead singer of Jal. He has mentioned in multiple interviews that he had recorded the song with his pocket money at the age of 17. The band released the song on the internet in 2003, which then went on to become a youth anthem.

After separation from Jal, Aslam released his first album titled Jal Pari, on 17 July, 2004, produced by Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor, having 11 tracks, which was an instant hit. The album also won the 4th Lux Style Awards in 2005 in the category of “Best Album”.

 

2005–2006; Step into Bollywood and Hollywood

Following “Jal Pari”, Aslam released another solo album, “Doorie” in 2006, having 18 tracks. The album also won the 6th Lux Style Awards in 2007 in the “Best Album” category.

He got his first breakthrough in Bollywood when director Mahesh Bhatt called Aslam to seek his consent to include “Woh Lamhey” in the soundtrack of his new motion picture, Zeher (2005). Aadat and its remix was recreated for the film Kalyug, directed by Mohit Suri. In 2006, Aslam worked with Mithoon for the song “Tere Bin” from Bas Ek Pal. The song was a hit in both India and Pakistan and got him nominated for the Filmfare Award. Three songs from his first album “Aadat”,”Ehsaas” and “Yakeen” were used in Hollywood film Man Push Cart in 2005.

 

2007–2008

Third solo album titled “Meri Kahani”, having 12 tracks, released in 2008. It was produced by Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor. In 2008, the album was nominated in 7th Lux Style Awards in the category “Best Album”. Album’s song “Hangami Halaat” was nominated in 2009 in “MTV Brrr Music Awards” in the category “Best Rock Song”.

In 2008, he recorded three versions of Pehli Nazar Mein and Bakhuda Tumhi Ho from Race and Kismat Konnection respectively composed by Pritam with lyrics by Sameer and Sayeed Qaudri respectively. Pehli Nazar Mein catapulted him to Bollywood mainstream success and also had won him IIFA Award.

 

2009; Debut in Coke Studio

In the 2009 romantic film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, he sang two chartbuster songs Tu Jaane Na and Tera Hone Laga Hoon including remix versions of both songs, all were composed by Pritam with lyrics by Irshad Kamil and Ashish Pandit, which fetched him several nominations. He sang advertising Olper’s Qawwali “Hum Mustafavi”. In Coke Studio Season 2, his five songs were released titled as “Jal Pari”, “Kinara” (co-sung by Riaz Ali Khan), “Wasta Pyar Da”, “Mai Ni Main” and “Humain Kya Hua”.

 

2010

In 2010, he recorded ten songs for Prince film including five remix versions, composed by Sachin Gupta with lyrics by Sameer. These songs showcased the rockier side of Aslam. A Punjabi song Rona Chaditta (also known as Mahi Mahi) for the film Mel Karade Rabba was released, composed by Jaidev Kumar, which went on to become a hit. Two songs, “Doorie” and “Maula” from his second album Doorie were used in the film Spanish Beauty (Hindi Version). “Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga” was recorded with Strings. “We Will Rise Again” was co-sung with Todd Shea, composed by Lanny Cordola. An advertising song for Warid Pakistan titled “Jee Lay Zindagi” was also released.

 

2011; Step into Pakistani Film Industry

In 2011, he sang a song from the film F.A.L.T.U, composed by Sachin-Jigar titled “Le Ja Tu Mujhe” with lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan. The same year, he sang two songs “Hona Tha Pyar” and “Kaho Aaj Bol Do” with Hadiqa Kiani for the film Pakistani film Bol in which he was cast as lead role.

 

2012

In this year, he recorded two songs for the film Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, “Tu Muhabbat Hai” and “Piya O Re Piya” excluding sad version of the later, compositions of Sachin-Jigar. He recorded two songs “Bol Ke Lub Azaad Hain” and “Mori Araj Suno” for the Hollywood film The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

He also performed three songs in Coke Studio’s Season Five titled as “Charka Nolakha”, “Rabba Sacheya” and “Dholna”. He also sang the advertising song “Juro Ge To Jano Ge” for Jazz Pakistan.

 

2013

In 2013, he recorded a total of twelve songs including four blockbuster songs. Three songs for Jayanta Bhai Ki Luv Story, three songs for Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya, three songs for Phata Poster Nikla Hero and two songs for the film Race 2. Main Rang Sharbaton Ka was nominated at World Music Awards in 2014 for “Best Song”. “Main Rang Sharbaton Ka” fetched several awards and multiple nominations for him. Zameen Jaagti Hai and Tu Khaas Hai were released in Pakistan.

