Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan ( ur, ; ; born 26 February 1965) is a Pakistani pop and classical singer, songwriter, and composer belonging to the Patiala Gharana tradition of music. He was the lead vocalist of the Pakistani pop rock band Fuzön until 2006 and is a prominent

playback singer A playback singer, also known as a ghost singer, is a singer whose singing is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras; the actual singer does not ap ...

in the Indian film industry. The youngest son of noted classical vocalist

Ustad Ustād or ostād (abbreviated as Ust., Ut. or Ud.; from Persian ) is an honorific title used in West Asia, North Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is used in various languages such as Persian, , Azerbaijani, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Marat ...

Amanat Ali Khan, Ali started his musical training at the age of four under the tutelage of his uncle,

Bade Fateh Ali Khan Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan ( ur, ; ; 1935 – 4 January 2017) was among the foremost Khyal vocalists in Pakistan, and a leading exponent of the Patiala Gharana tradition of music. He was the younger of the legendary singing duo Amanat Ali an ...

, who was widely regarded as the foremost exponent of

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sit ...

in Pakistan. Ali rose to prominence in both

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

and

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

with the lead single "Aankhon Ke Saagar" and the song "Khamaj" (also known as "Mora Saiyaan") from Fuzön's debut album, '' Saagar'' (2002). In 2006, Ali went on to achieve breakthrough success in

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" ...

with two songs – "

Mitwa "Mitwa" () is a popular Hindi song from the 2006 Hindi film ''Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'' directed by Karan Johar, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Amitabh Bachchan and Kirron Kher. The song is composed by Sha ...

" (from the film '' Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'') and "Yeh Honsla" (from the film '' Dor''). Both songs earned Ali significant commercial success and critical acclaim, and helped him quickly establish himself as a

in the Indian film industry. Since his Bollywood debut with ''Mitwa'', Ali has sung prolifically for Bollywood movie soundtracks, with "Bin Tere" ''(

I Hate Luv Storys ''I Hate Luv Storys'' is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Punit Malhotra and produced under Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Ronnie Screwvala's UTV Motion Pictures. It stars Imran Khan and Sonam ...

)'', "Kyun Main Jaagoon" ''(

Patiala House The Patiala House is the former residence of the Maharaja of Patiala in Delhi. It is situated near India Gate in central Delhi, India. History It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The building has a central dome with a "butterfly" layout, sim ...

)'', "Dildaara" ''( Ra.One)'', " Phir Le Aya Dil" ''( Barfi!)'', "Tu Hi Mera" ''(

Jannat 2 ''Jannat 2'' () is an Indian 2012 Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Kunal Deshmukh. It is a spiritual sequel to his 2008 film '' Jannat'' and stars Emraan Hashmi, Esha Gupta and Randeep Hooda. ''Jannat 2'' was released on 4 Ma ...

)'', and "Darmiyaan" ''(

Jodi Breakers ''Jodi Breakers'' () is a 2012 Hindi language Indian romantic comedy film directed by Ashwini Chaudhary. The film features R. Madhavan and Bipasha Basu in the leading roles with Milind Soman, Dipannita Sharma, Omi Vaidya and Mrinalini Sharma ...

)'' being some of his most popular Hindi movie songs. Ali is well known for his numerous live performances in ''Coke Studio Pakistan'' where he has collaborated with

Rohail Hyatt Rohail Hyatt ( Urdu: روحیل حیات) is a Pakistani record producer, keyboardist, and composer. As record producer, Hyatt is largely credited with pioneering Pakistani pop rock music by incorporating western rock and pop influences. I ...

and Strings (among others) and has performed original music composed for ''Coke Studio'' as well as modified renditions of his own songs. His three solo albums – '' Tabeer'' (2008)'',

Kyun Dooriyan ''Kyun Dooriyan'' (; ) is the second solo studio album by Pakistani classical and pop singer, songwriter, and composer Shafqat Amanat Ali, released in India on March 2, 2010 by the Music Today label. Background ''Kyun Dooriyan'' was released tw ...

'' (2010), and '' Muh Dikhai'' (2015) – were well received in both India and Pakistan. Ali is particularly noted for his Sufi style of singing, and several of his songs feature mystical themes and references to Sufi philosophies. In 2015–16, he served as a judge and coach on

Zee TV Zee TV (stylised as ZEE TV) is a Hindi general entertainment pay television Pay television, also known as subscription television, premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel, refers to subscription-ba ...

's '' Asia's Singing Superstar'' along with

Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan (born 3 March 1967) is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that writes music for Indian films. Personal life and early career Shankar Mahadevan was born in Chembur, Mumbai into a Tam ...

. Ali was awarded the highest national literary award of Pakistan, the Presidential

Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance ( ur, ), officially known as Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sports, an ...

, on 23 March 2008 for his contributions to the arts, making him the sixth person in his family to receive the honour. In July 2020, he was included on the New York Press News Agency's list of the ''100 Most Influential People in Asia/UK/EU''. According to data released by Spotify in February 2022, Ali is among the most streamed Pakistani artistes in the world.

Early life and background

Shafqat Amanat Ali was born into a Punjabi Muslim family in

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second List of cities in Pakistan by population, most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th List of largest cities, most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is th ...

to noted classical singer,

Amanat Ali Khan and his wife Almas Amanat Ali Khan, on 26 February 1965, making him the seventh generation of the Patiala Gharana, which was founded in the mid-late 19th century by his great grandfather, Ali Baksh 'Jarnail' Khan. He is one of seven siblings, the youngest brother of prominent vocalist

Asad Amanat Ali Khan Asad Amanat Ali Khan ( ur, ; ; 25 September 1955 – 8 April 2007) was a Pakistani classical vocalist and ''ghazal'' singer belonging to the Patiala Gharana tradition of music. In a career spanning 32 years, Khan sang over 1,000 songs for Pa ...

, and nephew to renowned Patiala Gharana exponents,

and

Hamid Ali Khan.

Musical training and influences

Being born into a traditional vocal gharana, Ali has shared that music was his "only calling in life" and that he always aspired to become a singer because he wanted to carry forward his family's musical legacy. Ali began training in classical music at the age of four and has stated that he "never had to look outside hehome for musical influences." He considers his grandmother his first teacher and lists his grandfather,

Akhtar Hussain as his guru, recollecting that his earliest memory is of his grandfather teaching him a composition as a three-year-old. Referring to his initial training with his grandmother, Ali narrates, "The discipline she inculcated in me and the way in which she passed on anecdotes of ''

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as ...

s'' led me to an understanding of each ''

bandish Bandish, cheez or gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhawaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, ...

