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Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 April 1968

Age55 Years

BirthplaceNizamuddin, Delhi

ProfessionClassical singer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseZainab

FamilySon of Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar; mother Begum Mehmooda Dagar; four sisters

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar Biography

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is an Indian classical vocalist from the Dagar family, a long lineage of Dhrupad practitioners. Born and raised in Delhi, he has a

Early life and background

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar was born on 15 April 1968 in Nizamuddin, Delhi, and describes himself as a Delhi person. He belongs to a distinguished musical family that traces its Dhrupad lineage back many generations. His father was Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar and his mother was Begum Mehmooda Dagar. Several uncles and other relatives were prominent exponents of the Dagar tradition, and Faiyaz received musical training at home from a very young age.

His formal introduction to music began when he was about five years old. Over the years he studied under family members and mentors including Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar, Ustad N. Aminuddin Dagar, Ustad N. Mohiuddin Dagar, Ustad Rahimuddin Khan Dagar and later guidance from uncles such as Ustad R. Fahimuddin Dagar, Ustad Z. Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad H. Sayeeduddin Dagar.

Career

After the death of his father in 1989, Faiyaz made his first public performance on 25 February 1989, appearing alongside his uncle Zahiruddin Dagar. He released his first recordings in 1992, with issues appearing in India, Switzerland and Japan, and went on to record for several international labels.

From around 2000 onward, Faiyaz toured and performed Dhrupad widely outside India. His international appearances include concerts and engagements in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and venues across North America. He also gave performances at festivals and institutions of note, including the World Festival of Sacred Music in 2001, the United Nations Peace Summit, and events connected to UNESCO in France. Prestigious cultural and educational venues where he has performed include the Smithsonian Institution, Yale University, the University of Washington, Stanford University and the University of California.

His first solo live performance in 2000 featured Raga Bihag. He has been invited to a range of festivals, for example Le Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées du Monde in 2015, Dilli Durbar 2019, and the Delhi Classical Music Festival in 2021. In Italy he took part in a Dhrupad singing seminar in Amelia and performed in Assisi in 2018.

Beyond performing, Faiyaz has been active in preserving and promoting Dhrupad through organising and participating in festivals that were initiated by his father and uncle, notably events held in Delhi and Jaipur. He has conducted and led many Dhrupad workshops and continues to teach a number of students, balancing performance and pedagogy while maintaining family musical practices.

Recognition and projects

Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar received the Padma Shri in 2010 in recognition of his contributions to Indian classical music. A French television documentary titled Dagarvani, made by filmmaker Renuka George in 1992, focused on concerts and music by members of his family and included his performances.

His concerts and work have been covered in major international outlets such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. He has also appeared on radio and television, with credits that include performances on Auroville Radio.

Public profile

Faiyaz is President of the Dagar Society of India. He maintains artistic practices beyond singing: he writes poetry, keeps a journal, and practices calligraphy. He is known to be involved in teaching and mentoring younger artists, and has developed subtle improvisational and volume techniques within the Dagar stylistic tradition.

Personal life

Faiyaz is married to Zainab; the marriage year is given as 2020. He is one of five siblings and has four sisters. His extended family includes several noted Dagar musicians from previous generations. Physically, his height is listed as approximately 168 cm (about 5 feet 6 inches). Eye colour is described as dark brown and his hair as salt-and-pepper.

Latest updates

In recent years Faiyaz was among a group of classical musicians who received notices from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to vacate government-allocated residences in Asiad Village, Delhi, a situation that led to legal petitions and media attention.

In 2023 he asserted a copyright claim concerning the use of a traditional Shiva chant-style rendition in the film Ponniyin Selvan: II, a dispute that involved statements from the film’s production representatives and legal exchanges over questions of ownership of a singing style and attribution.

He continues to perform, teach and curate Dhrupad events while engaging in writing and calligraphy in his spare time.
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Recent Work

Le Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées du Monde

Performance at the Fez Festival of Sacred Music

2015
Dilli Durbar

Performance

2019
Delhi Classical Music Festival

Performance

2021
Dhrupad singing seminar and concert in Italy

Seminar in Amelia and concert in Assisi

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. First public performance after his father's death on 25 February 1989
  2. Released first recordings in India, Switzerland and Japan in 1992
  3. Performed internationally across Europe and North America from 2000 onward
  4. Performed at the World Festival of Sacred Music (2001) and at institutions such as the Smithsonian and Yale University
  5. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 2010
  6. President of the Dagar Society of India
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar born?

15 April 1968

What is Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar known for?

Classical singer

What is Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar’s marital status?

Married

Who is Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar married to?

Zainab