 

2014

In 2014, he recorded 2 songs for the film Entertainment, “Tera Naam Doon” and “Nahi Woh Saamne”. Both songs were composed by Sachin-Jigar with lyrics written by Priya Panchal. He also sang QMobile Noir i10 advertising song “Dil Se Dil” and Etisalat advertising song “Faasle”.

 

2015

He worked with Sachin-Jigar for the song Jeena Jeena for the film Badlapur, The song Jeena Jeena topped various charts and was one of the biggest hits of 2015, which also got him a nomination for the Filmfare award for best playback singer. Same year he also recorded Dil Kare for Ho Mann Jahaan.

Aslam’s rendition of “Tajdar-e-Haram” crossed 285 million views on YouTube in July 2020, originally released in 2015, it became the first video origin in Pakistan to achieve the landmark record. The qawwali-song, originally sung by Sabri Brothers, was released on 15 August 2015 in CokeStudio Season 8 and has been viewed in 186 countries across the world. Also, it is Aslam’s first individual video on YouTube to make the record.

 

2016

Aslam worked with musician Arko Pravo for the chartbuster song Tere Sang Yaara from Rustom which topped “Bollywood Life” chart, got nominated for “Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer”. Atif worked with Mithoon for four versions of the song “Mar Jaayen” from Loveshhuda in 2016, penned by Sayeed Qaudri. He worked with musical duo Sachin-Jigar for Toota Jo Kabhi Taara and Khair Mangda for the movie A Flying Jatt.

“Dil Dancer” from the movie Actor in Law released, which earned him LUX Award for best playback singer. He sang”Yaariyaan” song with Ali Zafar, composed by Sahir Ali Bagga which released on 2016 Defence Day. He collaborated with Maher Zain for the song “I’m Alive” and sang “Jal Pari” for the advertisement of Huawei Honor 5X.

 

2017

At the start of the year, “Hoor” song from Hindi Medium released. After which, Romantic song “Baarish” from Half Girlfriend composed by Tanishk Bagchi and Ballad song “Musafir” from Sweetie Weds NRI were released. Romantic song “Darasal” composed by JAM8 released same year. 2 Ballad songs “Main Agar” from Tubelight and “Jaane De” from Qarib Qarib Singlle were out, composed by Pritam and Vishal Mishra respectively. In December 2017, “Dil Diyan Gallan” from Tiger Zinda Hai released, composed by Vishal-Shekhar and lyrics by Irshad Kamil. The song has garnered over 670M views on YouTube as of January 2021. His first Bengali song “Mithe Alo” from Cockpit film was also released.

The same year, Pehli Dafa starring Aslam and Ileana D’Cruz was released, which was a composition of Shiraz Uppal. A single “Younhi” written by Atif himself released on Atif’s birthday, which featured Aslam and Nicolli Dela Nina. “Noor-e-Azal” Hamd released, sung by Aslam and Abida Parveen, a composition of Shani Arshad. He also sang ISPR song “Kabhi Percham Main”, which released on 2017 Defence Day.

He performed at 16th Lux Style Awards by singing “Pakistan National Anthem” and “Us Rah Par”. He also performed in Pepsi Battle of the Bands. Same year, he performed at Second Hum Style Awards and sang “Aitebar”, “Dewana Bana Rakha Hai” and “Yaar Na Vichde”.

 

2018

In 2018, a total of 19 songs released by Aslam. Romantic song “Dil Meri Na Sune” was composed by Himesh Reshammiya for film Genius. “O Saathi” from Baaghi 2 written by Arko, “Paniyon Sa” from Satyameva Jayate, “Tere Liye” from Namaste England and “Tera Hua” from Loveyatri were major hits in the charts. He voiced for three recreated songs “Jab Koi Baat”, “Dekhte Dekhte” for Batti Gul Meter Chalu which took the “official Asian music chart number 1” and recorded “Chalte Chalte” for Mitron. Other songs include “Sehmi Hai Dhadkan”, three versions of “Selfish” for Race 3 and two songs “Tum” and “O Meri Laila” from Laila Majnu lyrics by Irshad Kamil.

Pakistani song Thaam Lo from Parwaaz Hai Junoon was also released during the same year, which earned him the LUX Award for the best playback Singer. He sang “Humain Pyaar Hai Pakistan Se”, released on 2018 Defence Day. “12 Bajay” was released in December 2018.

 

2019

In January 2019, “Auliya” song from Hum Chaar released, composed by Vipin Patwa. “Baarishein” released on 13 February 2019, a day before 2019 Pulwama Attack. He performed at 18th Lux Style Awards and sang “Mujhe Dil Se Na Bhulana” with Momina Mustehan as a tribute to Bangladeshi-Pakistani actress Shabnam.

“In Dinon” and “Anjaana” from Superstar film were also released. Pardadari, sung by Aslam and Abida Parveen also released. He also sang “Shaheen-e-Pakistan” for the ISPR, which was released on Pakistan Day.

Coke Studio started with songs of Aslam in Season 12. Aaye Kuch Abr, Mubarik Mubarik and Wohi Khuda Hai were released.

 

Expulsion from Bollywood

Following the 2019 Pulwama attack in February and subsequent military standoff between India and Pakistan, the All-Indian Cinema Workers Association, in solidarity with the Indian government, placed an immediate ban on all Pakistani works within Indian cinema/music and ordered all Pakistani artists to leave the country. Following Aslam’s departure to Pakistan, all the songs that were already recorded with his voice and due for release in Bollywood were put on hold, and were re-recorded by various Indian singers before being released. These songs were remade by prominent artists. Such as Tu Mila To Haina and Pachtaoge were by Arijit Singh while others such as Main Taare and “Sajda Karu” were replaced by Salman Khan and Stebin Ben, respectively. Eventually, intense public demand and pressure caused some of the songs to be released unofficially as they were originally recorded in Aslam’s voice.

The song Kinna Sona became a topic of controversy as it was originally recorded by Aslam for the film Marjaavaan, but the track was replaced at the last minute by Indian singer Jubin Nautiyal. The song was a mix-and-match blended cover with heavy inspirations from Pakistani Sufi Islamic Qawwali music that was sung by NFAK. In June 2020, T-Series released the original cover sung by Aslam on YouTube, but was forced to remove it and immediately issued an apology after a threat-laced campaign led by various right-wing Indian nationalist figures and parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

 

2020

In 2020, Tips released ten-year-old song “Woh Mere Bin”. He also sang Zong advertisement song “Aik Naya Khaab”.

In April 2020, he recited Azaan shortly after which Coke Studio released Asma-ul-Husna in May 2020, recited by Atif Aslam and produced by Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan as an expression of solidarity with humanity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It features voices from the universe recorded by NASA, thirty three backing vocalist from across the globe and the sound of Daf with pronunciation supervised by Hafiz Idrees giving it the feat of having 4M views in just four days on YouTube and as of January 2021, it has received over 30M views. Atif Aslam worked for an ad of Infinix Mobile Zero 8. “Kadi Te Hans” released on 20 November 2020 by VELO Sound Station which got 2.5M views in two days of its release.

 

2021

On 26 February 2021, Atif released the song “Raat” that was a poem by Munir Niazi. A tribute to Musarrat Nazir “Chale To Kat Hi Jayega” premiered on 19 March 2021 and received 14 million views in 3 days. Atif released the song Rafta rafta on. 21 July 2021.

 

International Tours:

His first international tour was in the US and Canada with Rhythm Dhol Bass and Annie Khalid.

Aslam then made his solo debut concert in New Jersey in Summer Beats 2008 at Sovereign Bank Arena, which also featured Kailash Kher, Richa Sharma and Amanat Ali. After a solo debut concert in New Jersey, Aslam returned with his band and special guests to Queens Colden Center, New York to perform on 2 July 2010.

Two years later, Aslam returned to the US. Collaborating with vocalist Shreya Ghoshal, their March 2010 tour originally had 10 shows announced in the US and Canada. However, the response inspired the organizers to put shows in six more cities.

The following month, Aslam made his debut in South America with a performance at Anthony Nesty Sports Hall, Suriname.

He continued to tour the world with headline performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London, alongside Jay Sean). He followed that with dates, across major concert venues in the UK in 2010.

Aslam performed with Sunidhi Chauhan for the first time at Hershey Centre, Mississauga, followed by another show at Oakland Arena, San Francisco, Oakland, in July 2011, during their USA and Canada tour. In September 2011, Aslam performed in New York.

On 22 April 2012, Atif Aslam became the first Pakistani to perform in London’s O2 Arena a concert spectacular to promote love, peace and unity among Pakistan and India. Aslam performed for four hours. This was followed up by shows in Manchester and Glasgow.

In 2012, he was invited for three concerts at the World Trade Centre in Dubai. This was followed by his debut concert in Bangkok at the Centara Convention Centre on 6 October 2012.

Aslam then returned to perform in ten major Pakistani cities during his Jazz Jazba Generation Tour.

On 2 November, he performed his first public concert in Malaysia.

In December 2012, Aslam was named among top performers of Dubai for 2012 alongside Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Il Divo, Gotye, Evanescence and Swedish House Mafia.

Atif Aslam is the first artist from Asia, and the second artist after Bryan Adams, who is permitted to perform inside the Dashrath Rangasla National Football Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal. Aslam once again returned to Dubai for multiple concerts in 2013 at the world-famous Atlantis resort.

In April 2013, Aslam performed for the first time at the LG Arena in Birmingham following which he became the first artist from Asia to perform twice at London’s O2 Arena. Also in concert at the O2 were Bollywood stars Shaan, Malaika Arora Khan & Bipasha Basu.

Because of immense popularity and fan following, Atif Aslam has also performed in Bangladesh and Kenya.

Atif Aslam performed alongside Sonu Nigam in three occasions, one of which is a concert Shaam-e-Dostana at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre in Malaysia.

Atif Aslam has also performed alongside Neha Kakkar during their USA-Canada tour in 2018 in Long Beach California, Los Angeles.

 

Hollywood:

Five songs from Aslam’s first two albums “Jal Pari” and “Doorie” were featured in two films. From first album three songs “Yakeen”, “Ehsaas”, and “Aadat” were featured in Ramin Bahrani’s 2005 film Man Push Cart which has won international awards and was praised by the critics. Two other songs from second album “Doorie” and “Maula”, were selected in 2010 for the soundtrack of the Spanish Beauty, the Hindi version of the 2005 Mexican film La mujer de mi hermano directed by Ricardo de Montreuil. He then sang two songs; “Bol Ke Lab Azaad Hain” and “Mori Araj Suno”, in Mira Nair’s 2012 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

 

Acting Career:

Aslam made his acting debut in the 2011 Pakistani movie Bol along with Pakistani actress Mahira Khan.

 

Television:

Aslam appeared as the captain of Team Pakistan in a singing talent show called Sur Kshetra which was shot and broadcast from Dubai, where Indian and Pakistani contestants competed against each other. At the end of the show, Nabeel Shaukat Ali from Atif’s team won the contest.

On 19 April 2017, he hosted the 16th Lux Style Awards ceremony, and it was the first time he was seen hosting the ceremony of Lux Style Awards.

He along with Meesha Shafi, Fawad Khan and Shahi Hasan was also on the judge panel of a nationwide talent show Pepsi Battle of the Bands; emceed by PepsiCo Pakistan from July to September 2017.

 

Discography:

Some of his popular songs include Aadat, Woh Lamhey, Pehli Nazar Mein, Tere Bin, Kuch Is Tarah, Doorie, Bakhuda Tumhi Ho, Tera Hone Laga Hoon, Tu Jaane Na, Be Intehaan, Allah Duhai hai, O Mere Khuda, Tere Liye, Hona tha Pyar, Piya O Re Piya, Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main, Jeene Laga Hoon, Main Rang Sharbaton Ka, Jeena Jeena, Pehli Dafa, Tere Sang Yaara, Musafir, Dil Diyan Gallan, O Saathi, Jab Koi Baat, Dil Meri Na Sune, Paniyon Sa, Tajdar-e-Haram, Kinna Sona, Baarish, Man Aamadeh Am, Pachtaoge, Tere Hua, Thaam Lo, Dekhte Dekhte, Kadi Te Hans and Chale To Kat Hi Jayega.