''." Ali completed his musical training primarily under the tutelage of his uncle,

, but has stated that he learned music from his brothers, sisters, and aunts as well. Ali was only nine years old when he lost his father, but considers him his greatest inspiration and influence in his craft and creative process. In an interview, while referring to his father, he revealed: "I have always wanted to be like him, sing like him, look like him. He is my inspiration. It is a compliment for me if someone says that I sound like him." Ali has also shared that some of his vocal techniques are inspired by his older brother,

: "I have borrowed a few things from him which I incorporate both in my performances and songwriting. Since we both followed our father, sometimes people say that I sound both like my father and brother, and this makes me particularly happy." Ali has described his upbringing as being fairly strict and recalls that he (along with his brothers and cousins) was expected to train rigorously and do ''

riyaz Riyaz () is the systematic practice of music, dance or any other art form usually under the guidance of a teacher or preceptor. In Hindustani classical music tradition, it is employed as a repertoire of exercises to cultivate the musicality of on ...

'' (practice) for several hours a day as a child — around four training sessions a day every two hours. He notes: "Growing up, music was all around us day in and day out and every elder could correct us and guide us. The endless practice sessions seemed boring and tedious as a child. Each nuance had to be practiced again and again, till we could perfect it as per the standards of our elders. And they would then command us to practice some more. The practice had to be done sitting cross-legged on the floor and one's legs would hurt. It was both emotionally and physically draining, but in hindsight this was a small price to pay for achieving perfection in our art''.''" Similarly, in another interview, Ali stated: "we were constantly given feedback on our singing...which continued for seven to eight hours per day or basically anytime we were not in school. Everyone in the family knew music so anyone who would pass by and hear me doing ''riyaz'' would correct me if I was going wrong or attempting something difficult." Ali has mentioned that although growing up in a family of distinguished singers and musicians helped him learn music well and hone his vocal skills, it also created myriad expectations and pressures, stating: "Being someone from Patiala Gharana is not easy. People expect a lot from you and there is lot of pressure to live up to that." Exposed to numerous genres of music from a young age, Ali gravitated towards Sufi music fairly early on, drawn to its emphasis on humanism, spirituality, peace, and tolerance. He recalls visiting and spending time in various

dargah A dargah ( fa, درگاه ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargah'' दरगाह درگاہ, bn, দরগাহ ''dorgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often ...

s as a child and being enthralled by

qawwali Qawwali (Punjabi language, Punjabi: (Shahmukhi), (Gurmukhi); Urdu: (Nastaʿlīq, Nasta'liq); Hindi: क़व्वाली (Devanagari); Bengali language, Bengali: কাওয়ালি (Bengali alphabet, Bengali)) is a form of Sufi Isl ...

and other forms of devotional music being sung by

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...

practitioners. Ali asserts that these early experiences with

expression and philosophies helped him develop his own approach to music later in life. Ali has mentioned in various interviews that he is an admirer of

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (2 April 1902 – 23 April 1968) was an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist, from the Patiala gharana.Pandit Jasraj,

Ravi Shankar Ravi Shankar (; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury, sometimes spelled as Rabindra Shankar Chowdhury; 7 April 1920 – 11 December 2012) was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso, he became the world's best-known export of North In ...

Manna Dey Prabodh Chandra Dey (May 1, 1919 − October 24, 2013), known by his stage name Manna Dey, was an internationally acclaimed and celebrated Indian playback singer, music director, and a musician. As a classical vocalist, he belonged to the Bhe ...

S. D. Burman Sachin Dev Burman (1 October 1906 – 31 October 1975) was an Indian music director and singer. A member of the Tripura royal family, he started his career with Bengali films in 1937. He later began composing for Hindi movies and became one ...

, R. D. Burman, and Roshan Ara Begum, and he lists

Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar (born as Abhas Kumar Ganguly (); 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian playback singer and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest, most influential and dynamic singers in the history of Indian music. He ...

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar () (born as Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 06 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is widely considered to have been the greatest and most influential singers in India. Her con ...

, and Asha Bhonsle as his favourite playback singers.

Education

Ali attended Rang Mahal Mission High School and Sacred Heart High School in Lahore and describes himself as an average student. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1988 from

Government College University, Lahore The Government College University, Lahore (colloquially known as GCU), is a public research university located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Opened as Government College, Lahore, in 1864, it became a university in 2002. Overview In 1864, Go ...

(now known as GC University). He regularly took part in music competitions while in high school, and as a college student, performed regularly in music festivals and shows in Lahore and beyond, quickly establishing himself in the local music scene. Ali notes that listening to

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics an ...

The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts ...

, and

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over ...

while in college was especially impactful for him, helping him learn how to dissect rhythm, explore similarities across musical genres, and fuse them together. He describes that "there was a sense of adventure nlistening to these divergent sounds" and that "when I would hear these western songs, I would often do ''

alap The Alap (; ) is the opening section of a typical North Indian classical performance. It is a form of melodic improvisation that introduces and develops a raga. In dhrupad singing the alap is unmetered, improvised (within the raga) and unaccompan ...

'' over hemand incorporate classical improvisations no these songs." Ali was the first person in his family to go to college and graduated with the Roll of Honour from the Music Society of Government College University, in addition to being the college colour-holder in music.

Career

2001–2004: Career beginnings, Fuzön, and rise to prominence

After graduating from college, Ali worked briefly as a high school music teacher in Lahore. Subsequently, he moved to Karachi, Pakistan to work with various composers, producers, and music arrangers to get his first music album off the ground. He describes this period of his life as a time of struggle and remembers sleeping many a night inside vocal booths and in the lobbies of recording studios. Due to several issues, his initial album did not eventually receive a release by the record label he had been working with. During this period, he sang numerous jingles for TV commercials while simultaneously continuing to work on his own music, recalling in an interview, "I cannot forget my days of struggle in Karachi, I did everything that came my way, right from singing jingles to voiceovers and every other odd job related to singing." Ali recollects that at this stage of his career as a struggling artiste, he was grateful for the support extended to him by his older brother, Asad. It was during this time that Ali met his soon-to-be bandmates, and together they went on to form the pop rock band Fuzön in 2001. Ali describes that the name of the band was a reference to their unique brand of music that 'fused' together elements of modern

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, ear ...

with traditional

Hindustani classical Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sita ...

