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Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi

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Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi
SI PP
Photograph of Esakhelvi
Photograph of Esakhelvi
Background information
Birth nameAttaullah Khan Niazi[citation needed]
Born (1951-08-19) 19 August 1951 (age 73)
Isakhel, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan
OriginPunjab, Pakistan
Genres
Occupations
Years active1971 – present
Spouse
​
(m. 1985)​
ChildrenLaraib Atta
Sanwal Esakhelvi
Bilawal Atta

Attaullah Khan Niazi[a] SI PP (Punjabi: [əˈt̪aːʊˈlaː xaːn nɪaːzi]; born 19 August 1951), known professionally as Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi,[c] is a Pakistani musician, singer, and poet from Isakhel in Mianwali District, Punjab.[1][2] He is mainly associated with Punjabi folk music and has written various songs and poems in Punjabi language.

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

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Esakhelvi was born on 19 August, 1951 in Isakhel, in the Mianwali District of West Punjab province of the Dominion of Pakistan (now in Punjab, Pakistan) into a Punjabi-speaking Niazi Pashtun family. The Thali dialect is spoken in his family. 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 practice 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 travelled 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

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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

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Attaullah Khan received his early education from Esakhel.[8] He relocated to Lahore after becoming a professional musician, performing in Punjabi, 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 wives. 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

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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 various Punjabi dialects, his searing, impassioned songs became popular 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

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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

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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.

Notes

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  1. ^ عطااللہ خان نیازی
  2. ^ "Elder brother" in Punjabi
  3. ^ (pronounced [əˈt̪aːʊˈlaː xaːn iːsaːxeːl]), also known as Lala ([laːlaː]),[b]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi - Biography, Career, Songs List, Legacy". Pakpedia.pk website. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Pakistani folk singer Attaullah Khan performed during a Sufi concert at Purana Quila in Delhi - Times of India". The Times of India.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "I hope to work on projects in Pakistan, says Hollywood VFX artist Laraib Atta". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Pakistani visual effects prodigy making waves in Hollywood". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 31 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  11. ^ "18 foreigners among 127 to be conferred civil awards on 23rd". Dawn (newspaper). 10 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
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