The world-renowned Sufi duo, Wadali Brothers, separated on Friday after the younger of the two — Ustad Pyare lal Wadali — passed away on Friday morning at Amritsar at the age of 75.
Not keeping well since past few months and hospitalised on February 26, Pyarelal breathed his last at Fortis Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest. The family will hold cremation at their ancestral village, Guru ki Wadali, where last respects will be paid to the celebrated singer.
He is survived by his wife Surjit Kaur, two sons — Satpal Singh and Sandeep, and three daughters — Sheela Rani, Raj Rani and Soma Rani.
Born into the fifth generation of musicians, Pyarelal and Puran Chand Wadali became popular with their Sufi music and were spotted after performing at the Harballabh temple in Jalandhar in 1975. They got their first break at the All India Radio (AIR) in 1972.
Carrying on the legacy of famous saint poets such as Bulle Shah, Kabir, Amir Khusro and Surdas, the duo has written mesmerizing verses. Their soulful renditions of heer made them a legend among folk music lovers and they also sang bhajans, ghazal and kaafian. Pyarelal use to play the role of lord Krishna in the village raasleela to earn money for his family in his early life, while his elder brother Puran Chand was a regular in akhara (wrestling ring). It was then Pyarelal started learning music from his elder brother Puran Chand, whom he considered his mentor or guru.
Pyarelal and his brother never used to charge for teaching music. The two never indulged commercially and were very uncomfortable in using electronic gadgets in their music.
Wadali Brothers are among the few traditional Sufi singers who dabbled effortlessly in Bollywood music, but always on their own terms. Their Bollywood work includes songs from movie Pinjar and the more recently, Rangrez in movie Tanu Weds Manu.
They hit the limelight with their non-movie album song, Tu Mane Ya Na Mane Dildaara. Their version of Damadam Mast Kalandar was also appreciated.Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, SAD president Sukhbir Badal, among many others expressed their grief over his death.
Capt Amarinder described his demise as a personal as well as a loss for the world of Sufi music. He described Pyare lal Wadali as a trendsetter in Sufi singing, and “with his death, a void had been created in the lives of Sufi music lovers across the world”.
Sidhu, deeply condoling his demise, said that Pyare lal Wadali was an exceptional singer devoted to the mother tongue Punjabi and his sad demise has left a deep void in the Punjabi Sufi singing arena.
Pyare lal, along with his elder brother Puran Chand Wadali, scaled the pinnacle of Sufi and traditional Punjabi singing, said Sidhu while praying to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
Punjab Kala Parishad chairman Dr Surjit Patar also condoled Pyarelal’s demise while terming it a big loss to Sufi singing, art and culture field.