, Pakistani folk, and Sufi music. "Aankhon Ke Saagar" was the first song to be composed and recorded for their debut album ''Saagar'' (2002, Empire Music and

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a world ...

), followed by "Khamaj" ("Mora Saiyaan")'','' and both songs went on to become enormously popular in both Pakistan and neighbouring India. The songs "Khamaj (Mora Saiyaan)" and "Teray Bina" from ''Saagar'' were featured in the soundtrack of Nagesh Kukunoor's 2004 film, ''

Hyderabad Blues 2 ''Hyderabad Blues 2'' is a 2004 Indian drama film written, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. The film is a direct sequel to Kukunoor's earlier work ''Hyderabad Blues'' produced by Kukunoor, Devika Bahudhanam, and Elahe Hiptoola. Kukunoor for his por ...

''. ''Saagar'' also made history by becoming the first studio album to be released by a band simultaneously in both India and Pakistan.

2006: Breakthrough in Bollywood and rising popularity

Ali was introduced to the Indian film industry by singer and music composer

. One morning while driving to his studio, Mahadevan heard ''Aankhon Ke Saagar'' on the radio and immediately called the radio jockey who was his friend, to get Ali's contact information. Ali eventually went on to sing the massively popular Sufi rock ballad "

," composed by

Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy () is an Indian musical trio consisting of Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa. They have composed music for over 50 soundtracks across five languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and English. Amongst ...

for the soundtrack of the film '' Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'' (2006). The song topped musical charts across India and received widespread critical acclaim, helping propel Ali into stardom. The same year, Ali also sang the song "Yeh Honsla" (composed by Salim–Sulaiman) from the Hindi film '' Dor''. Ali garnered significant critical acclaim for this song, which he described as "simple, uncomplicated and serene – a true prayer to the soul." Since his

debut with ''Mitwa'', Ali has worked prolifically as a

for Hindi movies, with "Bin Tere" ''(

),'' " Phir Le Aya Dil" ''( Barfi!),'' "Teri Jhuki Nazar" ''( Murder 3),'' "Dildaara" ''( Ra.One),'' "Darmiyaan" ''(

),'' "Kyun Main Jagoon" ''(

),'' "Tu Hi Mera" ''(

),'' and "Tere Naina" ''(

My Name Is Khan ''My Name Is Khan'', is a 2010 social drama film directed by Karan Johar and written by Shibani Bathija and lyricist Niranjan Iyengar. It was produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Gauri Khan under their production companies, Dharma Productions ...

)'' being some of his most popular Hindi film songs. Ali collaborates frequently with Indian film composers

Pritam Pritam Chakraborty (born 14 June 1971), also known mononymously as Pritam, is an Indian composer, instrumentalist, guitarist, and singer. After working as an ad jingles composer, he debuted as a co-composer in the 2001 Hindi film Tere Liye. ...

, Vishal–Shekhar, and Salim–Sulaiman.

2008: First solo album and notable collaborations

After leaving the band Fuzön in 2006, Ali chose to focus on his solo career as a vocalist. Based on folk and

works, his debut solo album '' Tabeer'' was commissioned by the Music Today label and released in September 2008. ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

'' magazine described the album as a modern reworking of "traditional Sufi poetry." The video of the lead single of the album, "Khaireyan De Naal," was aired on all music channels in India and Pakistan. Ali composed and sang a modified version of this song for the Bollywood movie '' Tevar'' in 2015''.'' In 2008, Ali sang the songs "Phir Wohi Raastey" and "Allah Megh De" for the multi-award-winning Pakistani film '' Ramchand Pakistani'' which highlighted the plight of cross-border prisoners in both India and Pakistan. Also in 2008, Ali wrote, composed, and sang the song "Paiman" to raise awareness about maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing. The song and its music video were part of a

USAID The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bi ...

-funded

health communication Health communication is the study and practice of communicating promotional health information, such as in public health campaigns, health education, and between doctor and patient. The purpose of disseminating health information is to influence ...

initiative called PAIMAN (Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns), with partner support from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs and

Aga Khan University Aga Khan University is a non-profit institution and an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network. It was Founded in 1983 as Pakistan's first private university. Starting in 2000, the university expanded to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Ki ...

among others. The same year, Ali collaborated with Strings, Shuja Haider,

Hadiqa Kiyani Hadiqa Kiani (in Punjabi and ur, ) is a Pakistani singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, composer, actress, and philanthropist. She has received numerous local and international awards and also has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and The Kennedy ...

, and

Ali Zafar Ali Zafar ( pa, ; born 18 May 1980) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, model, actor, producer, screenwriter and painter. Zafar started out on Pakistani television before becoming a popular musician. He later also established a career in Bol ...

(among others) on a song called " Yeh Hum Naheen," which was part of an anti-terrorism campaign aimed at projecting a softer and positive image of Pakistan and Islam to other nations. The song led to a record-breaking 62.8 million Pakistanis signing a petition to uphold the message of the campaign.

2009–2011: Second solo album and work in ''Coke Studio''

In 2009, Ali featured prominently in

Season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * '' 2econd Season'' See also

* {{disambig ...

of ''Coke Studio Pakistan'', where he performed three of his songs — "Khamaaj," "Aankhon Ke Saagar," and "Ajab Khail" — with variations in arrangement and orchestration, produced by

, the co-creator of ''Coke Studio''. In the same season, he also sang the song "Mahi Ve," for which he collaborated with the Canadian Bhangra band Josh. Ali released his second solo album ''

'' in 2010, under the Music Today label. It included a couple of songs — "Paharhi" and "Naal Naal" — he had written and composed during his time with Fuzön, which he revamped for the album. ''Kyun Dooriyan'' was a stylistic departure for Ali in that many of its songs had a distinct rock feel, compared to his previous album, ''Tabeer,'' which was significantly mellower in tone and thematically more spiritual. The title track of the album, "Kyun Dooriyan," was initially written as a love song, but Ali eventually reworked it as a message of peace and reconciliation between India and Pakistan. The song received a nomination in the 'Indie Pop Song of the Year' category at the 3rd Mirchi Music Awards in 2011, as did the romantic ballad "Mahiya." In 2011, Ali appeared in Season 1 of ''Coke Studio India'', where he sang four songs produced by Leslee Lewis, including modified renditions of "Akhian" (from ''Saagar'') and "Kya Haal Sunawan" (from ''Kyun Dooriyan''). The same year, he also wrote, composed, and sang the song "Yahaan," which was aimed at highlighting the natural beauty and diversity of the

Gilgit-Baltistan Gilgit-Baltistan (; ), formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constituting the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region which has been the subject of a dispute bet ...

region and promoting cultural tourism in the area.

