Akhiyan Udeek Diyan (Qawwali)
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| "Akhiyan Udeek Diyan" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | |
| Language | Punjabi |
| Released | 1982 |
| Recorded | 1979 |
| Genre | Qawwali |
| Label | Oriental Star Agencies |
| Composer | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |
| Lyricists |
|
"Akhiyan Udeek Diyan" (Urdu: اخیاں ادیک دیاں transl. "My eyes yearn to see you") is a Punjabi qawwali that was originally composed and performed by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.[1][2][3][4] The lyrics were penned by Khawaja Pervaiz and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.[3][4][5][6] Nusrat began performing Akhiyan Udeek Diyan in the late 1970s.[7] One of Nusrat's earliest documented live renditions of Akhiyan Udeek Diyan occurred during his 1979 UK tour, where it featured in a medley.[7][8] That performance was recorded and later released in 1982 on VHS by Oriental Star Agencies Ltd, a British-based Asian music label.[8][9][10] Although Akhiyan Udeek Diyan had been part of Nusrat's live repertoire since the late 1970s, a studio version was recorded and released in 1990 on the album Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Vol. 3.[7][11] Subsequently, a live recording appeared as the title track on the 1993 album Akhiyan Udeek Diyan, Vol. 31.[12] The enduring popularity of Akhiyan Udeek Diyan has inspired many artists to create their own cover versions, remakes, and reinterpretations across genres.[13][14][15] Notable examples include Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who maintained the traditional qawwali style; an acoustic take by Asfar Hussain, Rizwan Butt, and Hamza Tanveer featured on Nescafe Basement Season 2 in 2016; and a film version by Master Saleem for the 2021 Bollywood movie Shiddat.[13][14][15]