Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi
- Folk music
- Ghazal
- Playback singing
- Film
- Playback Singer
- Actor
- Composer
- Poet
Sanwal Esakhelvi
Bilawal Atta
Attaullah Khan Niazi, SI PP (Saraiki, Pashto: عطااللہ خان نیازی) (born 19 August 1951), known professionally as Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, also known as Lala (meaning 'elder brother' in Pashto and Saraiki), is a Pakistani musician from Isakhel, Mianwali, South Punjab.[1][2]
In 2011, he appeared at Coke Studio (season 4) and sang three songs: Ni Oothaan Waale, and Pyaar Naal.[1]
In September 2017, he appeared again in Coke Studio (season 10) and sang Sab Maya Hai with his traditional band.
Early life
He belongs to Niazi, a populous Saraiki speaking Pashtun tribe based in the north-west Punjab province of Pakistan and the eastern regions of Afghanistan. Attaullah developed an interest in music as a child, but it was strictly forbidden in his home.[3][4][5] Despite the restrictions on music in his home, Attaullah secretly sought to learn more about it.[4] His school teacher made him practise the songs by Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh and told him never to stop singing. Attaullah tried to explain his passion for music to his parents and convince them to let him sing, but they forbade him to continue singing.[4] Disillusioned, Attaullah left home when he was 18 years old.[4] He traveled extensively within Pakistan and supported himself by working from Mianwali. He is most popular in rural areas of Pakistan and many other countries in the world.[2]
Musical career
Esakhelvi continued his training after leaving his parents' home and often recorded himself on cassette tapes that he later distributed.[4]
In 1972, Esakhelvi was invited to perform on Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpur. That same year, he performed in a concert in Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.[3][6] Esakhelvi performed on the television show Neelam Ghar in 1973.[3]
He was invited by a company in Faisalabad to record folk songs in their studio, and he recorded four albums in one recording session.[4] The albums were released at the end of 1977 and became national bestsellers.[3][4]
In 1980, Esakhelvi performed in the United Kingdom for the first time. It was also his first concert abroad. His albums were eventually released in the UK under various labels, including Hi-Tech, OSA, and Moviebox.
He has performed Na`at and Kalaam by famous Sufi poets, such as Mian Muhammad Bakhsh's Saiful Maluk and Bulleh Shah's Keey Bay Dardan Sang Yaree. He also sang the songs written by S M Sadiq, a famous lyricist, in Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi. Attaullah Khan visited India in 2014. The Times of India wrote: "A Sufi concert, Ibaadat, organized in association with the Navbharat Times, was recently held at Purana Quila in the capital. Pakistani folk singer Attaullah Khan performed for the first time in Delhi at this event. Khan sang his Achha Sila Diya Tune Mere Pyaar Ka and other Pakistani Sufi hits for the audience. The concert was organized by the AAS group, an NGO that works to spread awareness about cervical cancer among women and ways to prevent it, and this concert was organized to spread that message."[7]
Personal life
Attaullah Khan received his early education from Esakhel.[8] He relocated to Lahore after becoming a professional musician, performing in saraiki language, Urdu, and English. He has been married five times -- his fourth wife Bazgha being a former actress. He has four children from fourth and fifth fives. His daughter, Laraib Atta, is a professional VFX artist who has worked for several Hollywood films.[9][10] His son, Sanwal Esakhelvi, is also pursuing a career in music.[1]
Legacy
He is considered a folk icon in Pakistan and is widely considered one of the most popular folk singers in Pakistan. The constant companion of Pakistani truck drivers is the lilting tunes of Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi. This Mianwali-born vocalist, with his swashbuckler moustache, kameez shalwar, and shawl on one shoulder, became the poster boy for traditional Pakistani music.[1][2]
Singing in Saraiki, which dominates western and southern Punjab which is a Saraiki majority era. His searing, impassioned songs caught on like wildfire almost from the moment he recorded his first session for Radio Pakistan, Bahawalpur, in the mid-1970s.[8] For years, Esakhelvi reigned supreme and unchallenged, in a universe that existed parallel to the cultured music salons of the elite.[8]
He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in seven languages.[1][3] He has received a lifetime achievement award from Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and had his name entered in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1994 for the highest number of audio albums released.[3]
Awards
- The Government of Pakistan awarded him the Pride of Performance Award in 1991.[3]
- Sitara e Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) on March 23, 2019, by the President of Pakistan.[11]
Selected popular songs
Year | Song | Artist | Music director | Label | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Idhar Zindgi Ka Janaza Uthay Ga[8] | Attaullah Khan | Rehmat Gramophone House | ||
1992 | Bedardi Se Pyar | Attaullah Khan | Waleed Records | ||
Qameez Teri Kaali, Te Sohnay Phullan Wali | Ataullah Khan | T-Series | |||
2011 | Pyaar Naal Na Sahi[1][8] | Ataullah Khan | Coke Studio (Pakistan) | ||
2011 | Ni Oothaan Waale[1] | Ataullah Khan | Coke Studio (Pakistan) |
Musicians
Attaullah has his own band, which travels with him. Members of the band include:
The musicians in Attaullah's band have performed with him since the 1970s, in Pakistan, United States of America, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, India, Italy, Australia, Oman, New Zealand, Hong Kong and UAE.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Adnan Lodhi) (6 April 2016). "Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi on what makes him the common man's artist". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ a b c Adil Najam (22 November 2008). "Atta Ullah Eesakhelvi and the Cassette Revolution". All Things Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Sarfraz Ali (20 August 2016). "Guinness world record holder Attaullah Esakhelvi turns 65". Daily Pakistan (newspaper). Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Coke Studio Journey continues with Episode 3!". Ink Magazine. 22 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi - Biography, Career, Songs List, Legacy". Pakpedia.pk website. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d Abdullah, Rana. "Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi – A Pakistani Legend life History". The News Track website. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Pakistani folk singer Attaullah Khan performed during a Sufi concert at Purana Quila in Delhi - Times of India". The Times of India.
