Abida Parveen ( Urdu, sd, ; born 20 February 1954) is a Pakistani singer, composer and musician of Sufi music. She is also a painter and entrepreneur. Parveen is one of the highest paid singers in Pakistan. Her singing and music has earned her many accolades, and she has been dubbed as the 'Queen of Sufi music'. Born and raised in Larkana into a Sindhi

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

family, she was trained by her father Ustad Ghulam Haider who was a famous singer and music teacher. She plays Pump organ, Keyboard and Sitar. Parveen started performing in the early 1970s and came into global prominence in the 1990s. Since 1993, Parveen has toured globally, performing her first international concert at Buena Park, California. She has also performed in Churches several times. Parveen features in Pakistan's popular musical show Coke Studio and was a judge on the pan-South Asia contest show

Sur Kshetra Sur Kshetra is a 2012 singing talent show or musical battle between teams of two neighboring countries: Pakistan and India. The show is hosted by Indian actress Ayesha Takia. The Pakistani Team is led by singer, music director, music composer, ...

alongside Runa Laila and Asha Bhosle hosted by Ayesha Takia. She had appeared in various Indian and Pakistani Music reality shows including Pakistan Idol, Chhote Ustaad and

STAR Voice of India Star Voice of India is an Indian television singing competition that premiered on 18 May 2007 and ended on 24 November 2007 on StarPlus. The show was directed by Gajendra Singh, creator of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa series, and produced by Urban Bre ...

. She is among The 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world with the power to induce hysteria in her audience, Parveen is a " Global Mystic

Ambassador". In the last few years she has sung in a Pepsi commercial collaborating with Atif Aslam for this. Parveen is regularly referred to as one of the world's greatest mystic singers. She sings mainly

ghazal The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...

s, thumri, khyal, qawwali,

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...

(raag),

Sufi rock Sufi rock or Sufi folk rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines rock with classical Islamic Sufi music traditions. It emerged in the early 1990s and became widely popular in the late 1990s in Pakistan and Turkey. The term "Sufi rock" was co ...

, classical, semi-classical music and her specialty, kafi, a solo genre accompanied by percussion and harmonium, using a repertoire of songs by

poets. Parveen sings in Urdu, Sindhi, Saraiki,

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

, Arabic and Persian. Parveen notably sung a famous song in Nepali language called "Ukali Orali Haruma", originally by Nepali singer Tara Devi, in a concert in Kathmandu, Nepal and in 2017, she was designated a 'Peace Ambassador' by

SAARC The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, ...

. Parveen is best known for singing in an impassioned, loud voice, especially on the song ''Yaar ko Humne'' from the album ''Raqs-e-Bismil'' and ''Tere Ishq Nachaya'' which is a rendition of Bulleh Shah's poetry. She was bestowed Pakistan's second highest civilian award

Hilal-e-Imtiaz The ''Hilaal-e-Imtiaz'' (; ), also spelled and transliterated as Hilāl-e-Imtiyāz, is the second-highest (in the hierarchy of "Hilal") Awards and decorations of the Pakistan military, civilian award and honour given to both civilians and milit ...

in 2012 and the highest civilian award

Nishan-e-Imtiaz The Nishan-e-Imtiaz (; ) is one of the state organized Civil decorations of Pakistan, civil decorations of Pakistan. It is awarded for achievements towards world recognition for Pakistan or outstanding service for the country. However, the awa ...

in March 2021 by the

Sindh Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...

, Pakistan. She received her musical training initially from her father, Ustad Ghulam Haider, whom she refers as Baba Sain and Gawwaya. He had his own musical school where Parveen got her devotional inspiration from. She and her father would often perform at shrines of Sufi Saints. Parveen's talent compelled her father to choose her as his musical heir over his two sons. Growing up, she attended her father's music school, where her foundation in music was laid. Later Ustad Salamat Ali Khan of the Sham Chaurasia gharana also taught and nurtured her. Parveen always remembers that she was never forced towards this occupation and she sang her first complete kalam when she was only 3 years old.

