Shafqat Amanat Ali Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More

Shafqat Amanat Ali

Shafqat Amanat Ali is a Pakistani classical singer. He was the lead vocalist of the Pakistani rock band ‘Fuzön.’

Wiki/Biography

Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan was born on 26 February 1965 (age 54 years; as in 2019) in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. His zodiac sign is Pisces. He did his graduation from Government College University, Lahore.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Weight (approx.): 85 kg

Body Measurement (approx.): Chest 41″, waist 33″, Biceps 13″ 

Eye Colour: Dark Brown

Hair Colour: Black

Family, Caste & Wife

He belongs to Patiala Gharana and is of the ninth generation of the lineage. His father, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, was a classical and Ghazal singer.

Shafqat Amanat Ali's Father, Ustad Amanat Ali

Shafqat Amanat Ali’s Father, Ustad Amanat Ali

His mother’s name is Almas Amanat Ali Khan. He had two elder brothers, the eldest was Amjad Amanat Ali Khan and Asad Amanat Ali Khan. Both of them were singers.

Shafqat Amanat Ali With His Brother, Asad Amanat Ali Khan

Shafqat Amanat Ali With His Brother, Asad Amanat Ali Khan

He is married and has a son named Sadaat Shafqat Amanat Ali, who is a singer.

 Shafqat Amanat Ali's Son, Sadaat Shafqat Amanat Ali

Shafqat Amanat Ali’s Son, Sadaat Shafqat Amanat Ali

Career

He started his career as a band member of the band “Fuzön,” founded in 2001. He was the lead vocalist of the band and the first album released by the band was “Saagar (2002).”

Shafqat Amanat Ali's Band Fuzön's First Album

Shafqat Amanat Ali’s Band Fuzön’s First Album

Shafqat left the band in 2006 to continue his solo career. The first album He made his debut as a solo singer with the song “Rog Jog,” the title track of “Makan (TV Series)” in 2006. He released his debut album, “Tabeer” in 2008.

Shafqat Amanat Ali's Debut Album, Tabeer

Shafqat Amanat Ali’s Debut Album, Tabeer

He made his film debut as a singer with the song “Mitwa” for the Bollywood film “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” in 2006. The song became very famous.

He is widely appreciated for his song “Yeh Hosla” from the film “Dor (2006).”

He made his film debut as a singer in a Pakistani film with the movie “Ramchand Pakistani” in 2008. He sang 3 songs in the movie.

Shafqat Amant Ali's Debut Pakistani movie Ramchand Pakistani

The Chronicle Of The ‘Cursed’ Song

There is a cursed ghazal of Pakistan, whose wrath was faced by Shafqat’s family and the people associated with it. His family members and also Pakistani singers fear to sing it even today. The ghazal ‘Insha Ji Utho (get up, Insha)’ was written by the Pakistani Poet, Ibn-e-Insha.

The Poet, Ibn-e-Insha

The Poet, Ibn-e-Insha

Someone presented the poem to Shafqat’s father, Amanat Ali Khan and he immediately expressed his desire to sing the song. Amanat met Ibn-e-Insha and illustrated how he intended to sing the Ghazal. He first performed this Ghazal in Pakistan Television (PTV) in January 1974. Soon, there were more demands for the song and the song became his biggest hit. Unfortunately, he died a few months later after that. Soon, the producer, Khalil Ahmed also died. Four years later, Ibn-e-Insha too died on the same day the song was first broadcasted on PTV, in January 1978. Shafqat’s elder brother, Asad Amanat Ali Khan also performed the song in the concert on PTV in 2006. Sadly, the concert became his last concert as he too died a few months later. Shafqat’s eldest brother, Amzad Amanat Ali Khan, who used to sing this song, died too. When Ibn-e-Insha was about to die, he wrote many letters to his close friends from his hospital bed. In one such letter, he says, “Yeh Manhoos Ghazal Kitno Ki Jaan Ley Gi …? (How many more lives will this cursed Ghazal take?).”