2012–2015: Third solo album and work in ''MTV Unplugged''

In 2012, Ali performed six songs on MTV Unplugged India (Season 2), including reinterpreted versions of "Aankhon Ke Saagar," "Khamaj (Mora Saiyaan)"'','' and "Yeh Honsla." He also wrote and performed a new song — "Manmaniyan" ''—'' in the same season, composed by noted film score composer Ranjit Barot, a long-time associate of

A. R. Rahman Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...

. In 2014, Ali sang the song "Jeenay Chaley" for the soundtrack of the critically acclaimed film ''

Dukhtar ''Dukhtar'' (; ) is a 2014 Pakistani drama-thriller film directed by Afia Nathaniel. The film stars Samiya Mumtaz, Mohib Mirza, Saleha Aref, Asif Khan, Ajab Gul and Samina Ahmad. The film is Afia Nathaniel's feature directorial debut; she als ...

'' which criticised the practice of child marriage in Pakistan. The film was Pakistan's official submission for

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the

87th Academy Awards The 87th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2014 and took place on February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 ...

in 2015. Shafqat Amanat Ali's third solo album '' Muh Dikhai: Unveiling The Songs Of Eternal Love'' was released in March 2015 under the Times Music label and included songs in both

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...

and

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

languages. The album featured an assortment of sentimental ballads, pop, and Sufi devotional songs. Ali did not focus on any specific genre for this album, choosing to experiment with orchestration and arrangements instead. The album included a reimagined rendition of the popular ''

ghazal The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...

,'' "Dil Dharhaknay Ka Sabab," originally composed by Ali's father, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, and written by prominent Pakistani poet

Nasir Kazmi Nasir Raza Kazmi ( ur, was an Urdu poet from Pakistan. Kazmi was born on 8 December 1925 at Ambala, Punjab, (British India). Kazmi used simple words in his poetry, including "Chand", "Raat", "Baarish", "Mausam", "Yaad", "Tanhai", "Darya" and ...

, with veteran Indian actor

Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah (born 20 July 1950) is an Indian actor. He is notable in Indian parallel cinema. He has also starred in international productions. He has won numerous awards in his career, including three National Film Awards, three Filmfare ...

featuring in the music video. The album also included the Sufi track "Rang," for which Ali adapted the well-known

, '' Aaj Rang Hai'', written by the 13th-century Sufi poet

Amir Khusrau Abu'l Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrau (1253–1325 AD), better known as Amīr Khusrau was an Indo-Persian Sufi singer, musician, poet and scholar who lived under the Delhi Sultanate. He is an iconic figure in the cultural history of the Indian sub ...

2017: Return to ''Coke Studio''

In 2017, after a long hiatus from ''Coke Studio Pakistan'', Ali appeared again in Season 10 and performed several songs: "Allahu Akbar" (a traditional ''

hamd Hamd ( ar, حمد, ḥamd, praise) is a word that exclusively praises God - whether written or spoken. Thus, The word "Hamd" is always followed by the name of God (Allah) - a phrase known as the Tahmid - "al-ḥamdu li-llāh" (Arabic: ) (English ...

'' written, composed, and directed by Shuja Haider) and "Maula Tera Noor" and "Bol" (both composed by

Shani Arshad Shani Arshad is a Pakistani film music director, songwriter, TV jingle composer, playback singer and record producer. He has composed music for various television serials and films including ''Actor in Law'', '' Na Maloom Afraad'', '' Load We ...

). Ali sang "Bol" as a musical tribute to eminent Pakistani poet

Faiz Ahmed Faiz Faiz Ahmad ''Faiz'' (13 February 1911 – 20 November 1984; Urdu, Punjabi: فیض احمد فیض) was a Pakistani poet, and author of Urdu and Punjabi literature. Faiz was one of the most celebrated Pakistani Urdu writers of his time. Out ...

, and received particular praise and critical acclaim for his dynamic vocal performance and versatility in "Allahu Akbar." He also sang the national anthem of Pakistan in the same season, along with

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Punjabi, ; born 9 December 1974) is a Pakistani Singer, primarily of Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music. Khan is one of the biggest and highest paid singers in Pakistan. He is the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan ...

Ali Sethi Ali Aziz Sethi (Urdu/; ; born July 2, 1984) is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, composer, and author. Sethi rose to prominence with his debut novel, '' The Wish Maker'' (2009). In 2012, Sethi began focusing on his musical career and made his film ...

Aima Baig Aima Noor-ul Ain Baig (, ; born 10 March 1995) is a Pakistani singer. She started her career in 2014 when she uploaded her songs onto SoundCloud, through which she was approached by different people. She is known for her appearances on Dunya N ...

, Quartulain Balouch, Shuja Haider,

Sahir Ali Bagga Sahir Ali Bagga (born 10 April 1980) is a Pakistani singer, music director and composer from Lahore, who composes music for Lollywood and other independent singers.Ahmed Jahanzeb Ahmed Jahanzeb Usmani ( ur, ; born 28 May 1978) is a Pakistani pop singer and composer.Strings. Reflecting on the legacy of ''Coke Studio Pakistan'' and his own contributions to it, Ali remarked: "''Coke Studio'' has played a big part in promoting Pakistani music globally. They've managed to bring our forte and our specialty to attention; these are the sounds that make Pakistani music different."

2019: Work with United Nations Pakistan

To commemorate International Youth Day in Pakistan in 2019, Ali sang the song "Aao Badlein Ik Achhey Kal Ke Liye" (), commissioned by

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

Pakistan to affirm Pakistan's commitment to the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".United Nations (2017) R ...

and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The song and its music video portrayed Pakistani youth as agents of social change and focused specifically on the issues of equity and inclusivity in education, poverty eradication, and gender equality.

2020–present

In 2020, Ali released a number of singles under the newly established UK-based South Asian record label Sufiscore, which was founded during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. Notable among these singles were "Lassi" and "Main Kya Janu," the latter being a musical tribute to Indian singer

K.L. Saigal Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947), was an Indian singer and actor who is considered the first superstar of the Hindi film industry, which was centred in Kolkata during Saigal's time, but is ...