 

Awards:

Atif Aslam is a Pakistani playback singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. His first song, “Aadat”, won him three awards. “Tu Jaane Na” won him an award and received three other nominations. “Jeena Jeena” and “Jeene Laga Hoon” were also nominated twice. In 2008, Aslam received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (medal of distinction), the fourth-highest civilian honour from the Pakistani government, as well as numerous Lux Style Awards. In 2019, he was awarded a star in the Dubai Walk of Fame upon his nomination as the “Best Singer in Pakistan”. He has won six Lux Style Awards and received five Filmfare nominations.

Aslam has won the following awards and nominations in Pakistan, India, and other countries.

 

List:
  • Indus Music Awards: 03
  • Sahara Sangeet Awards: 02
  • The Musik Awards: 02
  • Lux Style Awards: 08
  • MTV Brrr Music Awards: 02
  • World Music Awards: 01
  • Filmfare Awards: 05
  • Lycra MTV Style Awards: 01
  • IIFA Awards: 03
  • Screen Awards: 01
  • Guild Awards: 01
  • Zee Cine Awards: 01
  • GIMA Awards: 01
  • MTV IGGY Awards: 01
  • Pakistan Media Awards: 03
  • Big Apple Music Awards: 03
  • Hum Style Awards: 04
  • BIG Star Entert. Awards: 01

Abida Parveen

Biography

Image Credit Source – Facebook

Abida Parveen (عابده پروين‎) born 20 February 1954 is a Pakistani singer, composer and musician of Sufi music. She is also a painter and entrepreneur. Parveen is one of the highest paid singers in Pakistan. Her singing and music has earned her many accolades, and she has been dubbed as the ‘Queen of Sufi music’.

Born and raised in Larkana into a Sindhi Sufi family, she was trained by her father Ustad Ghulam Haider who was a famous singer and music teacher. She plays Pump organ, Keyboard and Sitar. Parveen started performing in the early 1970s and came into global prominence in the 1990s. Since 1993, Parveen has toured globally, performing her first international concert at Buena Park, California. She has also performed in Churches several times. Parveen features in Pakistan’s popular musical show Coke Studio and was a judge on the pan-South Asia contest show Sur Kshetra alongside Runa Laila and Asha Bhosle hosted by Ayesha Takia. She had appeared in various Indian and Pakistani Music reality shows including Pakistan Idol, Chhote Ustaad and STAR Voice of India. She is among The 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world with the power to induce hysteria in her audience, Parveen is a “Global Mystic Sufi Ambassador”. In the last few years she has sung in a Pepsi commercial collaborating with Atif Aslam for this.

Parveen is regularly referred to as one of the world’s greatest mystic singers. She sings mainly ghazals, thumri, khyal, qawwali, raga (raag), Sufi rock, classical, semi-classical music and her specialty, kafi, a solo genre accompanied by percussion and harmonium, using a repertoire of songs by Sufi poets. Parveen sings in Urdu, Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi, Arabic and Persian. Parveen notably sung a famous song in Nepali language called “Ukali Orali Haruma”, originally by Nepali singer Tara Devi, in a concert in Kathmandu, Nepal and in 2017, she was designated a ‘Peace Ambassador’ by SAARC.

Parveen is best known for singing in an impassioned, loud voice, especially on the song Yaar ko Humne from the album Raqs-e-Bismil and Tere Ishq Nachaya which is a rendition of Bulleh Shah’s poetry. She was bestowed Pakistan’s second highest civilian award Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2012 and the highest civilian award Hilal-e-Imtiaz in March 2021 by the President of Pakistan.

 

Early Life:

Parveen was born in mohalla Ali Goharabad in Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan. She received her musical training initially from her father, Ustad Ghulam Haider, whom she refers as Baba Sain and Gawwaya. He had his own musical school where Parveen got her devotional inspiration from. She and her father would often perform at shrines of Sufi Saints. Parveen’s talent compelled her father to choose her as his musical heir over his two sons. Growing up, she attended her father’s music school, where her foundation in music was laid. Later Ustad Salamat Ali Khan of the Sham Chaurasia gharana also taught and nurtured her. Parveen always remembers that she was never forced towards this occupation and she sang her first complete kalam when she was only 3 years old.

 

Personal Life:

Education:

Abida Parveen got her master’s degree from Sindh and also learnt Urdu, Sindhi and Persian specifically.

