Ghulam Ali (singer)

Ghulam Ali

Ghulam Ali in Chennai
Background information
Native name استاد غلام علی
Born (1940-12-05) 5 December 1940
Kaleki, Sialkot District, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan)
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • harmonium
Years active 1960–present

Ustad Ghulam Ali (born 5 December 1940) is a Pakistani ghazal and playback singer of the Patiala Gharana . Ghulam Ali was a disciple ("shagird") of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Chhote Ghulam Ali, who is another Pakistani singer in the "Qawwal Bachhon ka Gharana".

Ghulam Ali is considered to be one of the best ghazal singers of his era. His style and variations in singing Ghazals has been noted as unique, as he blends Hindustani classical music with ghazals, unlike any other ghazal singer. Highly popular in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, as well as among South Asian diaspora in the USA, the UK and the Middle Eastern countries. Many of his hit ghazals have been used in Bollywood movies. His famous ghazals are Chupke Chupke Raat Din, Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi, Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa, Kiya Hai Pyar Jisé, May Nazar Sé Pee Raha Hoon, Mastana Peeyé, Yé dil yé pagal dil, Apni Dhun Mein Rehta Hoon a ghazal by Nasir Kazmi, "Ham ko kis k gham ne mara". His recent album "Hasratein" was nominated in the Best Ghazal Album category at Gima 2014.

In 2015, due to protest by Shiv Sena at Mumbai, his concert was cancelled. After this, he received invitations from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.[1] After this cancellation, he performed at Lucknow, India.,[2] New Delhi And in Trivandrum, and Kozhikode, Kerala, India.

In a news item reported in 2015, Ghulam Ali has said that he won't perform in India in the future. He said that he does not want to be used for political mileage.[3]

Childhood

His name 'Ghulam Ali' was given by his father, a great fan of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan who, in the past, used to live in Lahore, British India. Ghulam Ali had always been listening to Khansahib since childhood.

Ghulam Ali encountered Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khansahib, a big name in classical music, for the first time, when he was in his early teens. When Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khansahib had come to Kabul, Afghanistan and, on the way back to India, Ghulam Ali's father requested the Ustad to take his son as a disciple. But the maestro insisted that since he was hardly in town, regular training wouldn't be possible. But after repeated requests from Ghulam Ali's father, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khansahib asked the young Ghulam Ali to sing something. It wasn't easy to have the courage to sing before him. He mustered the courage to sing the Thumri "Saiyyan Bolo Tanik Mose Rahiyo Na Jaye..". After he finished, Ustad hugged him and made him his disciple.

Career

Ghulam Ali started singing for Radio Pakistan, Lahore in 1960. Along with singing ghazals, Ghulam Ali composes music for his bhajans. His compositions are raga-based and sometimes include a scientific mixture of ragas. He is known for blending gharana-gaayaki into ghazal and this gives his singing the capability to touch people's hearts. He beautifully sings Punjabi songs too. Most of his Punjabi songs have been extremely popular. Though from Pakistan, Ghulam Ali remains as popular in India as in Pakistan. Asha Bhosle has done joint music albums with him.

He was introduced to Hindi cinema with a Hindi film song Chupke Chupke Raat Din written by the poet Hasrat Mohani in B. R. Chopra's film, Nikaah (1982).[4] Other popular ghazals include Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa and Awaargi. He has always selected the ghazals of famous poets. One of his ghazal Hum ko kis ke gham ne mara written by Masroor Anwar was a top hit.

On being questioned about Pakistani pop groups, Ghulam Ali replied, "Frankly, I am really bewildered at their style of singing. How can you sing a song by running and jumping around the stage? The stage is meant for performing not for acrobatics."

Ghulam Ali in Hyderabad, 2007

Ghulam Ali has also sung some beautiful Nepali ghazals like Kina kina timro tasveer, Gajalu tee thula thula aankha, Lolaaeka tee thula and Ke chha ra diun in Nepali language with Narayan Gopal, a well known Nepali singer, and composer Deepak Jangam. Those songs were written by King Mahendra of Nepal. These songs were compiled in an album entitled Narayan Gopal, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma, and are popular among Nepali music lovers to this day.

One of his memorable concerts was at the Taj Mahal.[5] On being asked about the future of ghazal singers, he said he enjoyed popular ghazal singer Adithya Srinivasan's ghazals, who performed the opening act at his concert in 2012 at Bangalore.[6] Recently, in February 2013, the maestro became the first person to receive the Bade Ghulam Ali Khan award. Commenting on this, he said," I am indebted to the indian government for giving me this award. For me, it is the greatest award I have received because it is named after my guru." He also got the first Swaralaya Global Legend Award (2016) at Trivandrum, Kerala, India.[7]

Notable ghazals/songs

Discography

Awards and recognition

References

  1. ↑ "Pakistan Singer Ghulam Ali's Concert in Mumbai Cancelled After Shiv Sena Threat". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-10-07., Retrieved 14 Feb 2016
  2. ↑ "Ghulam Ali Performs in Lucknow, Meets Akhilesh Yadav". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2015-10-12., Retrieved 14 Feb 2016
  3. ↑ "Ghulam Ali doesn’t want to be used for political mileage; won’t perform in India". Zee News. Retrieved 2015-11-04., Retrieved 14 Feb 2016
  4. ↑ Ghulam Ali on IMDb, Ghulam Ali Filmography on IMDb, Retrieved 14 Feb 2016
  5. ↑ Ghulam Ali sings in praise of the Taj. The Times of India, published 10 July 2007, Retrieved 14 Feb 2016
  6. ↑ "Deccan Chronicle / Music : From the words of Ghalib ...". Deccan Chronicle. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 Feb 2016.
  7. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/swaralaya-award-presented-to-ghulam-ali/article8110564.ece Ghulam Ali award info on The Hindu newspaper, published 15 Jan 2016, Retrieved 14 Feb 2016
  8. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/news/742068/abida-parveen-aleem-dar-among-winners-posthumous-awards-for-manto-mehdi-Hassan, Ghulam Ali's Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award info on Dawn newspaper, Retrieved 18 April 2016
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