Tina Sani

Tina Sani is a Pakistani singer who specializes in classical and semi-classical Urdu Ghazals. She has earned significant acclaim across Pakistan and India for her unique vocal style.

Early life and education

Tina Sani was born in Dhaka, which was East Pakistan at the time of her birth. Her family relocated to Kabul for several years while her father, Nasir Sani, worked for an oil company. They eventually moved to Karachi where she graduated from the Karachi American School. After completing her schooling, she pursued studies in commercial art.

Her musical foundation is built upon rigorous training under several masters. She studied classical music with Ustad Nizamuddin Khan—the son of Ustad Ramzan Khan of the Delhi gharana—and Ustad Chand Amrohvi. Additionally, she received specialized training from the ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan.

Career

Sani began her professional journey in 1977 by working for an advertising agency. She managed various creative aspects of the business and evaluated music used in advertisements. During this period, she also served as a teacher in the art department at the Karachi American School.

She entered the professional singing world in 1980. Producer Ishrat Ansari introduced her to television audiences through a youth programme called 'Tarang' that was hosted by Alamgir. While she draws influence from legendary singers like Malika Pukhraj, Begum Akhtar, and Farida Khanum, she maintains a distinct personal style.

Her repertoire includes the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, specifically works composed by Arshad Mehmood such as Bahaar aayi and Bol ke lab azad hain terey. She performs the works of Ghalib, Zauq, and Mir Taqi Mir with ease. Reviewers have specifically noted her rendition of Iqbal's Shikwa Jawab-e-Shikwa, which stands as one of her longest performances. In recent years, she performed Rumi's Mathnavi verses for Coke Studio (Pakistan) to translate the 13th-century Persian poetry into Urdu.

Sani has contributed extensively to the Pakistani television and film industries. Her work includes the OST for Hum TV's 'Choti Si Ghalat Fehmi' and 'Bari Aapa'. She also provided vocals for 'Khush Piya Wassen' in Ho Mann Jahan, 'Moorat' on PTV, and 'Bahu Begum' on ARY Zindagi.

In 2016, she participated in the Lahore music meet. During a session titled "Classical Music Appreciation," she shared her musical journey and discussed the current state of classical music within the Pakistani industry. She also spoke about how television helps musicians continue their practice.

Beyond her recording career, she served as a guest judge on the first season of Pakistan Idol. Her personal musical preferences include songs by K.L. Saigal and Kishore Kumar. She also admires works by Nazia Hasan and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Awards and recognition

The Government of Pakistan honored her with the Pride of Performance Award in 2004. In 2011, she received a Performance Recognition Award from the President of India during the centennial celebrations of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. She was later presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lux Style Awards in 2017.