Quick Facts
Biography
Ustad Ghulam Fariduddin Ayaz Al-Hussaini Qawwal is a Pakistani Qawwal. He belongs to the Qawwal Bachchon Ka Gharana of Delhi. He and his relatives are the flag-bearers of that school of music (gharana), which is also known by the name of the city as the Delhi gharana. He performs various genres of Hindustani classical music such as dhrupad, khayal, tarana, thumri, and dadra. Ayaz leads the qawwal party with his younger brother, Ustad Abu Muhammad. They are probably the most sought-after qawwals in Pakistan and as well as in the South Asian subcontinent.[1]
Early life
Fareed Ayaz was born in Hyderabad, India in 1952. In 1956 his family shifted to Karachi, Pakistan. He started his training in classical music with his father, Ustad Munshi Raziuddin Ahmed Khan Qawwal. Their roots can be traced to the family tree of one of the earliest disciples of Amir Khusro. Their father, Munshi Raziuddin Qawwal also used to sing with his cousin Qawwal Bahauddin Khan and Manzoor Niazi Qawwal (maternal uncle of Farid) early in his career. After finishing school he was admitted to PECHS College in Karachi to complete his higher secondary education. Mindful of his ability, Fasahat Ali Khan, Secretary General of National College's student union persuaded him to join National College during the academic year of 1975-76. He participated in a majority of Inter-College Musical competitions and every time won the first prize and Trophy for the college. He broke all previous records of most Trophies won by any individual in solo performances that year. The trophies won by him are still among the valuable treasures of National College Karachi. In a few competitions, judges questioned his participation as though he was a professional singer as these competitions were for amateurs. In his teens, he was already considered by many as a highly gifted singer of the semi-classical genre of Hindustani music.
Career
Fareed Ayaz & Abu MuhammadQawwal Brothers are popular for their Sufi performances. They are considered the most popular Qawwal party in Pakistan and one of the only few left. They have performed in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, India, Kenya, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Croatia, Turkey, Morocco, Greece, Egypt, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Belgium, Iran, Oman Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Romania, Mauritius, Hong Kong and South Africa by Bazme Chirag e Faqir Chishti International a non-profit sufi organization.
They also performed at Aman ki Asha, organised by Times of India and Pakistan's Jang Group.
Songs
- Kangna (2011) Coke Studio (Pakistan) (featured in the 2012 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist)
- Mori Bangri (2011) Coke Studio (Pakistan)
- Rung (2012) Coke Studio (Pakistan)
- Khabram Raseeda (2012) Coke Studio (Pakistan)
- Ghar Nari (2016) (featured in 2016 film Ho Mann Jahaan)
- Jaag Musafir (2016) (featured in 2016 film Mah e Mir)
- Khabar-e-Tahayyur-e-Ishq Sun (2016) (Drama OST Deewana (TV series))
- Nami Danam Ke Akhir Choon (with Urdu translation)- Fareed Ayaz
- "Balamwa" (2017) (featured in 2017 film Rangreza) - sung with Hamza Akram & Abu Muhammad
- Shikwa/Jawab-e-Shikwa (2018) Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11) collaboration with Natasha Baig
- Piya Ghar Aaya (2018) Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11)
- Aadam (2019) Coke Studio Pakistan (season 12)