- ^ a b c d e Rabe, Nate (5 April 2015). "Between hair salons and Coke Studio, Pakistani singer Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi conquers all". Scroll.in website. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "I hope to work on projects in Pakistan, says Hollywood VFX artist Laraib Atta". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Pakistani visual effects prodigy making waves in Hollywood". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 31 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "18 foreigners among 127 to be conferred civil awards on 23rd". Dawn (newspaper). 10 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
External links
- v
- t
- e
- Abdur Rehman Chughtai (1958)
- Zainul Abedin (1958)
- Hafeez Jalandhari (1958)
- Professor Abdus Salam (1958)
- Roshan Ara Begum (1960)
- Fateh Ali Khan (Qawwali singer) (1960)
- Tassaduq Hussain (1960)
- Sadequain (1962)
- Mehdi Ali Mirza (1962)
- Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum (1962)
- Ahmed Mohiuddin (1962)
- Allah Bakhsh (1963)
- Shahid Ahmad Dehlvi (1963)
- Noor Jehan (1965)
- A.S.M. Qamarul Hasan (1965)
- Zubaida Agha (1965)
- Ferdausi Begum (1965)
- Sharif Khan Poonchwaley (1965)
- Imtiaz Ali Taj (1965)
- Salimuzzaman Siddiqui (1966)
- Shakir Ali (1966)
- Khwaja Moinuddin (1966)
- Ayat Ali Khan (1966)
- Ustad Haji Mohammad Sharif (1967)
- Munshi Raziuddin (1967)
- Rafi Peer (1967)
- Ali Imam (1968)
- Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi (1968)
- Amanat Ali Khan (1969)
- Bade Fateh Ali Khan (1969)
- Leila Arjumand Banu (1969)
- Umeed Ali Khan (1969)
- Mohammad Kibria (1969)
- Anna Molka Ahmed (1969)
- Ismail Gulgee (1970)
- Farida Khanum (1970)
- Naheed Niazi (1970)
- Muslehuddin (1970)
- Ustad Gul Mohammad Khan (1971)
- S. M. Ikram (1971)
- Iqbal Bano (1974)
- Salamat Ali Khan (1977)
- Munir Sarhadi (1978)
- Ahmed Parvez (1978)
- Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan (1978)
- Sabri Brothers (1978)
- Ibn-e-Insha (1978)
- Faiz Mohammad Baloch (1979)
- Khamiso Khan (1979)
- Kishwar Sultan (1979)
- Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Sitar Nawaz) (1979)
- Ghulam Ali (1979)
- Alam Lohar (1979)
- Mureed Buledi (1979)
- Misri Khan Jamali (1979)
- Pathanay Khan (1979)
- Mohammad Azam Chishti (1979)
- Ashfaq Ahmed (1979)
- Nabi Bakhsh Baloch (1979)
- Mohammad Qavi Khan (1980)
- Ustad Khyal Muhammad (1980)
- Allan Fakir (1980)
- Sohail Rana (1980)
- Khalid Iqbal (1980)
- Aazar Zubi (1980)
- Malika Pukhraj (1980)
- Muhammad Juman (1980)
- Qari Shakir Qasmi (1981)
- Nasir Jahan (1981)
- Mansoor Tabish (1981)
- Qari Syed Ali Sharfuddin Yemni (1981)
- Nanhe Ali Khan (music performer))(1981)
- Roohi Bano (1981)
- Alexander Robert (1981)
- Mai Bhagi (1981)
- Mirza Adeeb (1981)
- Uzma Gillani (1982)
- Qari Ubaidur Rehman (1982)
- Talat Hussain (1982)
- Tufail Niazi (1982)
- Reshma (1982)
- Arsh Muneer (1983)
- Ustad Nazar Hussain (1983)