. Also in 2020, under the Sufiscore label, Ali collaborated with classical vocalist Shafqat Ali Khan for a song titled "Shafqat with Shafqat," with the musical score being produced by the

Budapest Symphony Orchestra The Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (also known earlier as Budapest Symphony Orchestra) ( hu, Magyar Rádió Szimfonikus Zenekara; MRZE) is a Hungarian radio orchestra. It is part of the Hungarian Television and Broadcasting Organisation, Magya ...

. The same year, in response to the COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan, Ali released a prayer song titled "Hey Daata," which was an adaptation of a song originally composed and sung by his father Ustad Amanat Ali Khan during a period of drought in the subcontinent in the 1960s. In 2021, on the occasion of Pakistan's Defence Day, Ali collaborated with singers Abida Parveen and Sajjad Ali for a patriotic song titled "Mader-e-Meherban" which was released by ISPR, the media wing of the

Pakistan Armed Forces The Pakistan Armed Forces (; ) are the military forces of Pakistan. It is the world's sixth-largest military measured by active military personnel and consist of three formally uniformed services—the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, which are ...

. On September 30, 2022, Ali released his fifth album titled ''A Tribute to Legends: Ghulam Ali'' under the Sufiscore label. The album included seven songs ''—'' covers of originals sung by Ghulam Ali and

Noor Jehan Noor Jehan (Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Press ...

''—'' including "Bhul Jaan Sab Gham Duniya De" and "Jo Na Mil Sake Wohi Bewafa." Ali stated that his goal with this album was to revive classic melodies and pay tribute to the forgotten composers and music producers of Pakistan who "never really got the attention and kind of fame they deserved."

Artistry, musical style, and impact

Voice

Ali is widely acknowledged across the subcontinent as an "accomplished" and "impeccable" vocalist with a strong and deep voice. His vocals have been variously described as "soulful," "soothing," "haunting," "melodious," "emotive," and "effortless." He is often lauded for his "vocal histrionics," evocative vocal expressions, versatility, "expansive vocal range," and vocal depth and timbre. Ali is also noted for his unrestrained and intense singing style, raw and husky vocal texture, and his ability to hit high notes. Consistent with his classical training in the Patiala Gharana tradition, he is particularly adept at improvisations and intricate manoeuvres that require vocal agility such as '' taans'' and ''murkis''. Ali acknowledges his tenor-like ability to sing comfortably at a high-pitch and credits his brother,

, for helping him modulate his voice in the upper registers, stating: "...we have this ability to sing at a very high pitch. Normally when you reach...for the high notes, your voice gets shrill. From him sadI learnt the ability to control that and maintain certain roundness to the voice." Ali has said that he does not do anything specific to maintain his vocal health, but has mentioned in various interviews that diligent training and ongoing practice (''

'') are important to him, saying, "I think training is important because it proves that you are honest with your work.

Musical philosophy and creative process

Ali is known for his fusion-based, experimental approach to music and has been described as an "experimental classicist." He enjoys working with intersecting musical styles and blending elements of different genres together, contending that "music has no fixed rules" and that "one should not stick to one genre as a musician." Ali does not believe in limiting himself as a vocalist, claiming that "there are no set rules that music adheres to" and that artistes "shouldn't be too rigid about any form of music." In an interview, he asserted that this is typical of Patiala Gharana vocalists who are known for experimenting with new musical styles: "the gharana I belong to asalways loved to experiment with music. Whatever the genre, I always try out whatever comes my way." Describing his approach to composing music, Ali stated in an interview, "blending eastern classical with western pop rock is what I love to do the most." Infusing elements of classical ''ragas'' into his pop, soft rock, and Sufi compositions is therefore a distinctive feature of Shafqat Amanat Ali's music, especially salient in his albums, including '' Saagar'' in which as many as seven songs incorporate various elements from Hindustani classical ''ragas''. In all three of his solo albums, Ali similarly attempted to innovate and add a contemporary touch to traditional eastern classical music to reposition it in the global music scene. While not deliberately trying to break convention, he has experimented stylistically with ''ragas'' to make them more approachable and palatable for present-day audiences, asserting that "it's good to keep experimenting so that listeners do not get bored." He has also intentionally named some of his songs after the ''ragas'' they are based on. Given his family heritage and classical training, Ali believes that traditional classical music has an enduring appeal, but that artistes need to present it in a simpler and more relatable way to popularise it with audiences today, claiming that "classical ''gayaki'' (singing) works with the modern audiences only when it is complemented with contemporary panache." In a 2020 interview, while referring to "Khamaj (Mora Saiyaan)", now a cult classic song, Ali stated: "With ''Mora Saiyaan'', set in raga

Khamaj Khamaj () is a Hindustani classical Music raga within the Khamaj thaat which is named after it. Many ghazals and thumris are based on Khamaj. It utilises the shuddha (pure) form of Ni on the ascent, and the komala (flat) form of Ni on the desce ...

, I introduced the contemporary audience to a ''

thumri Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dr ...

''…that my elders had been singing for generations. This is the beauty and timelessness of our classical music." Similarly, in other interviews, he has noted that "it was important to carry the rich heritage of our forefathers, but we also must improvise to connect with the younger generation of listeners," because "it is important to keep good music alive — it's the soul of a civilisation."

Sufi style and influence

Ali has stated that he believes in

Sufism Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality ...

. He also describes himself as being "inclined towards spirituality," asserting in an interview that "anybody can be spiritual and they could belong to any religion. When people turn fanatics and extremists in the name of religion, it's not spirituality. Spirituality, according to me, is tolerance and respect for every religion." Elaborating further, he states: "one can draw from every religion and marry it with what one has learnt from one's own religion to find a way to God. Being human, according to me, is spirituality. Someone who fights to bring peace and betterment to humanity is spiritual." Much of Ali's music showcases these distinct Sufi influences by way of prominent Sufi themes and syncretic imagery. Several of his songs (particularly in his albums '' Tabeer'' and '' Muh Dikhai'') revolve around familiar Sufi themes of transformative spiritual love, mysticism, oneness of humanity, spiritual awakening, and the anguish of being separated from God (as the Beloved). Ali also frequently uses or references the works of Sufi poets and philosophers such as

, Bulleh Shah, and Khwaja Ghulam Farid in his own compositions. His singing style has been described as an "effortless collage of classical, Sufi, and new-age notes."

