Enlightening Entertainment
 
Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Pakistan’s Classical Singer for Peace (In Urdu)      
Today’s Enlightening Entertainment will be presented in Urdu and English, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Thai.

O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . .

Pakistani classical singer Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is known to millions around the world. He was born in Faisalabad, Pakistan to a great family of musicians.

Mr. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the son of the esteemed singer Mr. Farroukh Fateh Ali Khan and the nephew of the legendary qawwali singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Holding the world record for the most number of albums in his genre, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was perhaps the most celebrated qawwal, or singer of qawwali, of all time.

Personally trained by his uncle, Mr. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan began to sing even as he was learning how to speak, and joined his uncle’s Sufi music group at the age of 15. The music tradition has been preserved only within the family, with complete devotion.

My family has been serving qawwali from the last 400 hundred years. We don’t except as our teacher out of family. We learn from our own family, Like before me, Nusrat Fathe Ali Khan has learned from his father and he learned from his ancestors, likewise, I learned from Master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, from my father too.

Supreme Master TV had the pleasure to meet Mr. Khan when he recently gave a charity concert in Singapore to benefit the victims of the devastating 2010 floods in Pakistan.

I admire the love of the people and I consider myself a lucky person to be a part of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s family, and you people love me very much – love my voice.

Thank you so much.

I love his composing of his music, and the choice of his music, his voice. And the lyrics of all his music is very soothing, and very beautifully expressed actually.

I believe this is actually his second show, and we always fail to get his ticket actually because it’s always fully booked.

When his uncle passed on in the year1997, Mr. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan took the name of his uncle’s first name, Nusrat, in a traditional gesture of honoring his master. He thus became the leader of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s group. Ever since, he has continued the great tradition of the mystical Sufi music of qawwali, introducing it to ever-wider audiences.

At the same time, he has been gaining fame rapidly for his performances of romantic ghazal music and lighter songs. Some of these have been instant hits featured in popular Bollywood films. The heart has become so sad, I am scared of smiling. We have lived our youth in fear. Now we are becoming passionate in old age.

Mr. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has toured not only throughout Pakistan, India, and other parts of Asia, but also in North America and Europe. He has also collaborated with many distinguished international artists, including Grammy-nominated Canadian guitarist Michael Brook and the US-based The Derek Trucks Band.

In 2010, he was honored with the “Best International Act” at the UK Asian Music Awards. Audiences do not need to understand the language to feel the transcendental vocals of Sufi music.

I want to say that Pakistan is a country, and it is in the world. From Faisalabad, Pakistan, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan started singing and he is renowned in the whole world as a Pakistani. I would like that the world gives us the same identity as Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had given.

I am an ardent fan of Rahat, and today I feel really lucky to get this opportunity to come and see him in person. I think it’s a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I’m really looking forward to spending this evening with him and even more to hear him sing tomorrow.

He’s so thorough – his voice, soulful singing. Not just Ghazals, but that Sufi feel, that he connects to God – instantly touches your heart. The music, his voice, I just love the entire package. It’s beautiful. O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . .

Qawwali is a message of peace and brotherhood, whether you convey this way or that way. And regarding qawwali, qawwali fills my heart and soul.

The word qawwali comes from the Arabic word qaol which means “utterance” or “credo,” referring to the precious sayings of the prophets. A qawwal, or the one who sings qawwali, sings these teachings of the wise prophets, as well as praises of Allah.

During the performance, the singer and the audience are often lifted to a blissful state of mind. In fact, the intention of qawwali is for all involved to feel in communion with God. Actually, Sufism is a poetry, words written by Sufis, and qawwals sing that in their lyrics, like the way Hazrat Ameer Khusru presented the qawwali. And those who present according to that, we call Tha Sufi Sangat, and there is no book for that.

He uses his message to spread love and peace. So Mr. Khan comes from that tradition of families where that work has been passed from generations to generations. Like he said, there is no book that he has, it’s in his blood. So when he speaks, he speaks from his blood and his heart. So it’s all here.

So that is the message. And the other point that he was trying to make was in this world, there is real need for this message to be passed across and that’s the message he passes through his music to fans all over the world.

A group of qawwali musicians is called Humnawa in Urdu. Typically, a lead singer is surrounded by one or two side singers, and five or four other musicians. There are one or two harmoniums, which may be played by a singer, and percussion instruments.

As an ambassador of a deep spiritual music tradition, Mr. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan shares a message of universal peace and goodwill wherever he goes. In October 2010, he sang for the occasion of the 19th Commonwealth Games at the Wagah border between Pakistan and India. The Commonwealth Games were hosted in Delhi, India and brought together over 6,000 athletes from 71 nations and regions.

Mr. Khan is a very good example of music and peace, sort of a vision of India and Pakistan and across the world.

So Mr. Khan, we have a question for you in this regard. You have a good reputation in India. People love you a lot, so would you like to say something in this regard?

First of all, I am happy to see That be it America or Europe, Indians and Pakistanis always work together in harmony. I feel very good when I see this. The paths between the hearts are formed. And people are getting to know each other. . . Pakistani people like the artists of India, and Indian people like Pakistani singers. So this is a very good task which is beneficial for both countries.

In addition to his prolific production of original albums, Mr. Khan has also sung for countless film soundtracks, both Pakistani and Indian. Also, Mr. Khan appeared as a judge on the reality show “Chhote Ustaad” which aired on STAR Plus in India and Geo Entertainment Television in Pakistan.

Beyond promoting greater peace and friendship between India and Pakistan through his art, Mr. Khan has also collaborated in American film projects. He contributed to the soundtrack of several Hollywood films such as the 1995 “Dead Man Walking,” and the 2002 film “Four Feathers.”

His vocals have also been featured in US director and actor Mr. Mel Gibson’s 2006 film “Apocalypto.” Today, Mr. Khan’s melodious songs for Bollywood are among his most cherished and widely popular accomplishments.

I really like his non- classical music actually. Being an ardent Bollywood fan, I, generally I prefer his music that has been sung in the latest Bollywood, in the latest Bollywood songs, so in movies like “Dabaang,” like “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai,” and “My Name is Khan,” and several other movies, as well.

At least these three movies have been really big hits in Bollywood this year.

I want to congratulate you and say that may you ever keep singing like that and we are grateful to you that you came to Bollywood and sang for us and changed the mode of singing. Thank you very much.

Please give us a message and to the people of Pakistan and to the future generations.

I would like to say that we work as a team outside our countries. Pakistanis and Indians always work in a group, we should also do this in our own countries, with love, and harmony.

The heart has become so sad, I am afraid of smiling. We have lived our youth in fear. Now we are becoming so amorous in old age. When my heart beats it feels like he’s coming and he will see me. My heart can feel the love. Oh why is the time not passing, Why do these moments remain in my vision? I am afraid of telling myself the truth, That my heart is till childish, It is still immature. My heart is still childish, It is still immature.

My name is Deepak, I am your fan. And I would request you to please Sing Rag marwa for us for five minutes.

Sure, you like it?

O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . . O Allah. . .

Whether praising Allah from the deep reaches of his soul, or interpreting love songs for drama or film, Mr. Khan always touches his listeners, across borders and cultures. For your dedication to the beautiful Sufi qawwali and the art of music itself, we thank and admire Mr. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Wishing you continued success as you encourage the world to cooperate with one another and to be spiritual.

Thank you for joining us for Enlightening Entertainment. Coming up next is Words of Wisdom, after Noteworthy News, here on Supreme Master Television. Heaven bless and farewell for now.

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