Ustad Ghulam Ali (; born 5 December 1940) is a

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...

singer of the Patiala Gharana. Ghulam Ali is considered one of the greatest ghazal singers of his era. He has also been a prominent playback singer in Bollywood. He is a disciple of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (elder Ghulam Ali Khan). Ali was also trained by Bade Ghulam Ali's younger brothers – Barkat Ali Khan and Mubarak Ali Khan. His style and variations in singing Ghazals are unique, as he blends

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

with ghazals, unlike any other ghazal singer. He is highly popular in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, as well as among

South Asian South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...

diaspora in the US, the UK and the Middle Eastern countries. Many of his hit ghazals have been used in

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

movies. His famous ghazals are '' Chupke Chupke Raat Din'', '' Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi'', '' Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa'', Chamakte Chand Ko, ''Kiya Hai Pyar Jisé'', ''May Nazar Sé Pee Raha Hoon'', ''Mastana Peeyé'', ''Yé dil yé pagal dil'', ''Apni Dhun Mein Rehta Hoon'' a

by Nasir Kazmi, "Ham Ko Kiske Gham Ne Maara". His album "Hasratein" was nominated in the Best Ghazal Album category at the Star GIMA Awards 2014. He was married to Afsana Ali, with whom he has a daughter, Manjari Ghulam Ali. In 2015, due to protest by Shiv Sena at

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

, his concert was cancelled. After this, he received invitations from Delhi Chief Minister

Arvind Kejriwal Arvind Kejriwal (; born 16 August 1968) is an Indian politician, activist and former bureaucrat, who served as the 7th Chief Minister of Delhi. He was the chief minister from 2013 to 2014 and from 2015 to 2024. He is also the national conve ...

, West Bengal Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee Mamata Banerjee (; born 5 January 1955) is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth and current List of chief ministers of West Bengal, chief minister of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of West Bengal since 2 ...

and

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

Chief Minister

Akhilesh Yadav Akhilesh Yadav (; born 1 July 1973) is an Indian politician and national president of the Samajwadi Party who served as the 20th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Having assumed the chief minister's office on 15 March 2012 at the age of 38, he ...

. After this cancellation, he performed in

Lucknow Lucknow () is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the largest city of the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is the administrative headquarters of the epon ...

, New Delhi,

Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the largest and ...

, and

Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature. It is the nineteenth large ...

, India. In a news item reported in 2015, Ghulam Ali has said that he won't perform in India until situation is right for music. He, however, assured that he will visit India when ‘the atmosphere is right.’ He said that he does not want to be used for political mileage. His sons Aamir Ghulam Ali and Nazar Ali Abbas are also musicians.

Early life

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 Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

. Ghulam Ali had always been listening to Khan since childhood. Ghulam Ali encountered Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, for the first time, when he was in his early teens. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan had toured

Kabul Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...

, Afghanistan and, on the way back to India, Ghulam Ali's father requested the Ustad to take his son as a disciple. But Khan 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 Khan 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 Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dram ...

"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 The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (); also known as ''Radio Pakistan'', serves as the national public broadcaster for radio in Pakistan. Although some local stations predate its founding, it is the oldest existing broadcasting network in P ...

in 1960. Along with singing

s, Ghulam Ali composed music for his ghazals. His compositions are

raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

-based and sometimes include a scientific mixture of ragas. He is known for blending gharana-gaaiaki into ghazal and this gives his singing the capability to touch people's hearts. He sings Punjabi songs too. Many of his Punjabi songs have been popular and have been part of Punjab's own cultural diaspora. Though from Pakistan, Ghulam Ali remains as popular in India as in Pakistan.

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; ; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur, actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in the media as one of the ...

has done joint music albums with him. He was introduced to Bombay cinema with a Urdu film song '' Chupke Chupke Raat Din'' written by the poet

Hasrat Mohani Syed Fazl-ul-Hasan (1 January 1875 – 13 May 1951), known by his Takhallus, pen-name Hasrat Mohani, was an List of Indian independence activists, Indian independence activist and a poet in Urdu. .Together with Swami Kumaranand, he is regarded ...

in B R Chopra's film, '' Nikaah'' (1982)., Ghulam Ali Filmography on IMDb. Retrieved 16 July 2019 Other popular ghazals include Hungama Hai Kyun Barpa and '' Awaargi''. He tends to select the ghazals of famous poets. 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 Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance (ability), balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sports, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most ...

Ghulam Ali has also sung some Nepali ghazals like ''Kina kina timro tasveer'', ''Gajalu tee thula thula aankha'', ''Lolaaeka tee thula'' and ''Ke chha ra diun'' in

Nepali language Nepali (; , ), or ''Gorkhali'' is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Himalayas region of South Asia. It is the official and most widely spoken Languages of Nepal, language of Nepal, where it also serves as a ''lingua fr ...

with

Narayan Gopal Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya () (4 October 1939 – 5 December 1990), known professionally as Narayan Gopal and N. Gopal was a popular singer and composer of Nepali music. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons in Nepal, he is refe ...

, a well known Nepali singer, and composer ''Deepak Jangam''. Those songs were written by King

Mahendra of Nepal Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (; 11 June 1920 – 31 January 1972) was King of Nepal from 13 March 1955 until his death in 1972. He led the 1960 Nepal coup d'état, 1960 coup d'état, in which he dismissed the government, jailed other political ...

. These songs were compiled in an album entitled ''

, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma'', and are popular among Nepali music lovers to this day. One of his memorable concerts was at the

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( ; ; ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his belo ...

.Ghulam Ali sings in praise of the Taj
''The Times of India'', published 10 July 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2019 On being asked about the future of

singers, he said he enjoyed popular

singer

Adithya Srinivasan Adithya Srinivasan is an Indian singer. He is best known for his award winning ghazals, and international singles in classical, pop, and world music genres. His notable performances include sharing stage space with Hariharan and opening for ...

's ghazals, who performed the opening act at his concert in 2012 at

Bangalore Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...

. 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 received the first Swaralaya Global Legend Award (2016) at

, Kerala, India. Furthermore, Ghulam Ali was the singer of choice for His late Majesty the king of Nepal Mahendra Birbikram Shah Dev. Ghulam Ali sang a number of popular songs written by King Mahendra.

Notable ghazals/songs

* ''Aah ko chahiyye ek umr asar honey tak'' (Poet:

Mirza Ghalib Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan (27 December 179715 February 1869), commonly known as Mirza Ghalib, was an Indian poet. Widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the Urdu language, he also produced a significant body of work in Persian. Ghali ...

) * ''Ae husn-e-beparwah tujhe shola kahoon ya shabnam kahoon'' (Poet: Bashir Badr) * ''Aa gayi yaad shaam dhalte hi'' (Poet: Munir Niyazi) * ''Apni Dhun Mein Rehta Hun, Mai Bhi Tere Jaisa Hun'' (Poet: Nasir Kazmi) * ''Apni Tasveer Ko Aankhon Se (Poet: Shahzad Ahmad)'' * ''Arz-e-gham say bhi faaida tou nahin'' (Poet: Raees Warsi) * ''Awaargi'' (Poet: Mohsin Naqvi) * ''Teri Yaad Yaad (Poet: Sameer)'' * ''Saaqi Sharab Laa'' * ''Baharon ko Chaman'' * ''Barsan Lagi Sawan Bundiya Raja (Poet: Traditional)'' * ''Bata do tum humein bedaad karna'' (Poet: Riaz Khairabadi) * ''Bechain bahut phirna ghabraaye huye rehna'' (Poet:

Munir Niazi Munir Niazi (Punjabi language, Punjabi, Urdu: ;09 April 1923 – 26 December 2006), was a Pakistani poet. He mostly wrote in the Punjabi language, Punjabi and Urdu languages and also wrote for newspapers, magazines and radio. In 1960, he es ...

) * ''Chamakte Chand Ko Tuta Hua Tara Bana Dala (Poet:

Anand Bakshi Anand Bakshi (21 July 1930 – 30 March 2002) was an Indian poet and lyricist. He won Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist 4 times during his career. He wrote over 6000 film songs in more than 300 films. Early life Anand Bakshi (Bakshi Anand Pr ...

)'' * ''Chhup Chhupa Ke Piyo'' * '' Chupke Chupke Raat Din'' (Poet:

) * ''Dard-e-dil dard aashna jaane'' (Poet:

Bahadur Shah Zafar Bahadur Shah II, (Abu Zafar Siraj-ud-din Muhammad; 24 October 1775 – 7 November 1862), usually referred to by his poetic title Bahadur Shah ''Zafar'' (; ''Zafar'' ), was the twentieth and last List of emperors of the Mughal Empire, Mughal emp ...

