Shafqat Amanat Ali is a Pakistani classical singer. He was the lead singer of the Pakistani rock band ‘Fuzon’.
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Wiki/Biography
Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was born on 26 February 1965 (age 54 years; as in 2019) in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. His zodiac sign is Pisces. He did his graduation from Government College University, Lahore.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 7″
Weight (Approx): 85 kg
Body Measurements (Approx): Chest 41″, Waist 33″, Biceps 13″
Eye colour: dark brown
Hair Color: Black
Family, Caste and Wife
He belongs to the Patiala Gharana and is in the ninth generation of the dynasty. His father, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, was a classical and ghazal singer.
Shafqat Amanat Ali’s father, Ustad Amanat Ali
His mother’s name is Almas Amanat Ali Khan. He had two elder brothers, the eldest being Amjad Amanat Ali Khan and Asad Amanat Ali Khan. Both of them were singers.
Shafqat Amanat Ali with his brother Asad Amanat Ali Khan
He is married and has a son named Saadat Shafqat Amanat Ali, who is a singer.
Shafqat Amanat Ali’s son, Saadat Shafqat Amanat Ali
livelihood
He started his career as a band member of the band “Fuzone”, established in 2001. He was the lead singer of the band and the first album released by the band was “Sagar (2002)”.
First album of Shafqat Amanat Ali’s band Fuzon
Shafqat left the band in 2006 to pursue his solo career. First Album She made her debut as a solo singer in 2006 with the song “Rog Jog”, the title track of “Makan (TV Series)”. He released his debut album, “Tabeer”, in 2008.
Shafqat Amanat Ali’s first album, Tabeer
She made her film debut as a singer in 2006 with the song “Mitva” from the Bollywood film “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna”. This song became very famous.
He was highly appreciated for the song “Yeh Hosla” from the film “Door (2006)”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z089cvQhHqI
He made his debut as a singer in a Pakistani film in 2008 with the film “Ramchand Pakistani”. He sang 3 songs in the film.
Chronicle of the ‘Cursed’ Song
There is a cursed ghazal from Pakistan, whose wrath Shafqat’s family and people associated with it had to bear. His family members and Pakistani singers are still afraid to sing it. The ghazal ‘Insha Ji Utho (Get up, Insha)’ was written by Pakistani poet Ibn-e-Insha.
Poet, Ibn-e-Insha
Someone presented this poem to Shafqat’s father Amanat Ali Khan and he immediately expressed his desire to sing the song. Amanat met Ibn-e-Insha and told him how he intended to sing a ghazal. He first presented this ghazal in Pakistan Television (PTV) in January 1974. Soon, the song became more in demand and the song became their biggest hit. Unfortunately he died a few months later. Soon, producer Khalil Ahmed also died. Four years later, Ibn-e-Insha also died on the same day the song was first aired on PTV in January 1978. Shafqat’s elder brother, Asad Amanat Ali Khan, also performed the song in a music program on PTV in 2006. Sadly, the concert turned out to be his last concert as he also died a few months later. Shafqat’s eldest brother Amjad Amanat Ali Khan, who used to sing this song, also died. When Ibn-i-Insha was about to die, he wrote several letters to his close friends from his hospital bed. In one such letter he says, “How many lives will this ill-fated ghazal take…? (How many more lives will this cursed ghazal take?)
Insha Rise Up by Ibn-e-Insha
However, Shafqat does not believe in this superstition but still does not sing this song as his family has forbidden him not to sing it.
controversies
- He faced the wrath of Pakistanis after messing with the lyrics of the Pakistan national anthem during Pakistan’s World T20 match against India at the Eden Gardens in 2016. He was selected to represent Pakistan. Giving clarification on all the allegations, he said that he did not sing wrong but there were some technical flaws due to which he faced difficulties in singing.
- Shafqat attributes his separation from the band to ‘insecurity’. In an interview, his band ‘Fuzon’ members, Emu (Imran Momina) – keyboard and Shalam Asher Xavier – guitarist said that Shafqat has taken over the finances of the band and is also performing solo in India. Shafqat clarified that he started performing in India only after leaving the band. He further adds that while the band members have stated somewhere that they composed the album, in fact, they sang the vocals, wrote the music and lyrics but were not given any credit for it.
Awards and Honors
- He was awarded the Presidential Award (awarded by the Government of Pakistan to Pakistani citizens) for distinction in performance on 23 March 2008.
- Music Awards for Most Wanted Male 2008
Favourite Things
- Musicians: RD Burman, SD Burman, Beethoven Van, Lionel Richie, George Michael, Boy George and The Bangles
- Poet: Bulleh Shah, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Mirza Ghalib
fact
- He likes photography in his spare time.
- Although Shafqat hails from a family of classical singers, she specializes in fusion music.
- He once revealed that his first salary was just Rs 3000, which he got from working as a school teacher in a school. Following his family customs, he handed over the entire amount to his grandfather.
- Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan, a singer and leading exponent of the Patiala Gharana, was his uncle.
Shafqat Amanat Ali’s uncle, elder Fateh Ali Khan with his father Amanat Ali Khan
- He is greatly influenced by his father Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, his uncles Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan and Roshan Ara Begum.
- He received a roll of honor from the Music Society of Government College University, Lahore.
- He has also worked in shows like Coke Studio (Pakistan) and The Wallist (musical TV reality show, India).
- He was awarded the President’s Award for Excellence in Performance in 2008, making him the sixth recipient of this honour.
- His nickname ‘Rockstar Ustad’ was given to him by Salim Merchant. During the recording of ‘Yeh Honsla’ both of them were meeting each other for the first time. Salim thought that Shafqat would be the one who would come wearing kurta-pajama with shawl. But when Shafqat arrived, he was in jeans, T-shirt and had tied his hair in a ponytail. It was a surprise that Salim was and when he heard him singing classically, the nickname naturally rolled off his tongue.
- In an interview, Shafqat told that she was rejected many times in the industry. He said that he went to many places but was told that his voice lacked certain things and that he should try harder; On the other hand, those with lesser voice quality were selected. He further adds that the only difference between him and the rest was that she had connections in the industry and he did not.
- After he started performing in India, he was noticed by Shankar Mahadevan. Later, it was he who offered her “Mitva” from the film “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006)”.
Shafqat Amanat Ali with Shankar Mahadevan
- One of his most popular songs is “Khamaj- Mora Saiya Mo Se Bole Na”, this song was one of the singles sung by him when he was a member of the band ‘Fuzone’.
- In 2018, Shafqat sang “Vaishnav Jan To” on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The song was sent through the Indian High Commission to Pakistan as a gift and means to promote unity between India and Pakistan.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn