JIM WASHBURN | THE TIMES
Nusrat & His of Love & Peace
Unlike many popular singers who have wildly animated styles, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan performs seated, as implacably planted on the stage floor as a bean-bag chair. But though he may be rooted to the spot physically, the Pakistani singer’s voice launches into incredible, propulsive flights of melismatic abandon as he strains to embody the content of his songs, and his hands and arms often gesticulate and fly with the emotion of his singing.
It was a late Friday afternoon in 1990 when I got a call at the Los Angeles Times office inviting me to see a show by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan that evening. The qawwali master was performing in, of all places, a conference room at the LAX Airport Hilton, headlining a benefit to help build a cancer hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, hosted by that nation’s cricket hero Imran Khan.
How Shekhar Kapoor Prepares for Directing a scene?
Well, he panics .. and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Music hovers in his mind, increasing the chaos, and the output is Brilliant Creativity.
“The Power of not knowing drives him.. I strongly believe that the same power used to drive Nusrat too”
Child Artist from Movie Bandit Queen
Child Marriage & similar social evils still remains prevalent in certain parts of India and many Asian countries, a social stigma that cannot be tolerated at all. I myself can never forget the haunting scenes from Bandit Queen where a 11-year old Phoolan Devi was married (or sold) to a 25 year old. The background score of this scene was a soulful and emotional track by NFAK which can force you to cry if you understand the lyrics. A young girl asking her father about “You have decided to marry your beloved daughter in such a small age! What was my fault to get this I cant understand?” and accepting her fate. So what we have today is the translation of this song by Bobby Sing ( from www.bobbytalkscinema.com ) , he understands and feels that this song might be the answer to the social & personal stigma , this song will help the girl-parents take right decision for their blossoming flower .. , So Do I..Read Along…
This is a humble message for all those young would-be parents who will be reaching this stage soon when they might find themselves in a dilemma. And may be at that time, the meaningful memories of watching this video may help you to take the right decision.
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.