KARACHI: As he performed before a discerning audience, the singer’s classical stance was obvious. Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, who has made a name for himself not only in this country but abroad as well, needed no introduction. He is a trend-setter in classical-pop fusion music, which is popular with all age groups, and his solo performance before a very serious and professional crowd that evening was quite a hit.

Amidst pleasant surroundings, with good food and beautiful music thrown in for good measure, a fund-raising event on Saturday was organized by the Aga Khan University for their Patients Welfare Programme. Food for the stomach was followed by food for thought in the form of a speech by Dr Ghafar Billo, Chairman Faculty and Staff Resource Development Committee, who spoke on the importance of taking care of needy patients who couldn’t afford their medical bills.

The President of Aga Khan University, Feroz Rasool, said that culture played a very important role in one’s life. It gave people a sense of history and pride and because of its importance, the new campus that was being built by the AKUH would have a research department solely for the purpose of catering to the relevant subjects.

Shafqat, who writes and composes his own songs, has a strong and controlled voice and has been performing solo after leaving his band Fuzon. He has recently sung songs for Indian films and is also working on a Sufi music album in India. Belonging to the famous Patiala gharana known for its taans and melodies, he began his training in classical music at the age of four, his first teacher being his grandmother.

His father Amanat Ali Khan and uncle Fateh Ali Khan were the main influences in his life. But as classical music is no longer as popular as it used to be and thus not a paying profession due to the lack of patronage, Shafqat opted for a new style. In recognition of his music he was awarded the Pride of Performance by the president of Pakistan on August 14, 2007.

The performance at the AKUH lasted for more than three hours in which Shafqat Amanat Ali sang some new and old songs, along with popular ghazals of his late father Amanat Ali Khan, late brother Asad Amanat Ali and other singers.

What began as a lukewarm performance turned into a lively one when he sang his popular old songs Mitwa, an old astai of raga Megh from his gharana, Khamaaj and Sagar. Near the end of the programme he was in his element with an appreciative crowd demanding more.

The quiet and shy Shafqat Amanat Ali showed a new side to his personality as he talked and joked with the crowd and even had one guest sing a few lines from his song Sagar. But what irked many in the audience was leaving his sentences incomplete while talking.

The loud music that accompanied his singing was also disconcerting, which unfortunately has become a trend with most singers today.