Shahen-Shah 1989 Album Cover
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a man of impressive, even daunting, stature. The emotional intensity and soaring power of his voice transcend all boundaries of language and religion and have popularized this beautiful and inspirational music beyond Muslim peoples to audiences worldwide.
The Global Nusrat
PHIL SWEENEY from “The Independent” calls Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan the best and largest tenor (the highest male singing voice) and recommend him over Luciano, Placido and Jose (most Popular Opera Voices of 90’s). Author goes on to describe his collaborations and innovative experiments which Though we know pretty well that “the best tenor” tag will never be enough to sum up the huge NFAK ( In each and every possible translation of this statement). Read this article for a great take on the “New Nusrat with his Experiments & Fusion”
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan annoys purists, but he is also dragging Qawwali into the 21st century.
Wasim Akram talking about Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
In today’s video treat, Wasim Akram remembers how the team won the World Cup & How much obsessed they were with “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan” . It was 1992, and cricketers like Javed Miandad were already die-hard NFAK fans. NFAK himself started taking interest in cricket those days as he was becoming a good friend of the Pakistani cricket team. Just before the team left home for World-Cup, NFAK personally recorded many songs specially for the team on request of Javed Miandad. Team played these songs pretty much every time (before match-after match, during practice sessions, during breaks and of course to celebrate the victory)…
We all know the result of World Cup…. “The team brought the trophy home”
Click Here To Play the video (Move to 6:40)
NFAK Performing inside a Gurudwara, The best example of religious tolerance
The date was 31st December 1989, and at Ramgarhia Sabha Gurdwara(A Sikh Temple) Slough UK , a Musilm was singing “Koi bole Ram Ram (A Hindu God) “. For people present, there were no separate religions “Allah was Ram” & “Ram was the Guru”. By performing this song, NFAK proved that “music has no Religion” & “Religion could never bound NFAK”. This pious though by NFAK truly justifies the following tribute by a fan (‘Rishi R Jha’) .
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, when he sings, the GEETA, the KORAN, the BIBLE,the Sri Guru Garanth Sahib Ji , all are turned into music…a harmony with the existence …the godliness of the Universe can be felt.
So what follows is the English subtitled video & “Lyrics & Translations” of song “Koi Bole Ram Ram”, and the complete performance of NFAK in Gurudwara ( I know you must have seen it). Lets believe in Each Others Religions, beliefs & Gods.. ..
Nusrat Has Left The Building … But When? DVD Cover
People in Pakistan discovered the true greatness of NFAK only after his huge success in West, a truth no one can deny. This creative short-movie revolves around a usual Pakistani NFAK fan, who departs from the filmy renditions and discovers the true traditional and ecstatic Nusrat. As this trend continued..
Nusrat was no more just a great Qawwal in Pakistan…. he was the countries greatest son ever.