Career

Parveen had already begun performing at Dargahs and Urs in the early 1970s, but it was in 1973, on Radio Pakistan, that she achieved her first real breakthrough with the Sindhi song ''Tuhinje zulfan jay band kamand widha.'' In 1977 she was introduced as an official singer on Radio Pakistan. Since then, Parveen has risen to prominence and is now considered one of the finest vocal artists of Pakistan. She has imbued

music with a new identity, marking the beginning of this journey at Sultana Siddiqui's Awaz-o-Andaz in 1980. Parveen travels internationally, often performing at sold-out venues. Her 1988 performance in Chicago was recorded by the Hazrat Amir Khusrau Society of Art and Culture, which issued an LP of her songs. Her 1989 performance in London's Wembley Conference Centre was broadcast on the BBC. Parveen cites her motivation for international travel as being to spread

Sufism Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...

, peace and the divine message. In doing so, she also promotes Pakistani culture. In the 1990s Parveen licensed her spiritual ghazals to Bollywood, since her "spiritual brother", Khan, recorded songs for Bollywood. Recently Abida also performed at the grand finale of Sindh Festival arranged by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Thatta. * Abida had a special appearance in the super hit Lollywood movie "Zindagi" starring

Sultan Rahi Sultan Rahi ( ur, ﺳﻠﻄﺎﻥ ﺭﺍﮨﯽ ; June 24, 1938 – January 9, 1996) was a Pakistani actor, producer and screenwriter. He established himself as one of the leading and most successful actors of Pakistani and Punjabi cinema, and ...

, Arif Lohar, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi in lead cast for which she performed her famous rendition of Sufi Sachal Sarmast 'mahi yar di gharoli bhar di'. * In 2007, Parveen collaborated with Shehzad Roy on a song entitled ''Zindagi'', dedicated to children's social problems . * In the same year she performed at the annual Oslo mela in Norway. * In 2010, Parveen performed at London's prestigious

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

, along with Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam. * In 2010, Parveen performed at the Asia Society's Sufi Music Festival in New York City. * In 2010, she performed in Union Square, Manhattan, in first Sufi Music Festival in New York City. * Parveen performs annually at the Indian film-maker Muzaffar Ali's

Jahan-e-Khusrau Jahan-e-Khusrau (Urdu, Persian: جہاں خسرو, Hindi: जहान-ए-खुसरो) is an annual three-day sufi music festival held in New Delhi, India to commemorate the death anniversary of the saint Amir Khusrau. History Jahan-e-Khus ...

event where she is reputed to be the top performer. * In 2010, she judged the Indo-Pak venture

TV Show. * She performed in Manchester International Festival, 2013 in

Bridgewater Hall The Bridgewater Hall is a concert venue in Manchester city centre, England. It cost around £42 million to build in the 1990s, and hosts over 250 performances a year. It is home to the 165-year-old Hallé Orchestra as well as to the Hallé ...

. * Abida also collaborated in Manchester in 2013 with composer John Tavener for remarkable composition 'Mahamatar' for a Werner Herzog film about pilgrimage. * She had performed in Holland festival 2014 in Stopera, Amsterdam. * Praveen was the grand performer of Dhaka International Folk Fest, 2015 in Bangladesh where she also received an award. * In the Sindh Literature Festival, 2016, she performed the grand show and cut the ribbon on its inauguration alongside SLF chairperson. * In the same year, she performed 2nd International Sufi Festival at Karachi. * In 2016, she collaborated with Indian Music director duo Salim–Sulaiman and an Orchestra in Toronto(Canada) for special song called "Noor e Illahi" released on Eid. * In 2017, on new year eve Abida released 'Mulk e Khuda' a patriotic song featuring natural sites and landscapes of Pakistan. * She has performed in the finale of Alchemy Festival, 2017 at

Southbank Centre Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues in London, England, on the South Bank of the River Thames (between Hungerford Bridge and Waterloo Bridge). It comprises three main performance venues (the Royal Festival Hall including the Nat ...

