Shafqat Amanat Ali – the Rockstar Ustad (A term coined by Bollywood music director Salim Merchant) is the biggest singing sensation to hit the subcontinent in recent times. He is the son of the legendary Pakistani singer Ustad Amanat Ali Khan of Pakistan, making him a part of the 9 generation old Patiala Gharana.

He has been a student of the classical music tradition of India and Pakistan since age four. He was inspired towards music by his father, his uncle Ustad Fateh Ali Khan sahib as well as Roshanara Begum, to name a few. He was role of honour from the Music Society of Government College, Lahore and has been honoured by the President's Pride of Performance in Pakistan on 14th August, 2007, making him the 6th in line from his family to receive this honour.

Shafqat’s voice represents a unique blend of classical gayaki and contemporary panache. The soul in his powerful voice has the rare ability, which can carry the listener to the peaks of ecstasy and the depths of pain within moments. This very versatility makes him a vocalist par excellence. As the soulful voice traverses a gamut of emotions, the sheer perfection of his gayaki leaves the listener spellbound.



A walk through Shafqat Amanat Ali’s journey
Shafqat Amanat Ali was the lead vocalist of the popular Pakistani band – Fuzon. Their first album ‘Saagar’ was a big hit, which features a common strain of rock melodies blended with classical and folk vocals. The opening track Aakhon Ke Saagar gave rise to their popularity within Pakistan and India. Tracks such as Akhiyan, Tere Bina and Khamaaj (Mora Saiyan) among others (most of which were composed by Shafqat for the band), became instant favourites with fans as they were played on TV and FM stations across Pakistan and India. The songs - "Mora Saiyan" and "Tere Bina" are also featured in Nagesh Kukunoor's Hyderabad Blues 2. Fuzon was the first band to release their debut album Saagar concurrently in both Pakistan and India.

Shafqat Amanat Ali became a name one recognised beyond Fuzon, when he sang the chartbuster Mitwa, for Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. The song became an instant hit and left India wanting more of this power-packed voice. He was also the voice behind the critically acclaimed song Yeh Hausla from the movie Dor, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. No wonder then, that Shafqat Amanat Ali is extremely popular and highly respected among music lovers and critics alike. His command over the classical idiom and modern music has made him a name to reckon with!!

© 2009 Living Media India Ltd.