) * ''Dareeche Be-sada Koi Nahin Hai'' (Poet: Sabir Zafar) * ''Dil Buk Buk Ahro'' * ''Dil Jala Ke Mera Muskuraate Hain Woh'' * ''Dil dhadakne ka sabab yaad aaya'' (Poet: Nasir Kazmi) * ''Dil Mein Ek Leher Si Uthi Hai Abhi'' (Poet: Nasir Kazmi) * ''Fasle Aise Bhi Honge (Poet: Adeem Hashmi)'' * ''Gajalu Ti Thula Thula Aankha'' (Poet: King Mahendra of Nepal) * ''Hadaff-e-Gham na kiya sang-e-mallamat nay mujhay'' (Poet: Raees Warsi) * ''Heer'' (Punjabi Traditional) * ''Hum Tere Shahar Mein Aaye Hain Musafir Ki Tarha'' * ''Hum To Kitnon Ko Mahzabeen Kehte Hain'' * ''Humko Kiske Gham Ne Mara'' ''(Poet: Masroor Anwar)'' * Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa (

Akbar Allahabadi Syed Akbar Hussain, popularly known as Akbar Allahabadi (16 November 1846 – 9 September 1921) was an Indian poet, regarded as one of the greatest satirist in Urdu literature. The most popular of Akbar's verse poked fun at the cultural dilemma ...

)To Ghulam Ali With Love
Technofundo.com website, Published 19 September 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2019 * ''Itni muddat baad mile ho (Poet: Mohsin Naqvi)'' * ''Jin ke honton pe hansi'' * ''Kachhi Deewar Hoon Thokar Na Lagana'' * ''Kaisi Chali Hai Abke Hawa'' * Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi (Poet: Ibn-e-Insha) * ''Kal Raat Bazm mein jo mila'' * ''Kina Kina Timro Tasveer'' (Poet: King Mahendra of Nepal) * ''Kehte Hain Mujhse Ishq Ka Afsana Chahiye'' ( Qamar Jalalabadi) * ''Khuli Jo Aankh (Poet:'' ''Farhat Shehzad)'' * ''Khushboo Gunche Talash Karti Hai'' * ''Khushboo Jaise Log Mile'' * ''Ki Pucchde Ho Haal'' (Punjabi song) * ''Kiya Hai Pyaar Jise'' (Poet: Qateel Shifai) * ''koi humnafas nahi hai'' * ''koi ummid bar nahi aati'' (Poet: Ghalib) * ''Lolayeka ti thula'' (Nepali Song) * ''Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon'' * ''Mehfil Mein Baar Baar'' ( Agha Bismil) * ''Mere shoq da nai aitbar tenu'' Poet: Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum * ''Niyat-e-shauq bhar na jaaye kahin'' (Composed by Mohsin Raza Poet: Nasir Kazmi) * ''Ni Chambe Diye Bandh Kaliye'' (Punjabi song) * ''Nit de vichore sada'' (Punjabi song) *''Pata laga mainu huun ki judai'' (Punjabi song) * ''Patta Patta Boota Boota'' (Poet: Meer Taqi Meer) * ''Paara Paara Hua Pairaahan-e-Jaan'' (Poet: Syed Razid-e-Ramzi) * ''Pehli waari aj hona'' (Punjabi song) * ''Phir Kisi Rahguzar Par Shahyad'' (Poet: Ahmed Faraz) * ''Phir Sawan Rut Ki Pawan Chali, Tum Yaad Aaye'' (Poet: Nasir Kazmi) * ''Rabba Mere Haal Da'' (Punjabi song) * "Rahe ishq ki inteha chahata hoon" * ''Ranj Ki Jab Guftagu Hone Lagi'' (Poet: Daag Dehlavi) * ''Roya Karenge Aap Bhi (Poet:

Momin Khan Momin Momin Khan Momin (; 1800 – 14 May 1852) was a late Mughal era poet known for his Urdu ghazals. A lesser-known contemporary of Ghalib and Zauq, he used "Momin" as his pen name. His grave is located in the Mehdiyan cemetery in Maulana Az ...

