Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is a renowned Indian classical singer who represents the 20th generation of dedicated Dhrupad singers from the Dagar family. He is the son of famous Dhrupad singer Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar. Faiyaz was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010. He is the President of Dagar Society of India.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar was born on Monday, 15 April 1968 (age 55 years; as in 2023) in Nizamuddin, Delhi. Their zodiac sign is Taurus. He grew up in Asiad Village, Khel Gaon, Delhi, surrounded by the powerful Dagar clan.
An old picture of Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar with his father
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper (semi-bald; occasionally dyes his hair black)
Eye colour: dark brown
Family
He belongs to a family of classical singers.
parents and siblings
His father, Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar, was a Dhrupad singer. He was born in 1934 and died in 1989. Wasif’s mother Begum Mahmuda Dagar died in 2014. He has four sisters named Neelu, Meenu, Guddu and Raju.
Ustad Nasir Fayyazuddin Dagar
Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar with his mother
Wife
In 2020, he married Zainab.
Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar and Zainab
other relatives
His grandfather Naseeruddin Khan was a singer who died in 1936.
A picture of Ustad Naseeruddin Khan Dagar
Wasif’s father, Nasir Fayyazuddin Dagar, had three brothers; Nasir Moinuddin Khan Dagar (1919–1966), Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar (1923–2000), and Ustad Nasir Zaheeruddin Dagar (1932–1994).
A picture of Ustad Moinuddin Khan Dagar
A photo of Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Khan Dagar
A photograph of Ustad Nasir Zaheeruddin Khan Dagar
Wasif’s uncles Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar performed as a duo and were known as the senior/elder Dagar Brothers. His father, Nasir Fayyazuddin Dagar, and uncle, Nasir Zaheeruddin, formed a very successful duo known as the Junior/Younger Dagar Brothers. Wasif’s other uncles (from his great-grandfather) have been honored for preserving the Dhrupad tradition in the years following Indian independence.
family tree
Ustad F. family tree of wasifuddin
livelihood
It all started at home
At the age of five, Wasif started taking music lessons at his home. From 1989 to 1994, Faiyaz worked under his father and uncle Ustad N. Took training from Zaheeruddin Dagar.
Young Wasifuddin Dagar holding a sitar
His grandfather’s younger brother, Ustad Rahimuddin Khan Dagar, a Dhrupad practitioner, instructed and prepared Faiyaz. His other uncle, Ustad N. Aminuddin Dagar and Ustad N. Mohiuddin Dagar also played an important role in his life. In an interview, he said that he studied under his uncles, Ustad R. Fahimuddin Dagar, Ustad Z. Learned a lot from Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad H. Sayeeduddin Dagar.
A picture of young Wasifuddin Dagar
Wasif’s live performance
On 25 February 1989, Wasifuddin Dagar gave his first performance in front of the audience; Where he sang with his uncle Ustad Zaheeruddin Dagar. His first recordings were released in India, Switzerland and Japan in 1992. Since then, he has recorded for many well-known record labels in many countries, including Switzerland, Japan and the United States.
Wasifuddin Dagar performing with his uncle Zaheeruddin Dagar
Since 2000, Dagar has toured many countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and North American countries, where he performed Dhrupad. In 2000, he gave his first solo live performance of the Hindustani classical raga Raga Bihag. In 2001, he performed at the World Festival of Sacred Music, the main sponsor of which is the Dalai Lama. The maestro has also performed at many high level events such as the United Nations Peace Summit and UNESCO, France. He has represented his ragas and suras at many prestigious universities including the Smithsonian Institution, Yale University, Washington University, Stanford University and the University of California. He coordinates and participates in the Dhrupad festivals started by his father and uncle in Delhi and Jaipur. Along with this, Wasif has also appeared on television and radio including AurovilleRadio.
Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar performing in Auroville, Puducherry
Wasif Dagar graced the events Le Festival de Fas des Musiques Sacres du Monde 2015 (English transl. The Fas Festival of Sacred Music of the World 2015), Delhi Darbar 2019 and Delhi Classical Music Festival 2021 with his presence and performances.
