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FOCAL POINT: Shafqat in top form
Shafqat Amanat Ali sings with a deep, charismatic voice and sheer exuberance. He has been constantly applauded for his meticulous training in classical music (first as the original lineup of the band Fuzon and now as a soloist) — a ninth-generation progeny of the renowned Patiala Gharana.
Today, Shafqat is equally known for his prowess in singing and humility, something that is much desired in singers of his calibre and stature. Whether it has anything to do with the comparatively young ensemble of new musicians around him that he can control with ease, or some valuable lesson instilled in him as part of his classical training is something which only he knows, but chooses not to divulge.
It felt good listening to him recently, as a few one-liners here and there in a light vein added spice to an elegant performance at the fundraiser organised by the Aga Khan University Hospital for their Patients’ Welfare Programme.
It comes as a surprise to learn that the celebrated artriste in both Pakistan and India was once considered a ‘non-serious singer’ by the elders of his gharana. They were of the opinion that Shafqat did not have the right attitude or the voice to be a pure classicist. Maybe his humility stems from the journey of self-discovery as an artiste, one that has passed through many twists and turns. He may have broken away from the classical tradition of the Patiala Gharana, but his being-at-it kind of perseverance in popular music has made him emerge very steadily due to his rich background.
It comes as a surprise to learn that the celebrated artriste was once considered a ‘non-serious singer’ by the elders of his gharana. They were of the opinion that Shafqat did not have the right attitude or the voice to be a pure classicist. Maybe his humility stems from the journey of self-discovery as an artiste, one that has passed through many twists and turns.
Back to the performance, Shafqat obliged listeners requesting for renditions sung by the classical maestros of his family — his father Amanat Ali Khan, uncle Fateh Ali Khan and elder brother Asad Amanat Ali, who passed away last year in April. The famous classical rendition by the duo of Shafqat’s father and uncle, Pyar Nahin Hai Sur Se Jiss Ko, in Raga Malkos effortlessly transported ardent fans to the days of yore. He sang classical renditions as dexterously as the lighter, popular compositions with a phenomenal range and variety of chords.
Pleasant memories also came flooding back when he sang his father’s patriotic number, Ae Mere Pyare Watan, in a different and softer rhythm (which he has also recently re-recorded for a TV channel), followed by Inshaji Utho, Ab Kooch Karo.
At this point, he stepped out of his illustrious family’s shadow and further enthralled the audience with his own compositions — Khamaj, Sagar, Akhiyaan, Tere Bina, and finally Mitwa, for which many in the audience had waited with bated breaths. Though he grappled with an errant sound system and slight irritants in the crowd, Shafqat walked into the crowd picking up fans and singing with them. Of course they couldn’t match his vocals but they nevertheless took up the challenge in a sportive fashion.
A recipient of the Pride of Performance award last year (the fifth recipient in the family), Shafqat Amanat Ali has done us all proud as his countrymen with his contribution to Pakistani popular music that has blazed the trail not only for the Indian music industry but also internationally. Personally speaking, I think he is definitely at par with his gharana’s contribution to classical music.
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