Sajjad Ali

Sajjad Ali was born on August 24, 1966, in Karachi, Pakistan. He was trained in classical singing, continuing a family tradition with his father, Shafqat Hussain (Sajan), being a film actor and cricketer. Ali pursued his F.A. from National Art’s College, where his uncle, Tassaduq Hussain, introduced him to classical music. He also studied classical piano at the University of Karachi, earning a BA. His early musical education focused on classical artists such as Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustaad Barkat Ali Khan, and Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan.

Ali’s career began formally in 1979 with the release of his debut classical album, ‘Master Sajjad Sings Memorable Classics,’ by EMI-Pakistan. This marked the start of a prolific period in music, where he produced hit albums like ‘Babia 93,’ ‘Chief Saab,’ and ‘Sohni Lag Di.’ He gained significant recognition in 1983 for his performance of “Banwari Chakori” on PTV’s Silver Jubilee stage show, originally sung by Noor Jehan. His musical collaborations include writing lyrics with his brother Waqar Ali and working with lyricists like Sabir Zafar, Mohammad Nasir, Nadeem Asad, and Ali Moin.

Beyond music, Ali has also made significant contributions to film and television. He directed his first telefilm, ‘Love Letter,’ in 1989, followed by his first full-length motion picture, ‘Aik Aur Love Story,’ in 1998. He has acted in films such as ‘Munda Tera Deewana’ and composed music for films like Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Bol’ (2011). His appearances on ‘Coke Studio’ in 2011 and a collaboration with rapper Bohemia in 2017 further cemented his status in the Pakistani music industry. Ali resides in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, with his family.