Wadali brothers

. Born into the fifth generation of musicians given to singing the messages of Sufi saints, the Wadali brothers dabbled in the most unexpected of professions before swaras (Music notes) became their religion. While Puranchand Wadali, the elder brother, was a regular in an akharas(wresting houses) for a good 25 years, Pyarelal, the younger one, contributed to the meager family income by playing the role of Krishna in the village rasleela.

Wadlali’s father Thakur Das forced Puranchand in to music and later Puranchand went to pick up his music lessons from celebrated masters like Pt Durga Das and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Saheb of Patiala Gharana. Payarelal was trained by his elder brother whom he considers his mentor and guru even today.

Their first musical performance outside their village was in Harballabh Temple in Jalandhar. The duo went to Jalandhar to perform in Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan but was not allowed to sing due to their appearance. Disappointed they decided to make a musical offering at the Harballabh temple, where an executive of All India Radio, Jalandhar, spotted them and recorded their first song.

Wadli’s sing in qawwali, gurbani, kaafi, ghazal, bhajans and Sufiana forms of music. They live in their ancestral house in Guru Di Wadali and teach music to those who promise to preserve it. They do not charge their disciples and lead a very simple life devoted to the divine one.

They believe in Sufi tradition deeply. They consider themselves as mediums through which the preaching of great saints has to be passed on to others. They have never indulged commercially and they have only a handful of recording to their name. They believe in singing freely as homage to the divine one. They both do not feel very comfotable in using electronic gadgets in their music and stress on Alaap and Taans. They believe that spiritual heights can only be attained if you sing unreservedly, in a free atmosphere.

Recently they stepped into the world of films with Pinjar in which they have added divine dimensions to the pain of Partition, by rendering music director and writer Gulzar’s soulful lyrics in their "mystical" style. Also on cards is a documentary, which the Discovery Channel is planning to make on them.

Discography

*Aa Mil Yaar
*Paigham-e-Ishq,
*Ishq Musafir
*Folk Music of Punjab, all released by Music TodayPuranchand and Pyarelal Wadali, the well-known singers from Punjab popularly known as the 'Wadali Brothers' are today one of the finest and most popular exponents of Sufi music in India. In this unique presentation, they treat us to some their most popular repertoire.

Awards

* Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1991.
* Tulsi Award 1998.
* Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2003.

References

* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030920/windows/main1.htm The Tribune: Interview - Wah ustad, wah!]

purn chand wadali is also honoured by the central govt. of india by giving him padam shri award.the most reputed award of india