Impact

With his early work with Fuzön for their album '' Saagar'' (2002), Ali is credited with "playing a significant role in defining Pakistani youth and pop culture" at the turn of the century, along with other Pakistani bands like Strings, Junoon, and

Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a ...

. By combining his traditional classical core with edgy and modern aesthetics, Ali is said to have charted his own musical course, broken musical boundaries, and extended the classical legacy of the Patiala Gharana by bringing it to a wider audience. Specific songs from ''Saagar'' sung by Ali have also been singled out for their long-term musical and cultural impact on the South Asian soundscape. In 2012, ''

The Express Tribune ''The Express Tribune'' is a daily English-language newspaper based in Pakistan. It is the flagship publication of the '' Daily Express'' media group. It is Pakistan's only internationally affiliated newspaper in a partnership with the ''Intern ...

'' (Pakistan) wrote, "Songs like "Khamaj" and "Teray Bina"...are rendered timeless and will be written in golden words in the history of Pakistani pop." In 2015, referring to "Aankhon Ke Saagar'',"'' Rafay Mahmood of ''The Express Tribune'' wrote: "For the first time, people witnessed a trained singer from a classical gharana (in this case Patiala) making perfect use of his vocal range to add depth to rock and roll riffs in arrangements. "Aankhon Kay Saagar"''...''took the industry by storm as it was something truly unimaginable, especially at that time. Referring to another song from the album called "Akhian," Mahmood wrote, "''Akhian'' changed the landscape of the music industry in the early 2000s." Pakistani ''

'' singer Muhammad Ali also credits Ali with the renewed interest in classical music in Pakistan, stating: "There was a time when it seemed that the likes of Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali and Pervez Mehdi have completely disappeared, and forever. However, it was with the entry of Shafqat Amanat Ali that classical singing was revived and people redeveloped an interest in the genre."

Other work

Ali has lent his vocals to dozens of

Pakistani drama Pakistani dramas, or Pakistani serials, are televised serials produced in Pakistan. Although most of the serials are produced in Urdu, an increasing number of them are produced in other Pakistani languages such as Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi ...

(soap opera) soundtracks (known as OSTs) over the years, including the popular song "Ik Sitam Aur Meri Jaan" from '' Saiqa'' (2009), which he sang as a tribute to the legendary ''

'' singer

Mehdi Hassan Mehdi Hassan Khan ( ur, مہدی حسن خاں , translit=) 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012) was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer for Lollywood. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of gh ...

. Continuing a tradition established by his father, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Ali has also sung numerous patriotic songs throughout his career which have been released regularly on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day, Resolution Day, and Defence Day. Ali made an appearance on the "Rubaroo" episode of '' Indian Idol'' Season 4 in 2008. From October 2015 to January 2016, he served as a judge on

's '' Asia's Singing Superstar'' along with

. He has also performed frequently on ''Virsa Heritage Revived'' — an entertainment and live music show that aired on PTV, hosted by Yousaf Salahuddin. On the occasion of

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

's 150th birth anniversary in October 2018, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs commissioned and released a medley of Gandhi's favourite

bhajan Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam ( Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...

, " Vaishnava Jana To," featuring 124 artistes from 124 countries. Ali represented Pakistan in the medley, paying homage to Gandhi, and stated: "this is a gesture of peace and the first step towards dialogue for peace. There are a lot of people...working for peace in both the countries because, at the end of the day, war doesn't do good to any country. I thought this is going to be a good way to melt heice between both the countries." In 2019, on the occasion of

Iqbal Day Iqbal Day ( ur, , Yōm-e Iqbāl) is the birthday of Muhammad Iqbal on 9 November. The day was a public holiday in all provinces and federal administrative areas of Pakistan until 2018. The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Again restored public h ...

, Ali performed

Allama Muhammad Iqbal Sir Muhammad Iqbal ( ur, ; 9 November 187721 April 1938), was a South Asian Muslim writer, philosopher, Quote: "In Persian, ... he published six volumes of mainly long poems between 1915 and 1936, ... more or less complete works on philos ...

's celebrated verse, "Khudi Ka Sirr-e-Nihan," at the historic

Lahore Fort The Lahore Fort ( ur, , lit=Royal Fort, translit=Shāhī Qilā, label=Punjabi and Urdu) is a citadel in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The fortress is located at the northern end of walled city Lahore, and spreads over an area greater than ...

in honour of the celebrated poet and philosopher. In 2020, Ali was invited to serve on the Cultural, Heritage and Sports Advisory Board for the

Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir The Parliamentary Special Committee on Kashmir is predominantly composed of senior MNAs and Senators of Pakistan. Its fundamental function is to raise the critical issue of Kashmir at national and international level. Its other key feature is its co ...

by committee chairperson Shehryar Afridi. The advisory board was conceived as a creative alliance of media, music, and sports personalities with the goal of promoting Pakistan's cultural heritage and legacy within the country and abroad. Ali has sung in numerous languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, Bengali, and Gujarati, and he performs regularly in shows and concerts around the world. He has fondly been nicknamed the "Rockstar Ustad" by

Salim Merchant Salim, Saleem or Selim may refer to: People *Salim (name), or Saleem or Salem or Selim, a name of Arabic origin *Salim (poet) (1800–1866) * Saleem (playwright) (fl. 1996) * Selim I, Selim II and Selim III, Ottoman Sultans * Selim people, an e ...

of the Salim–Sulaiman duo.

