Asad Amanat Ali Khan
Encyclopedia
Asad Amanat Ali Khan was a popular classical
, semi-classical
and ghazal
singer from Pakistan
. Hailing from famous Patiala Gharana
, Asad was son of famous musician Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Asad Amanat Ali Khan died relatively young of heart attack on April 8, 2007 in London
.
, Pakistan
. His great-grandfather, Ali Baksh
Khan, was the founder of the Patiala Gharana
. His grandfather, Akhtar Hussain, was a prominent musician of his time who added to his repute by coaching two of his sons into becoming a formidable singing duo(Amanat Ali Khan and Fateh Ali Khan). Amanat Ali Khan
, Asad's father, died in 1974. Asad's younger brother Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is a popular pop and classical singer he was the lead singer of band Fuzön
.
Asad worked for Pakistan Television for several years. Nisar Bazmi
, composer and PTV producer, who died one week before him, gave him his first break, introducing the artist to the world on live television. He retained his affiliation with television through the years, recording over 1,000 songs. Asad also contributed to the Pakistani film industry, featuring on a number of soundtracks. Moreover, he caught the attention of neighboring Bollywood
and contributed to soundtracks there too.
Asad also sang as a member of singing duo with his uncle Hamid Ali Khan
. Asad owed much of his early recognition to his late father's famous numbers. Quite often his concert would round off with "Insha'a Jee utho, abb cooch karo" (Get up O Insha! It's time to leave the world) — [Insha Allah Khan born 15 June 1927 d. 11 January 1978) who wrote it, a song that finds another ironic reference in Asad's death. , Amanat Ali and Asad Amanat who sang it — both died relatively young. Other than music and the family name, Asad inherited from his father a passion to act in films. But the affair was cut short after an unsuccessful attempt.
Asad Amanat Ali was also famed for his "soz-o-salam" recitations in Urdu describing the events of Karbala
during Ashura
in Muharram
, and appeared on many radio and television specials about Karbala over the years before his death.
. The government of Pakistan acknowledged Asad Amanat Ali Khan’s immense contribution to Pakistani music by awarding him the Pride of Performance
on March 23, 2007 (2 weeks before his death).
. He returned to Pakistan however during his treatment to receive the President's award of Pride of Performance. After receiving the award he had left Pakistan on April 3, 2007 for medical consultation, and while in England, on April 8, 2007 died in Cassiobury Park
in London whilst enjoying an outing with the family. He had fallen to the ground and many attempts were made to revive him however, he had died instantaneously. His medical tests were scheduled for the following week but he never got a chance to continue his treatment. His body was brought back to his home country Pakistan
for the burial. He was buried in Mominpura Graveyard Lahore
.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, semi-classical
Semi-classical music
In Pakistan, semi-classical music was derived from classical music combined with Pakistani film music and was specifically created for TV viewers. This generally refers to the music produced by Pakistan Television from 1964 to the late 1980s...
and ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
singer from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Hailing from famous Patiala Gharana
Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music. It was initially sponsored by the Maharaja of Patiala, Punjab, which was famous for ghazal, thumri, and khyal.-History:...
, Asad was son of famous musician Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Asad Amanat Ali Khan died relatively young of heart attack on April 8, 2007 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early life and background
Asad Amanat Ali Khan was born in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. His great-grandfather, Ali Baksh
Ali Baksh
Ali Baksh or Ali Baksh Khan was a Pakistani classical singer. He, together with his friend Fateh Ali Khan founded the Patiala Gharana. Patiala Gharana is a relatively new gharana. This gharana is claimed to combine the musical traditions of Delhi gharana, Gwalior Gharana and Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana...
Khan, was the founder of the Patiala Gharana
Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music. It was initially sponsored by the Maharaja of Patiala, Punjab, which was famous for ghazal, thumri, and khyal.-History:...
. His grandfather, Akhtar Hussain, was a prominent musician of his time who added to his repute by coaching two of his sons into becoming a formidable singing duo(Amanat Ali Khan and Fateh Ali Khan). Amanat Ali Khan
Amanat Ali Khan
Ustad Amanat Ali Khan was a Pakistani classical/ghazal singer, from the Patiala gharana. He was honoured with the 'Pride of Performance' award by the government of Pakistan...
, Asad's father, died in 1974. Asad's younger brother Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is a popular pop and classical singer he was the lead singer of band Fuzön
Fuzon
Fuzon may refer to:*Fuzon , a character from The Book of Ahania by William Blake*Fuzön, a band from Pakistan...
.
