Sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali dies of cardiac arrest
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 9
Pyare Lal Wadali, the younger brother of Sufi singer Puran Chand Wadali of the Wadali brothers, died of cardiac arrest in a hospital here on Friday.
He was 75. The singer is survived by wife, two sons and three daughters.
Pyale Lal was admitted to the hospital on Monday following complaint of chest pain. He was put on ventilator support after his condition deteriorated but he could not be revived.
The cremation will be held at their ancestral village Wadali.
The Wadali brothers some years ago had taken the country by storm by their hit album featuring Sufi songs such as ‘Tu mane ya na mane dildara, aasan te tenu rab manya’.
Born into the fifth generation of musicians, Pyare Lal and Puran Chand Wadali became popular with their Sufi music and were spotted following their performance at the Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar in 1975.
Their soulful rendition of 'Heer' endeared them to folk music lovers. They also sang bhajans, ghazals and kaafian.
Pyare Lal dabbled in acting in the traditional theatre before being trained by his elder brother, whom he considered his guru. They also sang in the Hindi movie ‘Pinjar’ and more recently in ‘Tanu Weds Manu’.
Pyare Lal, along with his brother, was honoured with several state and national awards.
Mourning his death, singer Daler Mehndi called him the ‘king of Punjab’. “Punjab De Shahenshah singer #PyarelalWadali Ji who took the Punjabi literature and music to highest levels across the globe leaves this world today. May his soul RIP. What water is to fish #WadaliBrothers is to Punjab. #Respect #RIP #LegendarySufiSinger," he tweeted.
Singer Richa Sharma called Wadali’s death a sad day for the music fraternity. “Sad day for the music industry and music lovers!! #PyareLalWadali ji is no more with us..may his soul rest in peace,” she said.
Sufi singer Harshdeep Kaur tweeted, “A sad day for the world of music...Can’t believe the legendary #PyareLalWadali ji is no more... May God bless his soul... His music will always remain alive.”
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the singer’s death. “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Sh. Pyare Lal Wadali of Wadali Brothers – the epitome of Sufi music. It is an unbearable loss to the music world. I pray to almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul,” he wrote on Twitter.
Modi condoles demise
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise, saying his work would continue to draw people towards the joys of Sufi music.
“Saddened by the demise of Pyarelal Wadali. His renditions attained great popularity globally. His work will continue to draw people towards the joys of Sufi music. May his soul rest in peace,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a tweet quoting Modi. With PTI
