Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the legendary qawwali singer who brought international recognition to Pakistan, is being remembered 29 years after his death.
The legendary musician died Aug. 16, 1997, at the age of 48, after suffering from liver and kidney problems. His songs and qawwalis continue to remain popular among music lovers. Born in Faisalabad in 1948 to renowned qawwal Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat belonged to a respected musical family. His family had moved from Jalandhar in eastern Punjab to Faisalabad around the time Pakistan was created. His father and uncle, Mubarak Ali Khan, were also renowned qawwals.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan dedicated his life to learning qawwali and introducing the art to audiences in both the East and West. He began following the Sufi style at the age of 16 and later gained fans around the world. He performed in Urdu, Punjabi and Persian and also sang ghazals and national songs. His patriotic song “Mera Paigham Pakistan” became especially popular.
He released 125 audio albums as a qawwal, a feat recognized as a world record. Some of his most famous works include “Dum Mast Qalandar Mast Mast,” “Ali Maula Ali,” “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai,” “Mera Piya Ghar Aaya” and “Allah Hoo Allah Hoo.”
His international career received a major boost after his work on the 1995 film “Dead Man Walking.” He later composed music for “The Last Temptation of Christ.” He also worked on several Bollywood movies, including “Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya,” “Kachche Dhaage” and “Kartoos,” and received widespread praise for “Dulhe Ka Sehra” from “Dhadkan.”
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan combined Eastern classical music with modern Western sounds, creating a unique style that attracted a younger generation. His qawwali “Dum Mast Qalandar Mast Mast,” produced with Peter Gabriel, helped introduce his music to a much wider international audience. He had earlier performed at the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the United States and was later invited to teach music at the University of Washington.
His musical work covered qawwali, ghazal, classical and semi-classical styles. He also gave new life to folk poetry and the work of contemporary poets. Songs such as “San Charkhe Di Mithhi Mithhi Kook” and “Saanson Ki Mala” attracted many listeners who had not previously followed qawwali.
He also composed music for the Bollywood film “Bandit Queen.” Through his powerful voice and distinctive style, Nusrat introduced Sufi poetry and devotional music to audiences around the world.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan received many national and international awards during his career. His achievements also helped raise Pakistan’s profile in countries where the country was not widely known.
His music represents only part of a remarkable career that transformed qawwali and took Pakistani music to audiences far beyond the country’s borders. Nearly three decades after his death, his voice remains one of the most celebrated in South Asian music.