 

Marriage and Family:

In 1975, Abida married Ghulam Hussain Sheikh, senior producer at Radio Pakistan, who had retired from his job in the 1980s to manage and mentor Parveen’s career. After he died of a heart attack on an international flight in the early 2000s, their daughter Maryam took up that role. There is a sense that Parveen’s career has taken a more commercial route as a result of it. The couple has two daughters Pereha Ikram and Marium Hussain, and a son Sarang Latif who is a music director. All three children act as her advisors. Her family understands her need for riyaz ( daily vocal music practice) and its required space to do that practice.

 

Abida Parveen Gallery:

Parveen is also interested in the arts. She owns the Abida Parveen Gallery which features jewellery, paintings, her music CDs, awards section and garments and accessories and is run by her daughters. She also has her own music recording studio there.

 

Clothing Style:

Parveen has a distinctive clothing style which she has created herself for ease and comfort. She wears long simple frocks buttoned up to the top covered with a coat. She is always accompanied by an ajrak, a sindhi duppatta, which she claims comes from the dargah (mausoleum) of Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and her wardrobe is full of it.

 

“Parveen has taken Bayyat and became a disciple of Najeeb Sultan, her spiritual master. Parveen suffered a heart attack during a performance in Lahore on 28 November 2010. Angiography and angioplasty were performed on her. She regained her health soon after.”

 

Career:

Parveen had already begun performing at Dargahs and Urs in the early 1970s, but it was in 1973, on Radio Pakistan, that she achieved her first real breakthrough with the Sindhi song Tuhinje zulfan jay band kamand widha. In 1977 she was introduced as an official singer on Radio Pakistan. Since then, Parveen has risen to prominence and is now considered one of the finest vocal artists of Pakistan. She has imbued Sufi music with a new identity, marking the beginning of this journey at Sultana Siddiqui’s Awaz-o-Andaz in 1980.

Parveen travels internationally, often performing at sold-out venues. Her 1988 performance in Chicago was recorded by the Hazrat Amir Khusrau Society of Art and Culture, which issued a LP of her songs. Her 1989 performance in London’s Wembley Conference Centre was broadcast on the BBC. Parveen cites her motivation for international travel as being to spread Sufism, peace and the divine message. In doing so, she also promotes Pakistani culture.

In the 1990s Parveen licensed her spiritual ghazals to Bollywood, since her “spiritual brother”, Khan, recorded songs for Bollywood. Recently Abida also performed at the grand finale of Sindh Festival arranged by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Thatta.

  • Abida had a special appearance in the super hit Lollywood movie “Zindagi” starring Sultan Rahi, Arif Lohar, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi in lead cast for which she performed her famous rendition of Sufi Sachal Sarmast ‘mahi yar di gharoli bhar di’.
  • In 2007, Parveen collaborated with Shehzad Roy on a song entitled Zindagi, dedicated to children’s social problems .
  • In the same year she performed at the annual Oslo mela in Norway.
  • In 2010, Parveen performed at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, along with Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam.
  • In 2010, Parveen performed at the Asia Society’s Sufi Music Festival in New York City.
  • In 2010, she performed in Union Square, Manhattan, in first Sufi Music Festival in New York City.
  • Parveen performs annually at the Indian film-maker Muzaffar Ali’s Jahan-e-Khusrau event where she is reputed to be the top performer.
  • In 2010, she judged the Indo-Pak venture Sur Kshetra TV Show.
  • She performed in Manchester International Festival, 2013 in Bridgewater Hall.
  • Abida also collaborated in Manchester in 2013 with composer John Tavener for remarkable composition ‘Mahamatar’ for a Werner Herzog film about pilgrimage.
  • She had performed in Holland festival 2014 in Stopera, Amsterdam.
  • Praveen was the grand performer of Dhaka International Folk Fest, 2015 in Bangladesh where she also received an award.
  • In the Sindh Litreture Festival, 2016, she performed the grand show and cut the ribbon on its inauguration alongside SLF chairperson.
  • In the same year, she performed 2nd International Sufi Festival at Karachi.
  • In 2016, she collaborated with Indian Music director duo Salim–Sulaiman and an Orchestra in Toronto(Canada) for special song called “Noor e Illahi” released on Eid.
  • In 2017, on new year eve Abida released ‘Mulk e Khuda’ a patriotic song featuring natural sites and landscapes of Pakistan.
  • She has performed in the finale of Alchemy Festival, 2017 at Southbank Centre, London.
  • In the same year a Music video of romantic gazal “Ahat Si” was released by Abida feat. Saima Ajram.
  • Her performance includes the annual Faiz International Festival at the death anniversary of Faiz Ahmad Faiz.

