Nusrat still wows the world

By: Insiya Syed

The debate of who really put Pakistan on an international level at such a massive scale really ends when Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is brought in. Junoon might have performed at the United Nations but Khan saheb was the only Pakistani to have earned a Grammy nomination in 1997 in the traditional folk album category for his record 'Intoxicated Spirit'

Ridiculous fashion statements, outlandish quotes, bad videos, and foolish behaviour have perennially come and gone, but the power of a great voice will forever remain undimmed. Hence, the nation as one might sing Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Mast Mast until doomsday, while no one but the mentally impaired will ever ask their barber to replicate a rock star's hairdo.

The ability to craft such songs, and thereby enrich our lives, is a priceless commodity. And hands down, most will give Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan the nod over other homegrown artistes because of the 'global appeal' of his lyrical content - and it's unlikely that local heroes such as Junoon or Strings would have been able to pull it off with quite the same panache.

Eight years ago on Saturday, August 16, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away in London. That day people around the world were already commemorating the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The impact of Khan saheb's death was just as great if not more. This Independence Day - two days prior to his death anniversary - it's time to reminisce over the memory of this true music genius and his enormous appeal to a worldwide music generation.

His songs encompass unity. And to millions his voice represents the ocean because it's only water that touches every continent without thinking about race or prejudice or religion. Eight years after his death he remains an icon, a legend whose songs still cast a magical spell over the listeners and a spell that can only be experienced.

It is said that the ultimate aim of qawwali is "the release of the soul into a sublime and ecstatic revelry." Those who have had the chance to watch Nusrat's international performances in Germany, France, or on television would know how strongly the audience felt his music and that too, with absolutely no connection with our culture, our music or even our Sufis. Living in a world where only music winds up boundaries - it was Ustad Nusrat who used his unrivalled talent to unify audiences from across the globe.

The debate of who really put Pakistan on an international level at such a massive scale, in this writer's opinion, really ends when Nusrat is brought in. Traditionally, the easiest route for freshly-baked bands to ascend the top of the international charts involves a cloying commercial song, with a lavishly expensive video to accompany it, and hanging out and becoming friends with the who's who of their target market. In short: the schmaltz is what one really requires. However, this was not the case with acts like Khan saheb. He is one of the true immortals of music. His achievements are by far the most incomparable to other bands and artistes who have tried to take over the world but haven't quite reached there as yet.

It was with Peter Gabriel that Nusrat made his debut on the world stage in 1987, when he performed at the UK's internationally acclaimed Womad (World of Music and Dance) festival. And later on the collaboration of Ustad Nusrat and Michael Brook produced Mast Mast and Night Song - released in 1990 - reached amazing heights and eventually got voted as one of the decade's top 100 albums by Alternative Press. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan also worked with Peter Gabriel on the The Last Temptation of Christ soundtrack and with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder on the Dead Man Walking soundtrack.

Junoon might have performed at the United Nations and Salman Ahmed might have made a documentary for VH1 (The Mullah and the Rock Star) but they can still not boast of a Grammy nomination. Whereas Khan saheb was the only Pakistani to have earned a Grammy nomination in 1997 in the traditional folk album category for his record Intoxicated Spirit.

An in-depth documentary about the life of the late qawwali legend was shot by Jerome De Missolz, who travelled to various locations to interview Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and individuals who knew him. Part of the documentary takes place in Queens, New York. It also includes an interview with Peter Gabriel, who explains his relationship with Nusrat Fateh Ali and an opportunity to see the maestro working with guitarist and producer Michael Brook.

Becoming famous is easy. Becoming a star is a little harder - you need considerable talent for that. Becoming an icon, however, is another thing entirely. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is an icon and remains a prodigious talent who had unique charisma and who eventually faced a tragic death at the age of 49. No one can make the art of qawwali look as huge and as passionate as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan did. It wouldn't be wrong to say that he wows the world eight years after his death and will continue to do so for the next 80 years and even more.

First Published in DAWN, Images - Sunday, August 14, 2005.