)'' * ''Shauq Har Rang Raqeeb-E-Sar-O-Samaan Nikla'' (Poet: Ghalib) * ''Tak Patri Waaleya Lekh Mere'' (Punjabi song) * ''Tamaam Umr Tera Intezar Kiya'' (Poet: Hafeez Hoshiarpuri) * ''Tumhare Khat Mein Naya Ik Salaam Kis Ka Thaa'' (Poet: Daag Dehlavi) * ''Woh Kabhi Mil Jayen Tau'' (Poet: Akhtar Sheerani) * ''Woh Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qarar Tha'' (Poet:

) * ''Yeh Batein Jhooti Batein Hain'' Poet: Ibn-e-Insha * ''Yeh Dil Yeh Pagal Dil'' (Poet: Mohsin Naqvi) * ''Zakhm-e-Tanhai Mein Khusboo-e-Heena Kiski Thi'' *''Zehaal-e-miskin mukun taghaful'' (Poet: Amir Khusroo)

Discography

* ''Tere Shehar Mein'' – 1996 * ''Lamha Lamha'' – 1997 * ''Mahtab'' – 1997 * ''Madhosh'' – 1999 * ''Khushboo'' – 2000 * ''Rabba Yaar Milaade'' – 2000 * ''Passions'' – 2000 * ''Sajda'' – 2001 * ''Visaal'' – 2004 * ''Aabshaar'' – 2006 * ''Parchhaiyan'' – 2006 * ''Husn-E-Ghazal'' – 2007 * ''The Enchanter'' – 2010 * ''Anjuman Behtareen Ghazalein'' * ''At His Very Best'' Ghulam Ali * ''Aawargee'' * ''Dillagee'' * ''Ghazalain – Live at Islamabad'' * ''Ghazals'' * ''Great Ghazals'' * ''Geet Aur Ghazals'' * ''Hungama Live in Concert Vol.1'' * ''Haseen Lamhe'' * ''Khwahish'' * ''Live in USA Vol 2 – Private Mehfil Series'' * ''Live in USA Vol 1 – Private Mehfil Series'' * ''Mast Nazren -Ecstatic Glances Live in London'', 1984 * ''Narayan Gopal, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma'' (Nepali Ghazals) * ''Once More'' * ''Poems of Love'' * ''Saadgi'' * ''Suraag – In Concert'' * ''Suno'' * ''Soulful'' * ''Saugaat'' * ''The Golden Moments – Patta Patta Boota Boota'' * ''The Finest Recordings of Ghulam Ali'' * ''The Golden Collection'' * ''With Love'' * ''Kalaam-E-Mohabbat'' (Ghazals written by Sant Darshan Singh Ji) * ''Chupke Chupke – Live in Concert, England'' * ''Rang Tarang vol 1,2'' * ''Janay Walay'' * ''Heer'' * ''Ghulam Ali – The Very Best'' * ''Ghulam Ali – Mehfil – Collection From Live Concerts'' * ''The Best of Ghulam Ali'' * ''Awargi—Ghulam Ali – Vocal CDNF418/419 Live. Vol.3 & 4.'' * ''Aitbaar'' * ''Aadaab Ustad (Ghazals)'' * ''Ghulam Ali Vol.1 and 2'' * ''A Ghazal Treat – Ghulam Ali in Concert'';; * ''Ghulam Ali in Concert'' * ''Awargi (Live) Vol 1 and 2'' * ''Moods and Emotions'' * ''Ek Ehsaas – A Confluence of the Finest Ghazal Voices '' * ''Best of Ghulam Ali'' * ''Greatest Hits Of Ghulam Ali'' * ''The Golden Moments Ghulam Ali'' (Vol.1) * ''A Live Concert'' * ''The Best of Ghulam Ali'' * ''Once More'' * ''Mehraab'' * ''Ghulam Ali Live at India Gate – Swar Utsav 2001 – Songs of the Wandering Soul'' * ''Ghalib – Ghazals – Ghulam Ali – Mehdi Hassan'' * ''The Latest, the best"\'' * ''Meraj-E-Ghazal, Ghulam Ali &

Awards and recognition

Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance (), officially known as the Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sp ...

Award in 1979 by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

* Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award (Star of distinction) in 2013 by the

Ghulam Ali's award info on Dawn (newspaper)
Published 14 August 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2019

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Ghulam 1940 births Living people Pakistani ghazal singers Pakistani classical singers Classical music in Pakistan Pakistani folk singers Performers of Sufi music Pakistani male singers Pakistani Sunni Muslims People from Sialkot Nepali-language singers Pakistani playback singers Recipients of the Pride of Performance Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz Patiala gharana People from Punjab Province (British India)