Ustad Naseeruddin Saami (b. 1946) is widely regarded as Pakistan’s preeminent living classical vocalist. He is a torchbearer of the Delhi Gharana (hereditary lineage) of Hindustani music, which traces its origins to Amir Khusrau (1253–1325), the Sufi mystic, visionary polymath, celebrated pluralist, and bridge builder who shaped the cultural history of South Asia.

Saami is a master of khayal, the refined art of improvisation within the constraints of raga (melody) and tala (rhythm) in Hindustani music. Together with his four sons, Rauf Saami, Urooj Saami, Ahmed Saami, and Azeem Saami, who perform as the Saami Brothers, Ustad Naseeruddin Saami leads a renowned qawwali group that preserves the poetic, musical, and spiritual legacy of Amir Khusrau.

Ustad Naseeruddin Saami’s six-decade career earned him Pakistan’s Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Pride of Performance) award and the title “Ustad” (master). Saami’s legacy extends through teaching and performances across Pakistan and Europe. Now in his late 70s, his work preserves an endangered musical cosmology that bridges spiritual and artistic traditions of the subcontinent.

Jury citation

"For your energetic preservation and onward transmission of the spiritual and musical legacy of Amir Khusrau to multigenerational audiences at the highest level of musical excellence."