Ustad Ghulam Ali (; born 5 December 1940) is a Pakistani ghazal singer of the Patiala Gharana. He is regarded as one of the leading ghazal singers of his era who has also been a prominent playback singer in Bollywood. He is a disciple of Bade 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. He is 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 Jise", "May Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon", "Mastana Peeye", "Ye Dil Ye Pagal Dil", "Apni Dhun Mein Rehta Hoon", and a ghazal 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.
Early life Ghulam Ali was born in 1941 in the Sialkot district of present-day Pakistan and was a child during the Partition of India, an event he recalls only faintly. He was introduced to music at an early age, coming from a musical family; his father was a musician, being a vocalist who could play the sarangi, and recognized his talent when one of his teachers noticed him humming a song at school and encouraged him to sing. At the age of 8, Ghulam Ali began formal training under his father, who assigned him a raaga to practise intensively on the harmonium, laying the foundation for his musical discipline. Though his grandmother initially objected to the rigorous training, his father believed early childhood was essential for building a strong musical base. He was named after the classical vocalist Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, whom his father greatly admired, and later had the opportunity to train under the legendary musician. His father aspired for him to become a ghazal singer, and Ghulam Ali began practising seriously from the age of 9.
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. Apart from the harmonium, he would also learn to play the tabla.
Personal life He was married to Afsana Ali, with whom he has a daughter, Manjari Ghulam Ali. His sons Aamir Ghulam Ali and Nazar Ali Abbas are also musicians.
Career
Pakistan A strong student academically, Ghulam Ali’s musical talent was soon recognized beyond his household. While practising on a terrace, he was noticed by a representative from Radio Pakistan, leading to an invitation to perform. At the age of 14, he began singing for a children’s programme on Radio Pakistan and within six months advanced to performing at the highest level, marking the beginning of his professional musical career.
Along with singing ghazals, Ghulam Ali composed 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.
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."
India Though from Pakistan, Ghulam Ali remains as popular in India as in Pakistan. He first came to India in 1980. Asha Bhosle has done joint music albums with him, beginning with Meeraj-E-Ghazal in 1984. He was introduced to Bombay cinema with an Urdu film song Chupke Chupke Raat Din written by the poet Hasrat Mohani 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.One of his memorable concerts was at the Taj Mahal.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 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. 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 Trivandrum, Kerala, India.Ghulam Ali's award info on The Hindu newspaper Published 15 January 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2019
Nepal Ghulam Ali has also sung some Nepali ghazals which include Kina Kina Timro Tasbir, Gajalu Ti Thula Thula Aankha, Lolayeka Ti Thula and Ke Chha Ra Diun, which were written by King Mahendra of Nepal and composed by Deepak Jangam. These songs were compiled in an album entitled Narayan Gopal, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma, and are popular among Nepali music lovers to this day.
Furthermore, Ghulam Ali was the singer of choice for His late Majesty the King of Nepal Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. Ghulam Ali sang a number of popular songs written by King Mahendra.
Musical style Ghulam Ali is known for composing the majority (he estimates at up to 95%) of the ghazals he performs, stating that most of his repertoire consists of his own compositions, while remaining open to singing works by other composers if he finds them musically strong. Over time, he has increasingly performed self-composed material, which has become a defining feature of his musical output.
His ghazal singing is firmly grounded in the Hindustani classical tradition, drawing extensively from classical raagas while adapting them to the lyrical and emotive structure of the ghazal. He has emphasized that ghazal singing requires rigorous training, particularly in precise pronunciation of Urdu poetry and accurate melodic execution, describing the form as technically demanding and time-intensive to master.
Controversies
Performances in India In 2015, due to protest by Shiv Sena at Mumbai, his concert was cancelled.Pakistani Singer's Concerts in India Are Canceled After Shiv Sena Protests The New York Times, Published 8 October 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2019 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, Thiruvananthapuram, 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.
