Atif Aslam

He was born in Wazirabad in 1983, grew up in Lahore, and formed Jal with Goher Mumtaz in college; Aadat (2003) was an internet hit before either had a record deal. He left the band and released Jal Pari (2004); Woh Lamhe (Zeher) and Aadat's Hindi version (Kalyug) brought him into Bombay, and Pritam, Mithoon and others gave him Tere Bin (Bas Ek Pal), Pehli Nazar Mein (Race), Tu Jaane Na (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani), Tera Hone Laga Hoon, Jeena Jeena (Badlapur), Dil Diyan Gallan (Tiger Zinda Hai, 2017).

In Pakistan he received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2008, sang on Coke Studio and acted in the film Bol; he continues to record and tour internationally, and lives in Lahore with his wife Sara and children.

Atif's voice is high, nasal and reedy with a rock singer's rasp and a distinctive catch — critics called it untrained and listeners called it theirs. In the slow ballad it has an urgency that polished voices lack.