 

Coke Studio Appearances:

Parveen began performing on the internationally acclaimed Pakistani show Coke Studio in 2010. She sang three songs: “Ramooz-e-Ishq”, “Nigah-e-Darwaishaan”, and “Soz-e-Ishq” in episodes 1 (Reason), 3 (Conception), and 5 (Realization), respectively of season 3. Parveen said she admired the programme because it offered a Dargahi environment. She commented:

“This project which Rohail Hyatt has started is indeed great and I would like to be a part of it for a long time. The music that comes out of this project reaches both the heart and soul and it always compliments the lyrics without overriding the true message of the kalams. This platform builds on those messages of our Sufi elders.”

She was invited back in season 7 in 2014. She sang “Mein Sufi Hoon” with Rais Khan and performed “dost” as a solo. She also performed “Chaap Tilak” (A popular Sufi poem by Sufi poet Amir Khusro) in a duet with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

Abida was also a part of season 9. Her first song along with other artists in the season, “Ae Rah Haq K Shaheedo” was dedicated to the war martyrs. After that she sang a duet with Ali Sethi entitled “Aaqa”, then solo an entitled “Maula-i-Kull”.

 

Quotes:
  • “Pakistan seems disconnected from the outside. But it is built and running on prayers of our Sufi kings, our pirs. Poor people, rich people – we are all God’s servants … I’m lucky. My audience is my God.”
  • “My culture – our culture – is rich in spirituality and love.”
  • “The songs purify the soul of a human being, the human is so involved that he has left God. The songs bring us near to God, near the Almighty, so that the human soul should be purified and satisfied.”

 

Awards and Recognitions:
  • Pride of Performance Award (1984) by the President of Pakistan
  • Latif Award (twice)
  • Sindh Graduate Association Award
  • Pakistan Television Award
  • Sachal Sarmast Honor
  • Sitara-e-Imtiaz Award (2005) by President Pervez Musharaff
  • Hilal-e-Imtiaz Award (2012) by President Asif Ali Zardari
  • Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kaladharmi Begum Akhtar Academy of Ghazal in India (2012).
  • Honored at the 16th Pakistan Television Awards Ceremony-PTV Award. (2011)
  • Nominated for Best Original Sound Track (OST) for Yaar Ko Hamne Jabaja Dekha at 12th Lux Style Awards. (2013)
  • Wonder Woman of the Year (2013)
  • 1st ARY Film Awards for Best Playback Singer for the film Ishq Khuda (2014).
  • Gold Crown on glorious 40 years in the Music Industry by the Sindhi Singers Association in Larkana. (2014)
  • Pakistani Diplomat Javed Malik presented an Ambassador’s Recognition Award in Dubai (2015).
  • Tributed at the 17th PTV Awards in the category of ‘Legends’. (2012)
  • 3rd Hum Awards for excellence in Music . (2015)
  • She had been awarded in Dhaka International Folk Fest 2015.
  • She had been awarded in 2nd International Sufi Conference, 2016 in Karachi by famous politician Sharmila Farooqi.
  • 15th Lux Style Awards for best female singer(film)in 2016.
  • Saima Ajram, a presenter at BBC Asian Network, presented a lifetime achievement award to her at her home in 2016.
  • PISA Lifetime Achievement Award – 2020.
  • Nishan-e-Imtiaz by President Arif Alvi – 23 March 2021.

 

Filmography:

Although Parveen is a highly acclaimed singer, she has never rendered her voice to films. Her pre-recorded songs have been used in films, however, on the insistence of her fans and Farooq Mengal. Parveen appears less and less in interviews and television morning shows due to her shy personality. Parveen confesses that she keeps getting offers from Bollywood film-makers namely Subhash Ghai and Yash Chopra but she keeps declining them as she has immersed herself in Sufism and it is time-consuming to spread the Divine Message. She even got offers from Shah Rukh Khan for Ra.One and music director A.R.Rehman has offered her some songs, too.