Singing career
When he was 10 years old Asad recorded his first song, which featured on his grandfather’s debut album. He had also been interested in academics and often said if not a singer, he would love to be a pilot. He joined a private institution however and began singing professionally after completing his F.A. He started his musical career performing "Thumri" and then went on to record some of his most popular Punjabi numbers and Ghazals, such as "Umra Lagian", "Zara Zara", "Kal Chaudwin Ki Raat", and "Ghar Wapas Jab". One of the songs that featured in almost every concert he performed, arguably his biggest hit, was "Insha Ji Utho" (Originally sung by his father).Asad worked for Pakistan Television for several years. Nisar Bazmi
Nisar Bazmi
Nisar Bazmi was a composer and music director of Pakistan film industry. Bazmi remained one of the most famous musicians of subcontinent. He also introduced new singers like Alamgir. The duo of composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal were musicians with Bazmi in India before partition...
, composer and PTV producer, who died one week before him, gave him his first break, introducing the artist to the world on live television. He retained his affiliation with television through the years, recording over 1,000 songs. Asad also contributed to the Pakistani film industry, featuring on a number of soundtracks. Moreover, he caught the attention of neighboring Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
and contributed to soundtracks there too.
Asad also sang as a member of singing duo with his uncle Hamid Ali Khan
Hamid Ali Khan
Hamid Ali Khan is a Pakistani classical singer. He belongs to the legendary Patiala gharana. He is considered to be one of the Last Great Patiala Legends. He represents an era of "Pure" Music. He is one of the most sought after classical singers in [Pakistan]. Ustad Hamid Ali Khan was born in 1953...
. Asad owed much of his early recognition to his late father's famous numbers. Quite often his concert would round off with "Insha'a Jee utho, abb cooch karo" (Get up O Insha! It's time to leave the world) — [Insha Allah Khan born 15 June 1927 d. 11 January 1978) who wrote it, a song that finds another ironic reference in Asad's death. , Amanat Ali and Asad Amanat who sang it — both died relatively young. Other than music and the family name, Asad inherited from his father a passion to act in films. But the affair was cut short after an unsuccessful attempt.
Asad Amanat Ali was also famed for his "soz-o-salam" recitations in Urdu describing the events of Karbala
Karbala
Karbala is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorate, and has an estimated population of 572,300 people ....
during Ashura
Day of Ashura
The Day of Ashura is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram.It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10...
in Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
, and appeared on many radio and television specials about Karbala over the years before his death.
Awards
Like his father, Asad was given the president’s award for Pride of PerformancePride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
. The government of Pakistan acknowledged Asad Amanat Ali Khan’s immense contribution to Pakistani music by awarding him the Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
on March 23, 2007 (2 weeks before his death).
Death
He had visited London in January and was receiving treatment for a condition known as Hypertrophic cardiomyopathyHypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the myocardium in which a portion of the myocardium is hypertrophied without any obvious cause...
. He returned to Pakistan however during his treatment to receive the President's award of Pride of Performance. After receiving the award he had left Pakistan on April 3, 2007 for medical consultation, and while in England, on April 8, 2007 died in Cassiobury Park
Cassiobury Park
Cassiobury Park is the principal public open space in Watford, Hertfordshire, in England. It comprises over and extends from the A412 Rickmansworth Road in the east to the Grand Union Canal in the west....
in London whilst enjoying an outing with the family. He had fallen to the ground and many attempts were made to revive him however, he had died instantaneously. His medical tests were scheduled for the following week but he never got a chance to continue his treatment. His body was brought back to his home country Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
for the burial. He was buried in Mominpura Graveyard Lahore
Mominpura Graveyard Lahore
Mominpura Graveyard is one among the oldest graveyards of Lahore. It is the most important and oldest of the Shia community graveyards in Lahore. According to the records, more than 100,000 people are buried here. There are very old graves, some of them being hundreds of years old, in this...
.
Discography
Some of his superhit songs are listed below.- Awaz Who Jado sa (Saheli)
- Insha Ji Utho (Originally sung by his father)
- Ghar Wapis Jub ao gai tum
- Umraan langiyaan pabbaan paahr
- Pyaar Nahii Hai Sur Se Jisko
- Abhi Kalion Mein
- Diyaar Yaar Geya
- Doob Gai Sub
- Ghum Tera Hum Ne
- Jo Bhi Dil Ki
- Kal Chowdhwein Ki Raat
- Zara zara dil meiN dard huaa
- Apne haathoN kii lakiiroN meiN
- Piya dekhan ko tarseiN morey
- Kisi aur gham meiN itni khalish-e-nihaN nahiN hai (lyrics: Mustafa ZaidiMustafa ZaidiMustafa Zaidi is remembered as one of the few great progressive Urdu poets of the twentieth century. His vast work and literary accomplishments remain popular and relevant today. He was born on 16 October 1930 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh , India to Syed Lakhte Hasnain and Binte Haider...
) - Ek lamha-e-wisal tha wapas na aa saka ( Poet: Raees Warsi )
- Youn bhi tou raas rooh ko tanhai aa gaaee ( Poet: Raees Warsi )