Discography

Albums

* ''Saagar'' (2002) * '' Tabeer'' (2008) * ''

'' (2010) * '' Muh Dikhai'' (2015) * ''A Tribute to Legends: Ghulam Ali'' (2022)

Compilation albums

* ''The Very Best of Shafqat Amanat Ali'' (2012) * ''Best of Me: Shafqat Amanat Ali'' (2013) * ''Moods of Shafqat Amanat Ali'' (2014)

Singles

*"Aa Do Kadiyan" (2004) *"Tere Bagair Sajna" (2004) *"Josh" (2007) *"Yaad Toh Aayengay Hum Tum Ko" (2007) *"Mujrai Khalq Mein" ( Noha recitation, 2008) *"Paiman" (PAIMAN Project, 2008) *"Jazba" (2009) *"Ragon Mein Jitna Khoon Hai" (2009) *"Lang Aaja" (2010) *"Dil Hi To Hai" (from the compilation album ''Dil Se'', 2010) *"Pakida" (from the compilation album ''ARRK'', 2010) *"Yahaan" (2011) *"Khird Kay Pass" (from the compilation album ''Adab E Khud Aa Gahi –'' ''Allama Iqbal Special'', 2012) *"Khudi Ka Sirr-e-Nihan" (from the compilation album ''Adab E Khud Aa Gahi –'' ''Allama Iqbal Special'', 2012) *"Ye Payam Day Gai Hai" (from the compilation album ''Adab E Khud Aa Gahi –'' ''Allama Iqbal Special'', 2012) *"Dua" (from the compilation album ''Global Sounds of Peace'', 2013) *"Dekho Kal Hamara Hai" (2014) *"Muhafiz Aman Ke Hum Hain" (2015) *"Ab Kaha Jao Gay" (from the compilation album ''Dil Ka Mehram,'' 2015) *"Mitti Diye Maayen" (2015) *"Ye Matti Apnay Wattan Ki Hai" (2015) *"Laagi Re Tose Lagi" (from the compilation album ''Maestro's Studio Sessions'', 2016) *"Chhanan" (from the compilation album ''Existential Sufi'', 2017) *"Kal Hii Ki Baat" (from the compilation album ''Existential Sufi'', 2017) *"Samajh Na Aave" (2017) *"Ae Watan Tera Bhala Ho" (2017) *"Tu Salamat Watan" (2017) *"Jashn-e-Azadi" (2017) *Official anthem for ''

Lahore Qalandars Lahore Qalandars ( ur, ; pnb, لہور قلندرز; abbreviated as LQ) is a Pakistani professional cricket franchise which plays in the Pakistan Super League, representing the city of Lahore. The home ground of the team is Gaddafi Stadium. ...

'' (

Pakistan Super League The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league contested during February and March of every year by six teams representing six cities of Pakistan. The league was founded on 9 September 2015 with five teams by the P ...

Season II), 2017' *"Jindadi" (2018) *"Nain Mila" (2018) *"Hain Ye Pasban" (2018) *"Hamara Pakistan" (2018) *"Sab Pakistani Miltay Hain" (2018) *"Salam Ho Mere Watan Tujhe Salam" (2018) *"Wardi" (2018) *"Pehray Dekho Ya Ali" ( Noha recitation, 2019) *"Haye Haye Ay Lutiyan Vich Karbal De" ( Noha recitation, 2019) *"Fareyaad Mohammad Salay Aala" ( Noha recitation, 2019) *"Baal Ke Deeva Dua Kar Di" ( Noha recitation, 2019) *"Kya Hai Ali Ye Nutqay" (''Manqabat'', 2019) *"Ja Chor Day Meri Waadi" (2020) ' *"Zindagi Hai Pakistan" (2020) *"Lassi" (2020) *"Hey Daata" (2020) *"Ghar Angan" (2020) *"Dil Dharkey Levies Levies" (2020) *"Jo Na Mil Sake" (2020) *"Main Kya Janu" (2020) *"Maujzaa" (2021) *Celebrity Premier League (CPL) Anthem (2021) *"Yaad" (2022) *"Dil Hai Tera Ghar Ya Ali" (''Manqabat'', 2022) *"Mahi Mahi" (2022)

Collaborations

* "Mahi" (with Overload), 2006 *"Tu Hi Tu Hai" (from the compilation studio album ''Zindagi'' by Zubeen Garg), 2007' *"Ram Rai" (from the compilation studio album ''Guru Manyo Granth'' by Jagjit Singh), 2008 *" Yeh Hum Naheen" (with Strings,

, Shuja Haider et al.), 2008 *"Imtehan Hai Imtehan" (with

), 2010 *"Aye Mere Watan Tez Qadam Ho" (with

Fariha Pervez Fariha Pervez ( pa, ) is a Pakistani pop singer-songwriter, and a music producer. She is specially known for the rendition of various popular and famous Ghazals. She started her career anchoring and acting from a very young age on PTV (Pakista ...

), 2010 *"Let Go" (with Fink and Salim–Sulaiman, for '' The Dewarists''), 2012 *"Deedar" (with Northern Lights), 2017 *"Shafqat with Shafqat" (with Shafqat Ali Khan), 2020 *"Mader-e-Meherban" (with Abida Parveen and Sajjad Ali), 2021 *"Raat Jaga Pakhi" (with Shithi Saha), 2021 *"Salam" ( Durood recitation with

), 2022

Coke Studio (Pakistan) ''Coke Studio'' ( ur, ) is a Pakistani television programme and international music franchise which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annual television music show in Paki ...

Season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * '' 2econd Season'' See also
* {{disambig ...
(2009)

* "Khamaaj" * "Aankhon Kay Saagar" * "Mahi Ve" (with the band Josh) * "Ajab Khail"

Season 10 (2017)

* " Qaumi Taranah" (National Anthem of Pakistan) * "Allahu Akbar" (with

Ahmed Jahanzeb Ahmed Jahanzeb Usmani ( ur, ; born 28 May 1978) is a Pakistani pop singer and composer.

Coke Studio (India) Coke Studio India, officially titled Coke Studio @ MTV is an Indian television programme, which features live studio-recorded music performances by various artists. Coke Studio combines myriad musical influences, from Hindustani, Carnatic a ...

, 2011 (Season 1, Episode 6)

* "Akhiyan * "Aay Hari He" * "Kya Haal Sunawan" * "Tere Bin Dil Laage Na"

MTV Unplugged ''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as ''MTV Un ...
, 2012 (Season 2, Episode 2)

* "Mora Saiyaan" * "Aankhon Ke Saagar" * "Yeh Honsla" * "Kyun Main Jagoon" * "Aavo Saiyon" * "Manmaniyan"

Songs for
Pakistani Drama Pakistani dramas, or Pakistani serials, are televised serials produced in Pakistan. Although most of the serials are produced in Urdu, an increasing number of them are produced in other Pakistani languages such as Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi ...
Soundtracks (OSTs)

* "Jaye Kahan Yeh Dil" from ''Jaye Kahan Yeh Dil'' (2005) *Theme song from ''Matti'' (2005) *Theme song from '' Makan'' (2006) * "Teri Yaad Aayi" from ''Khamoshiyan'' (2008) *"Ik Sitam Aur Meri Jaan" from '' Saiqa'' (2009) *"Kaisi Hain Dooriyan" from ''Kaisi Hain Dooriyan'' (2009) *"Ishq Gumshuda" from ''

Ishq Gumshuda ''Ishq Gumshuda'' ( ur, ) is an Urdu language Pakistani telenovela which was first broadcast in Pakistan in 2010 by Hum TV, premiering on 25 June 2010. Directed by Haissam Hussain and written by Noor-ul-Hada Shah, ''Ishq Gumshuda'', which ende ...