Amanullah Khan

Biography

Image Credit Source – Facebook

Amanullah Khan 1946– 6 March 2020:

Amanullah Khan  known (The king of comedy), professionally as Amanullah, was a Pakistani Punjabi theatre performer, comedian and TV artist regarded as one of the best comedians in the Indian subcontinent. He is cited as one of the world’s best observational comedians as he learned through his surroundings and everyday happenings. He influenced many artists as well as people. Khan has a world record of 860-day night theater plays. According to famous Pakistani comedian Sohail Ahmed, Amanullah Khan was regarded as one of the top comedians in Pakistan as well in the Indian subcontinent. He appeared in [Khabarzar] Aftab Iqbal on Aap News.

 

Early Life and Career:

Amanullah was born in a small area of Gujranwala in 1950 to a common man. His Father and Ancestors used to sing at weddings and small Functions and his family had a musical background. Due to his mother’s death and his father falling ill when he was very young Amanullah spent his childhood in poverty doing daily labour work and selling eatable items near Data Darbaar Lahore where he used to earn 5–10 Rs. at that time. He was the only son of his parents and has one sister. Amanullah started his career with stage comedy where he got a chance to show his talent at a very young age. He was introduced to the entertainment industry by the famous Pakistani singer of that time, Tufail Niazi. Tufail Niazi was his neighbour who discovered his talent and gave Amanullah a chance to show his comedic skills to the whole world. He quickly rose to prominence and made a name for himself in the industry. He has been a part of various stage dramas and has taken on the roles of various characters. He remains one of the senior-most stage actors who always made people laugh with his witty jokes and unique sense of humor.

Over the years Amanullah Niazi earned huge respect and love in the Pakistani society. He always stole the spotlight whenever he got the chance to perform in a drama or do stand ups. His dedication to the field of comedy earned him a place among the most renowned comedians in the Indian subcontinent. A few of his most well known pieces of work include stage dramas such as ‘Khirki ke peechay,’ Disco Deewanay,’ and many others. He has been termed as the most remarkable comedian whose comedy and energy on stage was unmatchable. Amanullah has made a record of doing 860 shows in his career and also been honored with the Pride of Performance award for his unparalleled quality of work in the Pakistani entertainment industry throughout his career. He has been attached to various television shows, including Khabarnaak and Mazaaq Raat, and has performed various characters. In 2010, Amanullah joined GEO News for its then new program Khabarnaak. He portrayed a simple, blind village man named Hakeem Sahab. The rest of the characters were bent on disparaging Hakeem Sahab. Khan left this TV show in August 2013.

He also played the role of Chacha Bashir in Mazaaq Raat. Some fellow comedians have reportedly said that Amanullah was their teacher, and they learnt comedy from him and from his comedy shows. He had a great sense of humor. His comedy acts were based on regular habits and daily lives of common people. Another famous Pakistani comedian Shakeel Siddiqui also reportedly showed a lot of respect for his work. Amanullah Khan was also known to occasionally deliver impromptu dialogue. He had also toured India and many famous Indian comedians including Kapil Sharma and Chandan Prabhakar regard him as their teacher and inspiration. Amanullah Khan was also known as “The King of Comedy” in Pakistan.

In 2018, he reunited with Aftab Iqbal in Khabarzar on Aap News Channel.

 

Selected Television:
Year  Title Role Channel
1978–79  Waris  Cheema Maachi PTV Home 

 

Filmography:
Title  Year
One Two Ka One 2006 
Na Maloom Afraad 2014 

 

Reality Shows:
  • Khabarnaak (2010–2013)
  • Mazaaq Raat (2013–17)
  • Khabarzar (2018–2020)
  • The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (2005)

 

Stage-o-Graphy:

Amanullah Khan had appeared in many stage dramas. Some of them are listed below:

  • Begum Dish Antenna
  • Disco Deewanay
  • Khirki Ke Peechay
  • Muhabbat CNG
  • UPS
  • Shartiya Mithay
  • Sohni Chan Wargi
  • Bara Maza Aye Ga
  • Ketchup
  • Chan Makhna
  • Ghar Ghar Bashira
  • Sawa Sair

 

Awards and Recognition:
  • Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 2018

 

Death:

Amanullah Khan was hospitalized in January 2018. He was treated in the intensive care unit of a local hospital in Lahore but was discharged later. He was reportedly suffering from a common cold and then developed some complications. He died on 6 March 2020 due to Kidney failure in a local hospital in Lahore.