Altaf Raja
Altaf Raja (born 15 October 1967) is an Indian Qawwali and playback singer renowned for his emotive style and heartbreak-themed songs, particularly his debut hit "Tum To Thehre Pardesi," which propelled him to fame in the 1990s and earned a Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling Indian music cassette, with reports of over 7 million cassettes sold in a single day.[1][2] Born in Nagpur, Maharashtra, to parents Ibrahim Iqbal and Rani Roop Lata—both musicians in the Qawwali tradition—Raja grew up immersed in music but initially trained as a tailor before dedicating himself to singing at age 18.[2][3] He attended Antonio De Souza High School in Mumbai and later studied at the University of Mumbai, honing his skills under family influence and local inspirations like poet Zaheer Alam.[4] Raja's breakthrough album Tum To Thehre Pardesi (1997), featuring lyrics by Zaheer Alam and music by Mohammed Shafi Niyazi, sold millions of copies worldwide, blending Qawwali elements with pop to capture themes of love and separation.[5][6] Following this success, he released albums such as Dil Ke Tukde Hazaar Huye (2000), Tere Ishq Ne Maalamaal Kiya (2006), Ashqon Ki Baraat (2012), and Ae Sanam (2020), while providing playback vocals for Bollywood tracks including "Tumse Kitna" from Company (2002), "Jholu Ram" from Ghanchakkar (2013), and "Dil Lagana" from Hunterrr (2015).[7][8][9] In addition to music, Raja ventured into acting with roles in films like Shapath (1997), Yamraaj (1998), Mother (1999), and a cameo in Ghanchakkar (2013), and composed music for Market (2003) and Dukaan: Pila House (2004).[9][4] A devout Muslim who remains unmarried, he has maintained ties to Nagpur, releasing the devotional Qawwali album Nagpur Ke Shahenshah (2022) honoring local saint Hazrat Tajuddin Baba and making guest appearances on shows like The Kapil Sharma Show in 2023, with continued live performances as of 2025.[3][4][10] Despite fluctuating visibility in mainstream Bollywood, Raja's enduring appeal lies in his raw, poetic delivery of Urdu shayari-infused tracks that resonate with themes of longing and emotion.[6]Biography
Early life and family
Altaf Raja was born on October 15, 1967, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.[4] He was raised in a musical household, with his father, Ibrahim Iqbal, and mother, Rani Roop Lata, both serving as professional Qawwali singers.[11][4] Altaf has one brother and two sisters, growing up immersed in the traditions of Qawwali performances that his family regularly conducted.[4] From a young age, Raja was exposed to music through these familial gatherings and performances, which shaped his early interest in the art form despite his parents' emphasis on education.[11] However, he defied his family's wishes by dropping out of school after Class IX to pursue music full-time, even taking up work as a tailor in a shop to support himself financially during this period.[12] This personal resolve later led him to seek formal musical training.[12]Education and early influences
Altaf Raja received limited formal education, attending Antonio De Souza High School in Mumbai up to the fifth grade before returning to Nagpur, where he later dropped out after the ninth grade due to a lack of interest and a growing passion for music.[13][12] To support himself financially amid family hardships, he worked as a tailor in a local shop during his teenage years, an occupation his parents encouraged as a practical alternative to further schooling.[13][12] His musical training began in his late teens—accounts vary between ages 15 and 18—initially under family guidance, as he expressed a sudden desire to learn the harmonium and singing to his mother, drawing from his family's background in Qawwali performances.[13][14] His parents, relenting to his persistence, arranged formal instruction with local mentors, including training under Pandit Govindprasad Jaipurwale in the traditions of Qawwali and ghazal.[14] Key early influences included his father's devotional Qawwali renditions, which he often accompanied alongside his mother during family performances, instilling a deep appreciation for Sufi poetry and melodic expression.[13] Raja's initial forays into music involved amateur Qawwali performances at local events in Nagpur, where he honed his skills before transitioning to professional stages in the early 1990s.[13] Nagpur served as a vital cultural and inspirational hub for his development, with its vibrant musical circles and community gatherings fostering his raw, emotive style rooted in regional traditions.[13][12] This connection to his hometown profoundly shaped his entry into music, blending personal hardships with artistic aspiration.Musical career