'' (2010) *"Haath Se Haath" from ''Aman'' (2010) *"Jiya Na Jaye" from '' Jiya Na Jaye'' (2013) * "Alvida" from ''

Alvida ''Alvida'' ( ur, , lit=Goodbye) is a 2015 Pakistani romantic drama serial. It was directed by Shehzad Kashmiri, produced by Momina Duraid, Humayun Saeed, Shehzad Naseeb and written by Samira Fazal. It starred couples of ''Dil-e-Muztar'', S ...

'' (2015) *"Makhmal" from ''Makhmal'' (2015) * "Alif Allah Aur Insaan" from ''

Alif Allah Aur Insaan ''Alif Allah Aur Insaan'' ( ur, ; lit: "A" Allah and Human) is a Pakistani Sufi spiritual drama series which aired on Hum TV from 25 April 2017 to 13 February 2018. It was produced by Momina Duraid, as part of a night programming all under ...

'' (2017) * "Lakin" from '' Lakin'' (2017) *"Kahaan Mil Sake" from '' Dhund'' (2017) *"Dil-e-Majboor" from ''Dil-e-Majboor'' (2017) *"Ishq Ramazan" from ''Ishq Ramazan'' (2017) *"Gustakh Ishq" from '' Gustakh Ishq'' (2017) *"Koi Ishq Na Janay" from ''Koi Ishq Na Janay'' (2017) *"Kaahay Lagi Lagan" from ''Aik Mohabbat Kafi Hai'' (2018) *"Tere Jaane Ke Baad" from ''Tere Jaane Ke Baad'' (2018) *"Bewafa" from '' Bewafa'' (2019) *"Thora Sa Haq" from '' Thora Sa Haq'' (2019) *"Tum Akhiyon Ka Noor" from ''

Main Agar Chup Hoon ''Main Agar Chup Hoon'' (Urdu: میں اگر چپ ہوں, lit. 'If I am quiet') is a 2020 Pakistani romantic soap television series, produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi under 7th Sky Entertainment. It stars Fatima Effendi and Adee ...

'' (2020) *"Benaam Si Mohabbat" from '' Benaam'' (2021)

Songs for film soundtracks

Awards and honours

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'' , , - ! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5" ,

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, - ,

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, - , 2012 , Best Playback Singer – Male , "Tere Naina" – ''

'' , , - ! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5" ,

Zee Cine Awards The Zee Cine Award (ZCA) is an Indian awards ceremony for the Hindi film industry. They were instituted in November 1997 to award "Excellence in cinema - the democratic way". They were first held in Mumbai until 2004, when the ZCA went internat ...

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, "Tu Hi Mera" – ''

'' , , - ! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5" ,

Pakistan Media Award The Pakistan Media Awards, commonly known as The PMA, are a set of awards given annually for radio, TV, film and theatre achievements. The award is a statuette representing a knight with a star on the chest. Its official named is a Pakistan Me ...

, - , 2011 , Best Playback Singer – Male , , , - ! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5" , The Musik Awards , - , 2008 , Most Wanted Male , , , - ! style="background:#bfd7ff;" colspan="5" ,

Award , - , 2008 ,

Award , by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Patiala Gharana *

Ali Baksh Jarnail Ustad Ali Baksh Jarnail Khan (1850 – 1920) was an Indian classical singer. Together with his friend Fateh Ali Khan, he founded the Patiala Gharana in the 19th century. They used to sing together as a team back then.https://www.swarganga.org/ar ...

* Akhtar Hussain * Amanat Ali Khan *

References

External links

* __FORCETOC__ {{DEFAULTSORT:Amanat Ali, Shafqat 1965 births Living people Recipients of the Pride of Performance Government College University, Lahore alumni Singers from Lahore Classical music in Pakistan Patiala gharana Vocal gharanas Punjabi people Punjabi singers Pakistani male singers Pakistani songwriters Pakistani composers Bollywood playback singers Hindi-language singers Punjabi-language singers Urdu-language singers Male ghazal singers Performers of Sufi music Sufi music Pakistani male singer-songwriters Pakistani classical singers Pakistani pop singers Coke Studio (Pakistani TV program)

Early life and background

Musical training and influences

Education

Career

2001–2004: Career beginnings, Fuzön, and rise to prominence

2006: Breakthrough in Bollywood and rising popularity

2008: First solo album and notable collaborations

2009–2011: Second solo album and work in ''Coke Studio''

2012–2015: Third solo album and work in ''MTV Unplugged''

2017: Return to ''Coke Studio''

2019: Work with United Nations Pakistan

2020–present

Artistry, musical style, and impact

Voice

Musical philosophy and creative process

Sufi style and influence

Impact

Other work

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Collaborations

Coke Studio (Pakistan) ''Coke Studio'' ( ur, ) is a Pakistani television programme and international music franchise which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annual television music show in Paki ...

Season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * '' 2econd Season'' See also * {{disambig ... (2009)

Season 10 (2017)

MTV Unplugged ''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as ''MTV Un ..., 2012 (Season 2, Episode 2)

Songs for Pakistani Drama Pakistani dramas, or Pakistani serials, are televised serials produced in Pakistan. Although most of the serials are produced in Urdu, an increasing number of them are produced in other Pakistani languages such as Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi ... Soundtracks (OSTs)

Songs for film soundtracks

Awards and honours

References

External links

Season 2 Season 2 may refer to: * ''Season 2'' (Infinite album) * '' 2econd Season'' See also
* {{disambig ...
(2009)

MTV Unplugged ''MTV Unplugged'' is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as ''MTV Un ...
, 2012 (Season 2, Episode 2)

Songs for
Pakistani Drama Pakistani dramas, or Pakistani serials, are televised serials produced in Pakistan. Although most of the serials are produced in Urdu, an increasing number of them are produced in other Pakistani languages such as Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi ...
Soundtracks (OSTs)