- Atta Shad (1983)
- Qari Waheed Zafar Qasmi (1984)
- Begum Khurshid Mirza (1984)
- Abida Parveen (1984)
- Muhammad Ali (1984)
- Sayed Nafees al-Hussaini, Nafees Raqam (1985)
- Ustad Chhote Ghulam Ali Khan (1985)
- Bundu Khan (1985)
- Mehdi Hasan (1985)
- Shaukat Hussain (1985)
- Qari Ghulam Rasool (1985)
- Siddiq Ismail (1985)
- Abid Ali (1985)
- Syed Mehmood Ali (1985)
- Sabiha Khanum (1986)
- Shahzad Khalil (1986)
- Suraiya Multanikar (1986)
- Firdous Jamal (1986)
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan(1986)
- Azhar Lodhi (1986)
- Riaz Batalvi (1986)
- Intizar Hussain (1986)
- Amjad Islam Amjad (1987)
- Ustad Abdul Majeed Dehlvi (1987)
- Haseena Moin (1987)
- Aadil Salahuddin (1987)
- Sain Akhtar Hussain (1987)
- Qari Izhar Ahmed Thanvi (1987)
- Shaista Zaid (1988)
- Ghulam Hassan Shaggan (1988)
- Mustafa Qureshi (1988)
- Muzaffar Warsi (1988)
- Qazi Wajid (1988)
- Ustad Kabir Khan (1989)
- Ghulam Ahmed Chishti (1989)
- Musarrat Nazir (1989)
- Shafi Mohammad Shah (1989)
- Kamal Ahmed Rizvi (1989)
- Jameel Bismil (1989)
- Bushra Ansari (1989)
- Ameer Khan (1989)
- Amjad Hussain (1989)
- Ustad Salamat Ali Khan (1989)
- Aziz Mian (1989)
- Talish (1989)
- Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak (1989)
- Jamil Naqsh (1989)
- Enver Sajjad (1989)
- Salim Nasir (1990)
- Daud Kamal (1990)
- Khalid Hameed Baig (1990)
- Shaukat Ali (1990)
- Ustad Sadiq Ali Khan Mando (1990)
- Ustad Hamid Ali Khan (1990)
- Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Gwalior gharana) (1990)
- Mushtaq Gazdar (1990)
- Ahmed Saeed Nagi (1990)
- Qari Mohammad Fida (1990)
- Parveen Shakir (1990)
- Iftikhar Arif (1990)
- Ibrahim Jalees (1990)
- Jamiluddin Aali (1991)
- Khursheed Alam known as Gohar Qalam (1991)
- Khayyam Sarhadi (1991)
- Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi (1991)
- Ata ul Haq Qasmi (1991)
- Nayyar Ali Dada (1992)
- Shakeel (Yousuf Kamal) (1992)
- Noor Mohammad Lashari (1992)
- Tariq Aziz (1992)
- Mustansar Hussain Tarar (1992)
- Pervez Malik (1992)
- Jawed Iqbal (1992)
- Mian Ijazul Hasan (1992)
- Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman (1992)
- Munir Niazi (1992)
- Naseem Hijazi (1992)
- Mian Sheheryar (1992)
- Waheed Qureshi (1993)
- Ismail Shahid (1993)
- Saeed Akhtar (1993)
- Ali Ejaz (1993)
- S.H. Hashmi (1993)
- Syed Manzoorul Kaunain (1993)
- Qari Syed Buzurg Shah Al-Azhari (1993)
- Agha Nasir (1993)
- Farooq Qaiser (1993)
- Bashir Mirza (1994)
- Ahmad Bashir (1994)
- Shahid Jalal (1994)
- Qari Mohammad Younus (1994)
- Qari Syed Ali Abid Naqvi (1994)
- Mehr Abdul Haq (1994)
- Nisar Bazmi (1994)
- Hamid Ali Bela (1994)
- Zareena Baloch (1994)
- Anwar Maqsood (1994)
- Shujaat Hashmi (1994)
- Qateel Shifai (1994)
- Zamir Niazi (1994))
- Tufail Hoshiarpuri (1994)
- Nahid Siddiqui (1994))
- Laeeq Ahmed (1994)
- Abdus Salam (newscaster) (1994)
- Allah Rakha (sarangi) (1995)
- Ustad Talib Hussain Khan (1995)
