 Wadali Brothers
Padamshree Ustad Puran Chand wadali and Piyare Lal Wadali.
By now, The two Wadali Brothers-Puran chand and Piyare Lal need no introductions for those familiar with the trends and artists of the music world,especially those associated with the sufi style of singing. The wadali brothers, capable of rising to ecstatic spiritual heights as they offer full throated musical homage to the almighty through their sufi music, come across as simple village folk. The small village of GURU KI WADALI, on the Amritsar-Lahore Road (Amritsar-Punjab), has been put on the world music map by the two brothers because of their distinct style.
A thick moustache and stocky figure could easily result in 65 year old Puran Chand Wadali being mistaken for a wrestler,rather than a master exponent of Sufi singing.But for close to four decades.He and his younger brother Piyare lal have held their own in Sufi music by practicing an earthy style of singing, rooted in classical music.
Though neither of them went to school for any formal education, the wadali brothers have come to occupy the position of masters in the music world largely because of their dedicated approach to learning and understanding great Indian classical music which runs in their blood, their father Shree Thakur Dass Ji, happened to be a great singer of his own times. They trained in Hindustani Music under Thakur Shri Durga Dass ji and the great Ustad BADE GHULAM ALI KHAN SAHIB, late dayen of the Patiala Gharana.
Humility is their hallmark unlike in the case of many other artists. Once noticed as a promising performer during a small music session in Amritsar, Puran Chand was able to perceive the significance behind his voice which was different from that of other singers. Encouraged by the interest shown by his listeners, Puran Chand took formal training in Classical music from Pandit Durga Dass of Amritsar. Later, Piyare Lal joined him and together they have performed the world over.
The Wadali Brothers distinct manner of singing and their contribution to the promotion of the Sufi style earned them the PRESIDENT AWARD of SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI from President Of India Sh. R.K. NARAYNAN in 1991-92,PADAMSHREE award for Best Sufi Singer of India Presented by President Of India A.P.J. ABDULL KALLAM in 2005-06, and number of other awards. Wadali Brothers attend many other Cultural Programme in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UNITED KINGDOM, CANADA, PAKISTAN, DUBAI, SINGAPORE, PHILLIPINES and number of other coutries.
They are particularly at ease in presenting the verses of BABA FARID SAHIB, BABA BULLE SHAH JI, SHAH HUSSAIN JI, SAIF-UL-MALUK, SHIV KUMAR BATALLVI, besides folk takes associated with SASI PUNNU, LAILA MAJNU, JUGNI, HEER RANJHA, etc. The utterances of Sufi Fakirs like AMIR KHUSROU and others are fact of their music. Despite becoming Top Grade Performances, they are heard saying that they are attempting to learn classical music, which is a world in itself.
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