Some have labelled him a social media sensation; others have called him the Imran Khan of music. But truth be told, he is besuron ka betaj badshah — a title no one dares to wear with such confidence except Pakistan’s social media legend himself, Ustad Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, ‘all the way from London’. His aim might be to sing and make new fans but it is his poised hilarity that wins him hearts on Facebook, TikTok and other realms of internet.
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his qawwalis had a huge impact on Chahat, who now drives a cab in London, as a child. He recalls visiting Nusrat’s performances in Gujranwala. Chahat is a screen name taken by this artiste who is a master of none but jack of all music. Qawwali, classical, pop, bhangra, Bollywood, you name it, he can jam it. He is his own composer, lyricist and even co-singer—he needs no company. Chahat first shot to fame during Covid-19 lockdown with his Facebook live sessions and the rest, as they say, is history. And if your name is Chahat then what’s there not to love about you.
Ustad of our times
As flamboyant as Bappi Lahri with his gold and silver gems and as magnificent as Taher Shah with his lines, Chahat is already in the league of all-time greats. His new number dropped on Pakistan’s independence day to rave reviews. Yeh jo jhanda hai, iss mein danda hai, a national song, which soon turned into a bhagra, resonating with the current times. What is a flag without a stick? Nothing. What is Pakistan without the proverbial danda? Nothing. Iss mein danda hai was a genius stroke encapsulating the last 75 years of Pakistan. So what the map of Pakistan sans Kashmir is in the opening of this video, at least the stick saves the glory. If Taher Shah is the mankind angel, Chahat is the ustad of jhanda with danda.
The other path-breaking numbers include tun tana tun, which no one on the earth has been able to figure out the meaning of. Maybe Mars will have some answers. The upcoming lota song, however, again is a winner, not because of its tunelessness but for the artiste to able to live after giving voice to these lyrics: lota lota, bum bum bum, tu vi lota main vi lota, koi chota lota koi vada lota, bum bum bum. If Ranveer Singh’s bum display can win headlines and FIR why not Chahat’s bum bum bum.
@zoraysofficial
Ustaad Chahat Fateh Ali Khan upcoming song #Lota Lota
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Chahat fandom
Chahat has a special bond with his fans. Twitter spaces are now a common feature where he is usually seen giving a tough time to Nusrat saab’s songs on popular demand. Mere rashke qamar, saansu ki mala pe, halka halka saroor, dil ghalti kar baitha are popular among many other numbers that are sung in these sessions. But the real deal is what happens after these sessions: fans put up display pictures, declaring Chahat as their mentor. While others come up with ‘international’ news coverage of the tuneless maestro: “The lord of melody, Lords of lyrics, conquered the Twitter space”, the Chahat fandom is as enthusiastic as his surs (tunes). He needs no PR management team in the presence of cult supporters on social media.
Sanso ki ma… By Chahat Fateh Ali Khan. ?@chahat_fateh pic.twitter.com/44fmJ9KDRy
— ? (@samieplz) August 13, 2022
Ustad Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, with more than 700 live shows on social media, is a star and an ustad, but with social responsibility. Take for instance the video of him exercising with I’m sexy and I know it in the background. Fans will tell you he is all about good and no evil. Tuneless but not mindless. With this genius talent, there is no doubt that our very own Ustad Chahat Fateh Ali Khan can even become the next prime minister of UK. Till that happens, if you want to experience life from the outer world, listen to this signing sensation at your own risk.
استاد چاہت فتح علی خان صاحب ???? pic.twitter.com/C45D45cEFp
— John (@johngill882) June 4, 2022