The debate between fans of the exuberant biryani and the subtle pulao rages on forever, but one man beloved by nearly all of Pakistan settled the debate decades ago.
Legendary maestro Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan settled the debate by selecting pulao over biryani, albeit when he was a child.
As the legendary voice of Qawwali that transcended borders and generations, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan not only nourished the soul with his music but also cherished a deep love for food that was as rich and layered as his vocal range.
From the humble street-side delights of Faisalabad that comforted him in childhood to the hearty, spice-laden dishes that replenished him after electrifying performances, Nusrat’s culinary journey is a flavorful reflection of his roots, routine, and artistic passion.
A prolific masala brand has unearthed the icon’s interview clips where he talks about food.
In one interview, the iconic Allah Hoo Allah Hoo singer opened up about a lesser-known side of his childhood.
“I’ve always been afraid of water,” he confessed. “When I was a child, my friends once pushed me into a canal. I nearly drowned. That fear has stayed with me ever since.”
But while water frightened him, food was a different story.
“I was absolutely crazy about eating,” he said with a nostalgic smile. Then, laughing, he recounted an incident from his early teens when that love for food led to unexpected trouble.
“I must’ve been around 12 or 13. My friends and I had saved up a bit of money, just eight aanaas each, which was about 1.5 rupees. That day, we went to watch a film called Manzil. After the movie, we were starving, so we headed to this famous spot to eat pulao.”
But fate had a twist in store.
“Just our luck, they had raised the price that very day. When we finished eating and went to pay, the man at the counter said, ‘It’s three rupees.’ We told him, ‘But we only have half that!’”
He chuckled at the memory before pausing.
“They made us sit there the whole night. I’ll never forget that night.”
In another interview, the undisputed Qawwali king shared that his favourite desi food was karelay gosht.
“From my childhood I had a habit of eating good food and my mother used to cook delicious food. So, karelay gosht was my favourite dish,” he shared.
When NFAK traveled, the story goes, he found it hard to find foods that his palate was used to and loved. In Japan, concert organisers made sure that a local Indian family made food for the singer on his visit. When he toured Germany he lived on fruits for a few days.
In 2021, a restaurant called Le Karachi in Lyon, France, shared photos of the legend enjoying a meal there after a concert. He also loved London’s Lahore One Kebab House.
He would not eat before or during his performances, which could last 5 hours. Fans also recount that he loved Faisalabad’s seekh kababs and missed the food when he would travel.
Others said Cholay Bhaturay were a family favourite for breakfast.
Pakistan lost Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 28 years ago on August 16, 1997, at the age of just 48. Known as the Shahenshah-e-Qawwali (King of Qawwali), his powerful voice and spiritual intensity brought Sufi music to the global stage, earning him admiration from legends like Peter Gabriel and Jeff Buckley. Though he left the world far too soon, his legacy lives on through his timeless recordings and the generations of artists he continues to inspire. Even nearly three decades later, his voice still resonates in the hearts of millions.
