Ghulam Ali (singer)

Ustad Ghulam Ali (born 5 December 1940) is a Pakistani ghazal singer of the Patiala Gharana.

Ghulam Ali is considered as 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 with ghazals, unlike any other ghazal singer.

Highly popular in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, as well as among South Asian diaspora in the US, 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, 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 ghazal by Nasir Kazmi, "Ham Ko Kiske Gham Ne Maara".

Ghulam Ali started singing for Radio Pakistan, Lahore in 1960.

Along with singing ghazals, Ghulam Ali composes music for his ghazals.

His compositions are raga-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 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 in B R Chopra's film, Nikaah (1982).

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."

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 with Narayan Gopal, a well known Nepali singer, and composer Deepak Jangam.

Those songs were written by King Mahendra of Nepal.

His recent album "Hasratein" was nominated in the Best Ghazal Album category at Star GIMA Awards 2014.

He was married to Afsana Ali and has a daughter Manjari Ghulam Ali.

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 Mamata Banerjee and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

After this cancellation, he performed in Lucknow, New Delhi, Trivandrum, and Kozhikode, 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.

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.

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, 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 "Saiyyan Bolo Tanik Mose Rahiyo Na Jaye..".

After he finished, Ustad hugged him and made him his disciple.