Notable ghazals/songs TitlePoet / LyricistRagaYearAlbum / CollectionFilmNotesAah ko chahiye ik umr asar hone takMirza Ghalib—c. 1975Classical GhazalsNon-filmAe husn-e-beparwah tujhe shola kahoon ya shabnamBashir Badr—c. 1980Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmAa gayi yaad shaam dhalte hiMunir Niazi—c. 1979Ghazals Vol. 2Non-filmApni dhun mein rehta hoonNasir Kazmi—c. 1976Ghazals Vol. 1Non-filmApni tasveer ko aankhon seShahzad Ahmad—c. 1977Ghazals Vol. 1Non-filmArz-e-gham se bhi faida to nahinRaees Warsi—c. 1982Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmAwaargiMohsin NaqviBhairavi (light)1988AwaargiNon-filmTitle ghazalBaharon ko chaman yaad aa gaya——c. 1981Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmBarsan lagi sawan bundiyaTraditional—c. 1984Folk & GhazalsNon-filmFolk-basedBata do tum humein bedaad karnaRiaz Khairabadi—c. 1978Classical GhazalsNon-filmBechain bahut phirnaMunir Niazi—c. 1979Ghazals Vol. 2Non-filmChamakte chand ko toota hua taara bana dalaAnand Bakshi—1982Awargi (OST)AwargiFilm songChhup chhupa ke piyo——c. 1977Ghazals Vol. 1Non-filmChupke Chupke Raat DinHasrat MohaniKafi (light)1982Nikaah (OST)NikaahWidely acceptedDard-e-dil dard-e-aashna jaaneBahadur Shah Zafar—c. 1976Classical GhazalsNon-filmDareeche be-sada koi nahin haiSabir Zafar—c. 1983Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmDil dhadakne ka sabab yaad aayaNasir Kazmi—c. 1980Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmDil mein ek lehar si uthi hai abhiNasir KazmiPilu (light)c. 1979Ghazals Vol. 2Non-filmFasle aise bhi hongeAdeem Hashmi—c. 1985Ghazals Vol. 5Non-filmGajalu ti thula thula aankhaKing Mahendra (Nepal)—c. 1986Nepali GhazalsNon-filmNepaliHeerPunjabi traditional—c. 1984Punjabi ClassicsNon-filmHum tere shehar mein aaye hain——c. 1981Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmHumko kiske gham ne maaraMasroor Anwar—c. 1977Classical GhazalsNon-filmHungama Hai Kyun BarpaAkbar AllahabadiDarbari Kanadac. 1978Classical GhazalsNon-filmStrong consensusItni muddat baad mile hoMohsin Naqvi—c. 1987Ghazals Vol. 5Non-filmKachchi deewar hoon thokar na lagana——c. 1982Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmKal Chaudhvin Ki Raat ThiIbn-e-InshaYaman (light)c. 1978Classical GhazalsNon-filmKehte hain mujhse ishq ka afsana chahiyeQamar Jalalabadi—c. 1979Ghazals Vol. 2Non-filmKhuli jo aankhFarhat Shehzad—c. 1980Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmKhushboo jaise log mile——c. 1984Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmKiya hai pyaar jiseQateel Shifai—c. 1981Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmKoi ummeed bar nahin aatiMirza Ghalib—c. 1976Classical GhazalsNon-filmMain nazar se pee raha hoon——c. 1977Ghazals Vol. 1Non-filmMehfil mein baar baarAgha Bismil—c. 1978Classical GhazalsNon-filmMere shauq da nai aitbaar tenuGhulam Mustafa Tabassum—c. 1983Punjabi ClassicsNon-filmPunjabiNiyat-e-shauq bhar na jaaye kahinNasir Kazmi—c. 1982Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmNi chambe diye bandh kaliyePunjabi traditional—c. 1984Punjabi ClassicsNon-filmPatta patta boota boota haal hamaara jaane haiMir Taqi MirKafi (light)c. 1976Classical GhazalsNon-filmPhir kisi raahguzar par shayadAhmed Faraz—c. 1986Ghazals Vol. 5Non-filmPhir saawan rut ki pawan chaliNasir Kazmi—c. 1980Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmRoya karenge aap bhiMomin Khan Momin—c. 1979Classical GhazalsNon-filmTamaam umr tera intezaar kiyaHafeez Hoshiarpuri—c. 1981Ghazals Vol. 3Non-filmTumhare khat mein naya ik salaam kis ka thaDaagh Dehlvi—c. 1977Classical GhazalsNon-filmWoh kabhi mil jaayen toAkhtar Sheerani—c. 1982Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmWoh jo hum mein tum mein qaraar thaMomin Khan Momin—c. 1976Classical GhazalsNon-filmYeh baatein jhooti baatein hainIbn-e-Insha—c. 1984Ghazals Vol. 4Non-filmYeh dil yeh paagal dilMohsin Naqvi—c. 1989AwaargiNon-filmZehaal-e-miskin makun taghafulAmir Khusro—c. 1980Classical GhazalsNon-film
Discography Tere Shehar Mein – 1996 Lamha Lamha – 1997 Mahtab – 1997 Madhosh – 1999 Khushboo – 2000 Rabba Yaar Milaade – 2000 Passions – 2000 Sajda – 2001 Visaal – 2004To Ghulam Ali With Love Technofundo.com website, Published 19 September 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2019 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