- Colin David (1995)
- Shoaib Hashmi (1995)
- Rauf Khalid (1995)
- Laila Shahzada (1995)
- Hajra Masroor (1995)
- Khursheed Ahmad (1996)
- Mashooq Sultan (1996)
- Safeerullah Lehri (1996)
- Afzal Ahsan Randhawa (1996)
- Qari Noor Mohammad (1996)
- Rubina Khalid (1996)
- Fatima Surayya Bajia (1996)
- Sehba Akhtar (1996)
- Mohammad Ali Shah (surgeon) (1996)
- Ahmed Ghulam Ali Chagla (1997)
- Nadeem Baig (1997)
- Abdul Hameed (1997)
- Masroor Anwar (1997)
- Ahmad Ali Khan (1997)
- Akhtar Chanal Zahri (1998)
- Mumtaz Mirza (1998)
- Suhrab Faqir (1999)
- Dilawar Figar (1999)
- Salima Hashmi (1999)
- Anwar Masood (1999)
- Anita Ghulam Ali (1999)
- Zafar Iqbal (poet) (1999)
- Khalid Abbas Dar (1999)
- Khatir Ghaznavi (1999)
- Mujahid Kamran (1999)
- Raza Mir (1999)
- Amjad Parvez (2000)
- Sharif Kunjahi (2000)
- Kamaluddin Ahmed (2001)
- Athar Shah Khan Jaidi (2001)
- Jameel Fakhri (2002)
- Nazia Hassan (2002)
- Deena M. Mistri (2002)
- Askari Mian Irani (2002)
- Himayat Ali Shair (2002)
- Shoaib Mansoor (2002)
- Jilani Kamran (2002)
- Iftikhar Ahmad (2003)
- Ada Jafri (2003)
- Syed Afzal Hussain (2003)
- Syed Munawwar Saeed (2003)
- Abdul Aziz Baloch (2003)
- Ghulam Mustafa (2003)
- Majeed Khan (sarangi player) (2003)
- Muneeza Hashmi (2003)
- Muhammad Ali Siddiqui (2003)
- Imdad Hussaini (2003)
- Muhammad Usman Diplai (2004)
- Yousuf Khan (actor) (2004)
- Mahtab Akbar Rashdi (2004)
- Chishty Bin Subh-o-Mujahid (2004)
- Navid Shahzad (2004)
- Salahuddin Toofani (2004)
- S. M. Naqi (2004)
- Haji Atta Muhammad (2004)
- Moin Niazi (2004)
- Shahida Parveen (2004)
- Tina Sani (2004)
- Niaz Ahmed (2004)
- Samiur Rahman (2004)
- Tariq Rahman (2004)
- Rais Khan (2005)
- Arif Lohar (2005)
- Rangeela (2005)
- Muhammad Mansha Yaad (2005)
- Shabnam Shakeel (2005)
- Abdul Rauf Rufi (2005)
- Khawaja Najmul Hassan (2005)
- Amir Adnan (2006)
- Asghar Nadeem Syed (2006)
- Arshad Mehmood (2006)
- Arfa Karim (2006)
- Nayyar Kamal (2006)
- Tassawar Khanum (2006)
- Ustad Badar uz Zaman (2006)
- Ustad Qamar uz Zaman (2006)
- Shafqat Tanvir Mirza (2006)
- Zehra Nigah (2006)
- Khalida Hussain (2006)
- Ghazi Sial (2006)
- Nayyara Noor (2006)
- Masood Akhtar (2006)
- Aftab Iqbal Shamim (2006)
- Naheed Akhtar (2007)
- Shaan (2007)
- Asad Amanat Ali Khan (2007)
- Hamid Ali Khan (2007)
- Faakhir Mehmood (2007)
- Munnu Bhai (2007)
- Munni Begum (2008)
- Akhtar Munir (2008)
- Gopal Das (2008)
- Haji Mehr Ali (2008)
- Haji Sher Ali (2008)
- Nahid Raza (2008)
- Gul Bahar Bano (2008)
- Mujahid Hussain (2008)
- Rasheed Malik (2008)
- Sultana Siddiqui (2008)
- Abdul Karim Balouch (2008)
- Abdul Qadir Junejo (2008)
- M. Hanif Raza (2008)
- Nasreen Askari (2008)
- Shafqat Amanat Ali (2008)
- Mansoor Rahi (2008)
- Tari Khan (2008)
- Noorul Huda Shah (2008)
- Rasheed Naz (2009)
- Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan (2009)
- Muhammad Younus Khan (2009)
- Emanuel Philip (2009)
- Rehana Siddiqui (2009)