Wasifuddin Dagar performing at Le Festival de Faces des Musiques Sacres du Monde 2015
She has performed in several workshops including the Dhrupad Singing Seminar held in Amelia and a concert in Assisi, Italy in 2018.
Poster of Dhrupad Singing Seminar in Italy in 2018
Over the years, he has developed subtle adjustments and improvements using volume and sound application to express different shades of the same musical theme. Wasif balances a busy music schedule with advising many students; Carrying forward his family traditions.
A picture of Wasifuddin Dagar while training his students
controversies
claiming copyright for a melody
In 2023, Wasifuddin Dagar claimed that the tune of the song ‘Veera Veera’ sung by AR Rahman in the film Ponniyin Selvan: II was copied and sung in the same Tandava style in which his father and uncle sang their Shiva hymns. Mani Ratnam’s production house reportedly sent a letter to the producers of the film Ponniyin Selvan: I and II and lawyers of Madras Talkies, stating that the song is not a copy of the Dagar Brothers’ composition in any way. , Describing Wasifuddin’s copyright claim as a “misconception”, he also suggested that he was doing so to gain publicity and for monetary purposes. According to the production house, the song is a traditional composition written by Narayana Panditacharya in the 13th century. While talking to the media, Wasifuddin said that AR Rahman spoke to him on call and told that the production team of the film will be in touch with him but that’s all. he adds,
I wish Madras Talkies and Mr. Rahman had taken the family’s permission. I would never have said no. But doing it this way for large-scale commercial gain is very problematic. The composition has just been picked up and sung in the same Tandava style…the only difference is the arrangement of the piece.
The letter sent by the lawyers of Madras Talkies also stated that the Dhrupad style was actually originated by Swami Haridas and no one can claim monopoly on the ‘style of singing’. Later, S Anand, who is a student of Wasif and also the founder of the publishing house Navayan, spoke about this in a media interaction and said that although AR Rahman has given credit to Dagarwani, the lawyers commented that it was Narayan. There was a Shiva stuti used by Panditacharya. There was a Sanskrit mantra while the junior Dagar Brothers’ Bandish is in Braj language.
received eviction notice
Wasif has been living in house no. since childhood. 379 in KP Thakkar Block, Asiad Village, Delhi, but in 2022, he received an eviction notice from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs asking him to vacate the government-allotted accommodation. The family had to leave ‘Dhrupada’s house’ after living there for 34 years. Twenty-seven other Indian classical artistes and dancers, including Kuchipudi dancer Guru V Jayaram Rao and Mohiniyattam dancer Bharathi Shivaji, also received the same notice. Later, some of them petitioned the court to be sympathetic to their “unfortunate conditions” such as their old age and financial condition. However, his arguments were later ignored by the Delhi High Court. Talking about this in an interview, Wasif said,
We will sit and see what we can do (after the Delhi High Court decision). It is clearly not easy for a person like me to buy a house in Delhi…but I really don’t understand why these 10-15 houses are troubling them (the government) so much? What is their big agenda behind this? We, the artistes, on our part have always stood up for the government, the national interest and represented India as cultural ambassadors on international platforms.”
Respect
Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar was awarded the Padma Shri in 2010.
Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar was awarded the Padma Shri by then President Pratibha Patil in 2010
Facts/General Knowledge
- His family lovingly calls him Bachchu.
- He is a descendant of Swami Haridas Dagar (1480–1573), who was the guru of Miyan Tansen.
- In 1992, the concerts and music of Wasif and his uncle Zaheer were the subject of a French television documentary titled Dagarvani by Renuka George.
- Most of Wasifuddin’s performances have been the subject of discussion in many major media houses including The Washington Post and The New York Times.
- She likes to write in her diary.
First page of diary F. Posted by Wasifuddin Dagar
- Dagar is attracted to art and likes to do calligraphy in his spare time.
Calligraphy of Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar
- Since childhood, he romanticized being a ‘Dilli-wala’ (Delhi resident) and wrote many poems about it.
There is a settlement for many centuries. There is a settlement for many centuries. There is a settlement for many centuries. Delhi is a settlement in the heart.
City of histories, many histories live here, among those who live here, here in the hearts of all
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn