While ancient Qawwali music was typically performed in Sufi shrines, but in today’s modern Qawwali music, the dues will go to the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as the most famous Qawwali artist in the modern era. Also Pakistan’s Sabri Brothers, Bahauddin Qutbuddin, and Aziz Mian, Abida Parveen, the great Indian music composer A.R.Rehman gave the genre worldwide exposure by recording Qawwalis and performing them live around the world.
A lot has been gained and a lot has been lost in the mainstream qawwali. The over exposure of Internet and access to poring information has resulted in lifting this rather mysterious music genre from the private, secluded sphere of the shrine to the public open global marketplace. Qawwali has today become commercialised. The mainstream qawwali today is universally accessible through digital media.
We list here below the best qawwalis:
Huzurewala Jo Hogi Izazat
Yeh Raat Phir Na Ayegi -1965, Singers: Asha Bhosale & Minoo Purushottam, Music Director: O.P.Nayyar
Yeh Mana Meri Jaan Mohabbat Saza Hai – Haste Zakhm , 1973 Singer: Mohammed Rafi, Music Director: Madan Mohan
Raaz ki baat Kehn Doon Toh – Film Dharma 1975, Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosale , Music Director: Kalyanji Anandji
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi – Film: Rifles 1974, Singer: Aziz Nazan, Music Director: Kalyanji Ananadji
Yaari Hai Iman Mera Yaar Meri Zindagi– Zanjeer 1973, Singer: Manna Dey, Music Director: Kalyanji Anandji
Parda hai, parda hai – Film: Amar Akbar Anthony 1977, Singer: Mohammed Rafi, Music Director: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Hai agar dushman zamana – Film: Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin 1977 Singers: Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle Music, R.D.Burman
Qurbani, qurbani, qurbani Allah ko pyari hai – Film: Qurbani 1980. Singers: Anwar, Aziz Nazan Sholapuri & Kishore Kumar, Music Director: Kalyanji Ananadji