- Shabbir Hussain (2009)
- Manzoor Hussain (2009)
- Parveen Nazzar (2009)
- Javaid Tufail Niazi (2009)
- Babar Ali Niazi (2009)
- Hajra Mansoor (2009)
- Behroze Sabzwari (2009)
- Obaidullah Baig (2009)
- Khalifa Muhammad Irshad Beg (2009)
- Naseem Sultan (2009)
- Ghous Bux Brohi (2009)
- Sahib Dino Mallah (2009)
- Satish Chandra Anand (2009)
- Rubeena Malik (2009)
- Badar Munir (2009)
- Muhammad Gul (2009)
- Mehnaz Hyat (2009)
- Abdul Qadir (2009)
- Ghayyur Akhtar (2009)
- Aslam Farrukhi (2009)
- Ali Moeen Nawazish (2009)
- Afzal Tauseef (2010)
- Musarrat Misbah (2010)
- Rabia Zuberi (2010)
- Zulfiqar Ali (2010)
- Mahmood Shaam (2010)
- Hameed Akhtar (2010)
- Fahmida Riaz (2010)
- Shahid Nadeem (2010)
- Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo (2010)
- Masood Mufti (2010)
- Masood Ashar (2010)
- Habib-ur-Rehman (2011)
- Khalida Inayat Noor (2011)
- Khan Tehsil (2011)
- Abdul Rahim Nagori (2011)
- S. Amjad Bukhari (2011)
- S. B. John (2011)
- S.H. Qasim Jalali (2011)
- Samina Ahmad (2011)
- Sohail Ahmed (2011)
- Ustad Hussain Bukhsh Gullu (2011)
- Khalid Ahmad (2011)
- Ustad Muhammad Alam (2011)
- Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan (2011)
- Wazir Afzal (2011)
- Zafar Kazmi (2011)
- Moin Akhter (2011)
- Sahira Kazmi (2012)
- Mohsin Gillani (2012)
- Nauman Ijaz (2012)
- Saba Hameed (2012)
- Jawed Sheikh (2012)
- Meera (2012)
- Rahat Naveed Masud (2012)
- Lutfullah Khan (2012)
- Kazim Pasha (2012)
- Tahira Syed (2013)
- Muhammad Ajmal Khan (2013)
- Alamgir (2013)
- Shahida Mini (2013)
- Naghma (2013)
- Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema (2013)
- Cecil Chaudhry (2013)
- Shahid Abdullah (2014)
- Ustad Shafiquz Zaman Khan (2014)
- Aurangzeb Leghari (2014)
- Nazir Leghari (2014)
- Ayub Khawar (2014)
- Mir Mohammad Ali (TV comedian) (2015)
- Ayesha Haroon (2015)
- Saleem Kausar (2015)
- Saba Qamar (2016)
- Waseem Abbas (2016)
- Wajahat Masood (journalist) (2016)
- Gulab Chandio (2016)
- Nathoo Khan (2016)
- Khalid Butt (2016)
- Sarmad Khoosat (2017)
- Humaira Channa (2017)
- Ghazi Salahuddin (2017)
- Rashid Mehmood (2017)
- Shakir Shuja Abadi (2017)
- Zulfiqar Bhutta (2017)
- Aslam Pervaiz (2018)
- Ghulam Haider (musician) (2018)
- Amin Hafeez (2018)
- A. Nayyar (singer) (2018)
- Bilqees Khanum (2018)
- Rauf Parekh (journalist) (2018)
- Amanullah (comedian) (2018)
- Nighat Chaudhry (classical dancer) (2018)
- Nighat Butt (2018)
- Zareen Panna (2018)
- Ishrat Fatima (newsreader) (2019)
- Reema Khan (2019)
- Arshad Sharif (journalist) (2019)
- Nasir Adeeb (2019)
- Shabbir Jan (2019)
- Iftikhar Thakur (2019)
- Deeba (2020)
- Ghulam Mohiuddin (2020)
- Sahir Ali Bagga (2020)
- Waris Baig (2020)
- Ghulam Abbas 2020
- Saieen Zahoor (2020)
- Fareed Ayaz (2020)
- Sarmad Sehbai (2021)
- Resham (2021)
- Khalid Masud Gondal (2021)
- Muhammad Javed (2022)
- Hafeez Tahir (2023)
- Sangeeta (2023)
- Sher Miandad Khan (2023)
- Ustad Tafu (2023)
- Anjuman (2023)