Akhtar Chanal Zahri is a well-known Balochi singer in Pakistan. He has gained widespread recognition for his participation in Coke Studio. He was born in Pakistan in 1954. So far, Akhtar Chanal Zahri’s work has been included in Hindi-language films and he has worked in the Bollywood entertainment industry as well.
After being founded by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, he helped introduce regional and folk music into the mainstream. There have been numerous occasions where he has been requested to perform for political leaders and representatives. He has always had a deep appreciation for music.
Early Life of Akhtar Chanal Zahri
The stories of Akhtar Chanal’s origins, the hot plains of Balochistan, where young shepherds are raised to the rhythms of regional folk songs while they work, are imbued in his distinctive voice. According to Zahri, the uplifting power of music may be felt by everything, including animals, fields, flowers, and grass. Akhtar Chanal Zahri was born in 1954 in the Pakistani city of Khuzdar, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Akhtar Channal’s ancestors originally came from the Sohrab Sir Jungle, but his grandfather moved the family to Kalat, Balochistan. Jummah Khan was Akhtar Channal’s father, a Warden in the Police Department, and Akhtar Channal worked alongside his father in the family’s shepherd business. Akhtar Channal was his family’s only hope for realizing their ambitions. He began his formal schooling in Kalat in 1959. He had a strong desire to learn and completed his education despite his family’s several relocations due to his father’s career, first to Loralai, then to Khuzdar, and finally to Mastung in 1963.
When he moved to Mastung with his father, he had no idea that this would be the turning point in his life. He witnessed customs he had never encountered before, such as gatherings where people sang in front of an appreciative audience at events called Mehfils. Ustad Haji Khan (Akhtar Channal’s first teacher) was a prominent singer of Programs in Kalat and a close friend of Akhtar Channal’s father. He began taking formal singing lessons from music Ustad Haji Khan in 1964.
The Career of Akhtar Chanal Zahri
Akhtar Chanal was associated with Ustaad Haji Khan, he began to take an interest in music and began performing with various groups; he debuted his first song at the Mastung Concert. In 1968 he joined Police Department, but still, he didn’t let go of his singing and attended many functions. In 1970, he was transferred to Sibbi and maintained both his occupations. In 1973, Akhtar Channal recorded his first song for Radio Pakistan titled “Zebal-ata-Zeba,” and in 1974, he recorded another song for PTV (Pakistan Television) titled “Deer Deer Kewa.”
When he was founded by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation’s (PBC) Balochi Radio Station in 1973, he brought regional folk music to the attention of people all over the country. In 1974, when his song “Deer Deer” was first played live on national TV, Chanal’s music became famous all over the country.
Later, Akhtar Channal was transferred to Kalat, where he continued to pursue multiple careers while attending numerous functions and growing in popularity.
With the help of Ustad Sadiq Ali, Akhtar Channal began studying the harmonium in 1974. Channal’s growing success in the music industry convinced him that singing was his true calling; he eventually retired from the police force in 1978 to focus on his singing career. His song “Dana Pa Dana” is still a household name decades after its initial popularity.
Since then, Akhtar Chanal has been on tours in places like the United States, the Netherlands, and Europe. He has played at a concert for the political leaders meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Benazir Bhutto, who used to be the Prime Minister of Pakistan, took him on a trip to England. In 2004, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee went to Islamabad, Pakistan, he sang at an event.
Bollywood Debut of Akhtar Chanal Zahri
He made his Bollywood singing debut with the 2015 film Phantom, with the song Afghan Jalebi. In the film Mirzya, released in 2016, he also provided vocals for several songs.
Coke Studio Debut of Akhtar Chanal Zahri
Akhtar Chanal first appeared on Coke Studio Season 4, and his contributions included several chart-topping singles. Coke Studio tracks that have him are as follows:
- Nar Bait – S4
- Daanah Pah Daanah – S4
- Washmallay – S7
Awards & Achievements of Akhtar Chanal Zahri
- Pride of Performance Award from the President (Pakistan) in 1998
- Radio Pakistan Golden Anniversary Award
- Balochistan Excellence Award
- National Excellence Award
- Sufi International Award
- Turkey Award
- France Award by the hand of Mayor Leon
Best Songs of Akhtar Chanal Zahri
Among his most well-known songs are:
- Palalai – 2022
- Naz husn E Wala – 2021
- Laila Laila – 2021
- Nana Har Masharay Zeba – 2021
- Baloch – 2021
- Makro Fareb Na Duniya – 2021
- Dil Dharkey – 2020
- Zindagbat e Watan – 2019
- Je Aoo Patari – 2017
- Mirzya – 2016
- Afghan Jalebi – 2015
- Washmallay – 2014
- Daanah Pah Daanah – 2011
- Nar Bait – 2011
- Da sande Zehri – 2009
How To Contact Akhtar Chanal Zahri for Live Concerts?
Akhtar Chanal is doing shows, events and concerts all over the world. It’s very easy to be approached and Booked for Events with Fankar Online.
How much does Akhtar Chanal Zahri charge for a show?
Charges of artist for event, show or concert changes time to time and depends on few factors like how much traveling is require, how they will travel, Stay and Performance Fee. For Exact Charges Feel free to Contact Us
