8 Pakistani Classical Singers Who Proved That Music Knows No Boundaries

The deafening sound of shooting bullets will make people in the vicinity run for their life. But the soothing sound of music, will travel boundaries and heal wounded souls. And the list of following singers, originally belonging to our neighbouring country, justifies this thought perfectly. When the leaders from both sides failed to prevail calm, their melodies did the needful and bound our hearts.

1. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan started learning to play sarangi when he was 5

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali is one of the most prominent of Hindustani Vocalists to have ever lived. After partition, Kasur (birthplace of Bade Ghulam Ali) became a part of Pakistan but Bade Ghulam Ali returned to India to reside permanently. His views on partition that precisely said, “If in every home one child was taught Hindustani classical music this country would never have been partitioned,” prove that his country was Music, neither India nor Pakistan.

“Yaad piya ki aane lagi” and “Ka karu sajni” are just a couple of many spellbinding songs by him, sung in innumerable performances in India.

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2. Ghulam Ali: One of the best ghazal singers of his era

Ghulam Ali is regarded as one of the best ghazal singers of his era, chiefly because unlike any other ghazal singers, his style of singing involves a blend of Hindustani classical music with ghazals.

And recently in the year 2013, he became the first person to be awarded with the “Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Award.” In gratification, Ghulam Ali said, “I am indebted to the Indian government for giving me this award. For me, it is the greatest award I have received because it is named after my guru.”

Some of the many popular ghazals sung by Ghulam Ali would be “Hungama hai kyon barpa”, “Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi” and “Chupke chupke raat din” (from B.R. Chopra’s movie Nikaah).

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3. Reshma: The lady who introduced us to the charm of earthy voice

As a child, she sang at mazars and eventually went on to becoming the renowned folk singer of Pakistan. But the magic in Reshma’s voice was so entrancing that it managed to garner a huge fandom in India as well. “Duma dum mast qalandar” (originally sung by Runa Laila) and “Lambi judai” became two of the many highly celebrated songs sung by Reshma.

What is astonishing to know is that even the deadliest of diseases like throat cancer could not deter the undying spirit of this super-talented lady. She was diagnosed with the fatal disease in the year 1980, yet she continued to travel and win accolades world over for her earthy voice and powerful singing. Reshma left us reminiscing of her mesmerizing voice on 3rd November 2013, after battling for life for a month in comma.

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4. Shafqat Amanat Ali: Shankar Mahadevan’s gift to Bollywood

Belonging to the 9th lineage of Patiala Gharana, Shafqat Amanat Ali was born to the legendary Pakistani classical and ghazal singer, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Shafqat was the former lead vocalist of the Pakistani band, Fuzön.

He was introduced to Bollywood by Shankar Mahadevan, and we can not thank Mahadevan enough for this amazing deed he did for the music industry of Bollywood. “Aankhon kay saagar”, “Mitwa” (Kabhi Alwida Na Kehna), “Dildaara” (Ra.One), “Tu hi mera” (Jannat 2), “Raske bhare tore naina” (Satyagraha) are a few of the many haunting songs sung by this amazing Pakistani classical singer.

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5. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: The King of Kings of Qawwali

This soulful singer has won hearts world over with his evocative Qawwalis. And he is rightly remembered as “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” (The King of Kings of Qawwali). The enigmatic force in this singer’s voice established him as a well-known world music artist, with him performing in over 40 countries!

The fact that the song “Afreen Afreen” still gives us goosebumps each time we listen to it, is a testament of  his poignant singing. Our very own living legend A.R. Rahman has always been a huge fan of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Khan had contributed the song “Gurus of Peace” to the ever famous album “Vande Matram”, which was composed by Rahman to celebrate the 50th anniversary of India’s independence. As a tribute to his late idol, Rahman released an entire album titled “Gurus of Peace”, featuring “Allah Ho” by Khan.

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6. Mehdi Hassan Khan: Shahanshah-e-Ghazal

This legendary ghazal singer from Pakistan is rightly remembered as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of ghazal. His haunting ghazals are also known to have influenced India’s very own late ghazal maestro, Jagjit Singh.

Once during a New Delhi concert in the year 1977, India’s nightingale Lata Mangeshkar was so awestruck by the soul-soothing vocals of Mehdi that she is even reported to have praised the singer by saying, “Aisa lagta hai ke unke gale mein bhagwan bolte hain” (it seems as though God sings through his throat). Mehdi is famously remembered as “Shahanshah-e-Ghazal” (King of Ghazal).

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7. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan- He started to sing with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan when he was just THREE!

Born into a family of classical singers and Qawwals, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan received training in classical music and Qawwali by his uncle, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Rahat had started to master the art of classical singing at an age when some kids can’t even voice the words right!

• From age 3 onward, Rahat had started singing with his uncle and his father.
• From age 7 on, he started taking formal lessons from his uncle.
• At age 9, he sang first time in public during funeral of his grandfather.
• At age 15, he was made the integral part of the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwal troupe, which was famous world over.

From “Mann ki lagan” (Paap) to “O re piya” (Aaja Nach Le), and to the very poignant “Main jahan rahu” (Namaste London), the list of enthralling songs sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan seem never ending.

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8. Adnan Sami – In addition to being a flawless singer, he is also the “fastest keyboard player”

Bearing a strong command over Western Classical/Semi-Classical music, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Indian Classical music, Fusion & Indian Film music; Adnan Sami is undoubtedly one of the most versatile musicians bearing not only Pakistani, but also Indian and Afghan ancestry. And not just this! He is also the record holder of being the ‘Fastest Keyboard player in the world & the Keyboard Discovery of the Nineties’ (as described by the US based Keyboard Magazine).

Having given many classic hits like “Kabhi toh nazar milao” and “Bheegi bheegi raaton mei”, Adnan is also a proud winner of several international awards.

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And it is not just the field of Qawwali and Ghazal…

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…but Pakistani singers continue to flourish in the field of pop music as well. Atif Aslam, Faakhir Mehmood, Imran Khan and Ali Zafar are just a few of the most popular singers from Pakistan who continue to bind the two nations with their melodious voices.

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