, London. * In the same year a Music video of romantic gazal "Ahat Si" was released by Abida feat. Saima Ajram. * Her performance includes the annual Faiz International Festival at the death anniversary of Faiz Ahmad Faiz.

''Coke Studio'' appearances

Parveen began performing on the internationally acclaimed Pakistani show ''Coke Studio'' in 2010. She sang three songs: "Ramooz-e-Ishq", "Nigah-e-Darwaishaan", and "Soz-e-Ishq" in episodes 1 (Reason), 3 (Conception), and 5 (Realization), respectively of season 3. Parveen said she admired the programme because it offered a Dargahi environment. She commented:

"This project which Rohail Hyatt has started is indeed great and I would like to be a part of it for a long time. The music that comes out of this project reaches both the heart and soul and it always compliments the lyrics without overriding the true message of the kalams. This platform builds on those messages of our Sufi elders."

She was invited back in season 7 in 2014. She sang "Mein Sufi Hoon" with Rais Khan and performed "dost" as a solo. She also performed "Chaap Tilak" (A popular Sufi poem by

poet Amir Khusro) in a duet with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Abida was also a part of season 9. Her first song along with other artists in the season, "Ae Rah Haq K Shaheedo" was dedicated to the war martyrs. After that she sang a duet with

Ali Sethi Ali Aziz Sethi (Urdu/; ; born July 2, 1984) is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, composer, and author. Sethi rose to prominence with his debut novel, '' The Wish Maker'' (2009). In 2012, Sethi began focusing on his musical career and made his film ...

entitled "Aaqa", then solo an entitled "Maula-i-Kull". She also performed in season 14, singing "Tu Jhoom" with Naseebo Lal.

Quotes

* "Pakistan seems disconnected from the outside. But it is built and running on prayers of our Sufi kings, our ''pirs''. Poor people, rich people – we are all God's servants … I'm lucky. My audience is my God." * "The songs purify the soul of a human being, the human is so involved that he has left God. The songs bring us near to God, near the Almighty, so that the human soul should be purified and satisfied."

Personal life

Education

Abida got her master's degree from Sindh and also learnt Urdu, Sindhi and Persian specifically.

Marriage and family

In 1975, Abida married Ghulam Hussain Sheikh, senior producer at Radio Pakistan, who had retired from his job in the 1980s to manage and mentor Parveen's career. After he died of a heart attack on an international flight in the early 2000s, their daughter Maryam took up that role. There is a sense that Parveen's career has taken a more commercial route as a result of it. The couple has two daughters Pereha Ikram and Marium Hussain, and a son Sarang Latif who is a music director. All three children act as her advisors. Her family understands her need for ''riyaz'' ( daily vocal music practice) and its required space to do that practice.

Abida Parveen Gallery

Parveen is also interested in the arts. She owns the Abida Parveen Gallery which features jewellery, paintings, her music CDs, awards section and garments and accessories and is run by her daughters. She also has her own music recording studio there.

Clothing style

Parveen has a distinctive clothing style which she has created herself for ease and comfort. She wears long simple frocks buttoned up to the top covered with a coat. She is always accompanied by an ', a Sindhi ', which she claims comes from the ' (mausoleum) of

Sufi saint Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai ( sd, شاھ عبداللطيف ڀٽائي, ur, ; 1689/1690 – 21 December 1752), commonly known by the honorifics ''Lakhino Latif'', ''Latif Ghot'', ''Bhittai'', and ''Bhit Jo Shah'', was a Sindhi Sufi mystic, an ...

and her wardrobe is full of it.

Other

Parveen has taken Bayyat and became a disciple of Najeeb Sultan, her spiritual master. Parveen suffered a heart attack during a performance in Lahore on 28 November 2010. Angiography and angioplasty were performed on her. She regained her health soon after.

Awards and recognitions

Fazal Malik Akif & Abida Parveen in Manchester on 04

* Pride of Performance Award (1984) by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Latif Award Latif Award ( sd, لطيف ايوارڊ) is given by Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, government of Sindh to the best researchers and singers of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai who made extraordinary work in Arts and Research field relate ...