Debut and breakthrough
Altaf Raja entered the professional music scene in the early 1990s, beginning with minor recordings for Venus Records, including his first Urdu devotional album Sajda Rab Ko Kar Le in 1993, which failed to gain traction commercially.[15] Subsequent releases in the same devotional qawwali style also underperformed, limiting his early efforts to local performances and small-scale productions.[14] His breakthrough arrived in 1997 with the release of the album Tum To Thehre Pardesi by Venus Records, featuring the titular track that fused qawwali traditions with romantic pop elements.[16] The song's poignant lyrics and soulful delivery resonated widely, propelling the album to top Indian music charts within weeks of its October launch and reportedly sell over 20 million copies worldwide.[17][14] This success earned the album a reported Guinness World Record for the highest-selling non-film Indian album, with over 7 million cassettes sold in a single day.[2][1][18] The album's unprecedented popularity sparked a rapid rise to fame in the late 1990s, generating intense media buzz and leading to nationwide live performances that showcased Raja's emotive qawwali-infused style.[14][2] However, transitioning from his prior role as a tailor in Mumbai to overnight celebrity brought significant challenges, including the immense pressure to replicate the debut's blockbuster success amid shifting industry expectations.[2][6]Discography
Altaf Raja has released more than 20 studio albums since his debut, primarily under labels such as Venus and T-Series, with his lyrics frequently incorporating Urdu shayari for emotional depth.[19] His early work blended pop and Qawwali elements in romantic themes, while later albums evolved toward more introspective ghazal-focused compositions.[20] Notable sales highlights include multi-million copies for his initial releases, particularly the debut album, which achieved a reported Guinness World Record for the highest-selling non-film album with over 20 million units sold.[18] Production often featured collaborations with musicians like Mohd. Shafi Niyazi and Vaishnav Deva, emphasizing melodic Qawwali arrangements. Key studio albums and notable releases are listed chronologically below, focusing on original works and significant collaborations.| Year | Album Title | Label/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Tum To Thehre Pardesi | Venus; debut album with Mohd. Shafi Niyazi; title track sold over 7 million cassettes in a single day.[1][21] |
| 1999 | Mujhe Apna Bana Lo | Venus; early romantic pop-Qawwali fusion.[20] |
| 1999 | Aaj Ki Raat Na Ja Pardesi | Venus; features shayari-infused tracks.[22] |
| 2000 | Do Dil Haare | Venus; collaboration elements with devotional influences. |
| 2000 | Dil Ke Tukde Hazaar Huye | T-Series; multi-million seller emphasizing heartbreak themes. |
| 2001 | Altaf and Adnan Ek Saath | T-Series; notable collaboration with Adnan Sami.[23] |
| 2001 | Sai Ka Deewana | Venus; with Farid Sabri Jaipuri and Ram Shankar; devotional Qawwali tracks.[24] |
| 2003 | Market | T-Series; pop-oriented release.[25] |
| 2006 | Harrjaiie | T-Series; romantic fusion style. |
| 2006 | Tere Ishq Ne Maalamaal Kiya | T-Series; incorporates Urdu poetry.[20] |
| 2006 | Aaj Ki Raat Na Jaa Pardesi | T-Series re-release variant; extended tracks.[22] |
| 2010 | Dil Diya Dard Liya | T-Series; shift toward ghazal elements. |
| 2012 | Ashkon Ki Baraat | T-Series; emotional shayari-driven songs. |
| 2015 | Bumgola | Zee Music Company; collaboration with Raj Mittal.[20] |
| 2016 | Voice of Romance - Altaf Raja | T-Series; compilation of romantic hits with new ghazals. |
| 2017 | Dard-e-Tanhai - Altaf Raja | T-Series; ghazal-focused solitude themes. |
| 2018 | Altaf Raja Ke Dard Bhare Nagme | T-Series; pain-infused tracks. |
| 2020 | Ae Sanam | T-Series; notable single collaboration with Payal Dev.[26] |
| 2021 | Saath Kya Nibhaoge | T-Series; with Tony; recent ghazal evolution.[20] |
| 2022 | Nagpur Ke Shahenshah | T-Series; reflective later work. |