Insha Ji Utho by Ibn-e-Insha

Insha Ji Utho by Ibn-e-Insha

However, Shafqat doesn’t believe in this superstition but still does not sing the song as his family has insisted him to not to sing it.

Controversies

  • He faced the rage of Pakistanis after he messed up with the lyrics of the National anthem of Pakistan in WT20 match of Pakistan against India at Eden Gardens in 2016. He was chosen to represent Pakistan. Clearing all the accusation, he said that he did not sing wrong but there were some technical errors that caused him difficulties in singing.
    Shafqat Amanat Ali's Apology For His Mistake IN WT20
  • Shafqat explains his split with the band as ‘insecurity.’ In an Interview, the members of his band ‘Fuzön,’ Emu (Imran Momina) – keyboards and Shallum Asher Xavier – Guitarist, said that Shafqat had taken finances of the band in his hands and also was doing solo in India. Shafqat clarified that he had only started performing in India after he had left the band. He further adds that the band members have stated somewhere that they had composed the album, in reality, it was he who did vocals, composing music and lyrics but was not given any credit for it.

Awards & Honours

  • He was honoured with the President’s Award for the Pride of Performance (conferred by Government of Pakistan on Pakistani civilians) on 23 March 2008.
  • The Musik Awards for Most Wanted Male in 2008

Favourite Things

  • Band: Guns ‘n’ Poets
  • Drama Series: Scorpion
  • Musicians: R. D. Burman, S. D. Burman, Beethoven Van, Lionel Richie, George Michael, Boy George and The Bangles
  • Poets: Bulleh Shah, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Mirza Ghalib

Facts

  • He likes to do photography in his spare time.
    Shafqat Amanat Ali Photography
  • Though Shafqat hails from a family of classical singers, he specializes in fusion music.
  • He once revealed that his first salary was mere INR 3000, which he received via working as a school teacher in a school. Owing to his family customs, he handed over the whole amount to his grandfather.
  • Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan, a vocalist and leading exponent of  Patiala Gharana, was his uncle.

    Shafqat Amanat Ali's Uncle, Bade Fateh Ali Khan With His Father, Amanat Ali Khan

    Shafqat Amanat Ali’s Uncle, Bade Fateh Ali Khan With His Father, Amanat Ali Khan

  • He is deeply influenced by his father Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, his uncle Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan and Roshan Ara Begum.
  • He received the roll of honour from the Music Society of Government College University, Lahore.
  • He has even made appearances in the shows like Coke Studio (Pakistan) and The Deewarist (Musical TV Reality show, India).
  • He was honoured with the President’s Award for the Pride of Performance in 2008, after which, he became sixth in line to receive the honoured.
  • His nickname ‘Rockstar Ustaad’ was given to him by Salim Merchant. It was during the recording for ‘Yeh Honsla’ they were both going to each other for the first time. Salim thought that Shafqat will be someone who will make his appearance in Kurta-Pajama with a shawl. But when Shafqat came, he was in jeans, t-shirt and had made his hair into a ponytail. It was surprising was Salim and when he heard him singing classical, the nickname naturally came out of his tongue.
  • In an interview, Shafqat revealed that he had been rejected many times in the industry. He said that he went to many places but was told that his voice lacks in few things and that he should try harder; on the other hand, people with voice quality lower than his were selected. He further adds that the only difference he and the others had was that they had connections in the industry and he didn’t.
  • He was spotted by Shankar Mahadevan after he started performing in India. Later, it was they, who offered him “Mitwa” from the movie “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006).”

    Shafqat Amanat Ali With Shankar Mahadevan

    Shafqat Amanat Ali With Shankar Mahadevan

  • One of his most popular songs is “Khamaaj- Mora Saiyyan Mo Se Bole Na,” the song which was one of the singles sung by him when he was the member of the band ‘Fuzön.’
  • In 2018, Shafqat sang ”Vaishnav Jan To” on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. The song was sent via Indian High Commission in Pakistan as a gift and a means to promote unity between India and Pakistan.

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