(twice) *

Graduate Association Award * Pakistan Television Award * Sachal Sarmast Honor * 9th PTV Awards for Best Singer in 1998 * Sitara-e-Imtiaz Award (2005) by President Pervez Musharaff *

Award (2012) by President Asif Ali Zardari * Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kaladharmi Begum Akhtar Academy of Ghazal in India (2012). * Honored at the 16th Pakistan Television Awards Ceremony-PTV Award. (2011) * Nominated for Best Original Sound Track (OST) for Yaar Ko Hamne Jabaja Dekha at

12th Lux Style Awards The 2013 Lux Style Awards, officially known as the 12th Lux Style Awards, honoured the best Pakistani films of 2012 and took place on 12 October 2013 at Expo Centre, Lahore. During the ceremony, Lux Style Awards were awarded in 27 competitiv ...

. (2013) * Wonder Woman of the Year (2013) *

1st ARY Film Awards The 1st ARY Film Awards or AFA'14 ceremony, presented by ARY Digital Network and Entertainment Channel, sponsored by Nokia, powered by ZONG and L'Oréal and took place on April 27, 2014 at the Golf Club, DHA Phase VIII, Karachi. The ceremony wa ...

for Best Playback Singer for the film Ishq Khuda (2014). * Gold Crown on glorious 40 years in the Music Industry by the Sindhi Singers Association in Larkana. (2014) * Pakistani Diplomat Javed Malik presented an Ambassador's Recognition Award in Dubai (2015). * Tributed at the

17th PTV Awards The 17th annual PTV National Awards took place on 11 June 2012 and was aired on 30 June 2012. The awards were presented by the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) to honor the best drama programs on Pakistani television of the preceding 12 mo ...

in the category of 'Legends'. (2012) *

3rd Hum Awards The 3rd Hum Awards ceremony, presented by the Hum Television Network and Entertainment Channel (HTNEC), sponsored by Servis and Telenor, honored the best in fashion, music and Hum Television Dramas of 2014 and took place on 9 April 2015, at th ...

for excellence in Music . (2015) * She had been awarded in Dhaka International Folk Fest 2015. * She had been awarded in 2nd International Sufi Conference, 2016 in Karachi by famous politician Sharmila Farooqi. *

15th Lux Style Awards 15thLux Style Awards ---- Official Poster July 29, 2016 ---- Host: Ahmed Ali ButtAli Zafar ---- Venue: Expo Center, Karachi, Sindh ---- Film ''Moor'' ---- Television Play: ''Diyar-e-Dil'' ---- Album: '' Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh'' ---- ...

for best female singer(film)in 2016. * Saima Ajram, a presenter at BBC Asian Network, presented a lifetime achievement award to her at her home in 2016. * PISA Lifetime Achievement Award - 2020. *

by President Arif Alvi - 23 March 2021.

Filmography

Although Parveen is a highly acclaimed singer, she has never rendered her voice to films. Her pre-recorded songs have been used in films, however, on the insistence of her fans and Farooq Mengal. Parveen appears less and less in interviews and television morning shows due to her shy personality. Parveen confesses that she keeps getting offers from Bollywood film-makers namely

Subhash Ghai Subhash may refer to: People * Subhash Agarwal, Indian professional player and coach of English billiards and snooker * Subhash Awchat (born 1960), Indian artist and author based in Mumbai * Subhash Bapurao Wankhede (born 1963), Indian politician ...

and Yash Chopra but she keeps declining them as she has immersed herself in

and it is time-consuming to spread the Divine Message. She even got offers from

Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...

for Ra.One and music director A.R.Rehman has offered her some songs, too.

Television

Films

Discography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Parveen, Abida 1954 births Living people 20th-century Muslims Pakistani ghazal singers Pakistani qawwali singers People from Larkana District Performers of Sufi music Recipients of the Pride of Performance Pakistani Muslims Sindhi people Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz Punjabi singers Sindhi-language singers Singers from Sindh Punjabi-language singers Pakistani folk singers Women ghazal singers Recipients of Latif Award PTV Award winners 21st-century Pakistani women singers