Ghulam Ali
Encyclopedia
USTAAD Ghulam AliUSTAAD Ghulam Ali is a Pakistan
i ghazal
singer of the Patiala gharana
. He is not to be confused with the Indian singer Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (of whom he was a disciple) or Chhote Ghulam Ali, who is another Pakistani singer in the Qual Bachon Gharana.
Ghulam Ali is considered as one of the best ghazal
singers of his era .His style and variations in singing Ghazals has been noted as unique, as he blended Hindustani classical music
with ghazals, unlike any other Ghazal singer . Highly popular in Pakistan as well as in India, many of his hit ghazals have been used in Bollywood movies.
in the Sialkot District
of Punjab
,on 5th Dec 1941 pre-partition India
(now in Pakistan
). He belongs to a musical family, his father was a vocalist and a sarangi
player who initiated Ghulam Ali to music from his childhood.
Ali's father named him after Bade Ghulam Ali. At 15, he became a student of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, a master of the Patiala Gharana
of Hindustani music. Due to the busy schedule of Bade Ghulam Ali, he was trained mainly by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's three brothers, Barqat Ali Khan, Mubarak Ali Khan
, and Amanat Ali Khan
, in Lahore
.
All these distinguished classical musicians taught him the finer nuances of classical music. His solid foundation of classical music included studying Thumri
and learning to sing raga
.
s, Ghulam Ali composes music for his bhajan. 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 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.
He entered Hindi Cinema with a Hindi film song Chupke Chupke Raat Din in B. R. Chopra's film, Nikaah
. Other popular ghazals include Hungama hai kyon barpaa and Awaargi.
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
."
Ali has also sung some beautiful 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 Nepal
i 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 Nepal
i music lovers to this day.
One of his memorable concerts was at the Taj Mahal
.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
singer of the Patiala gharana
Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music. It was initially sponsored by the Maharaja of Patiala, Punjab, which was famous for ghazal, thumri, and khyal.-History:...
. He is not to be confused with the Indian singer Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (of whom he was a disciple) or Chhote Ghulam Ali, who is another Pakistani singer in the Qual Bachon Gharana.
Ghulam Ali is considered as one of the best ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
singers of his era .His style and variations in singing Ghazals has been noted as unique, as he blended Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
with ghazals, unlike any other Ghazal singer . Highly popular in Pakistan as well as in India, many of his hit ghazals have been used in Bollywood movies.
Early life and background
Ali was born in the village of KalekeKaleke
Kaleke is a village of Hafizabad District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 31°21'0N 72°46'0E with an altitude of 187 metres ....
in the Sialkot District
Sialkot District
Sialkot District or the District of Sialkot , is one of the districts of the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located in the north-east of the province...
of Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
,on 5th Dec 1941 pre-partition India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
(now in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
). He belongs to a musical family, his father was a vocalist and a sarangi
Sarangi
The Sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument of India which is originated from Rajasthani folk instruments. It plays an important role in India's Hindustani classical music tradition...
player who initiated Ghulam Ali to music from his childhood.
Ali's father named him after Bade Ghulam Ali. At 15, he became a student of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, a master of the Patiala Gharana
Patiala Gharana
The Patiala gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of vocal Hindustani classical music. It was initially sponsored by the Maharaja of Patiala, Punjab, which was famous for ghazal, thumri, and khyal.-History:...
of Hindustani music. Due to the busy schedule of Bade Ghulam Ali, he was trained mainly by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's three brothers, Barqat Ali Khan, Mubarak Ali Khan
Mubarak Ali Khan
Mubarak Ali Khan , one of the foremost Pakistani Qawwals of his time, was the father of Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan, uncle of Qawwali musicians Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, and the brother of Fateh Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan. He is also the great-uncle of Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali...
, and Amanat Ali Khan
Amanat Ali Khan
Ustad Amanat Ali Khan was a Pakistani classical/ghazal singer, from the Patiala gharana. He was honoured with the 'Pride of Performance' award by the government of Pakistan...
, in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
.
All these distinguished classical musicians taught him the finer nuances of classical music. His solid foundation of classical music included studying Thumri
Thumri
Thumri is a common genre of semi-classical Indian music.The text is romantic or devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The lyrics are usually in Uttar Pradesh dialects of Hindi called Poorbi and Brij Bhasha...
and learning to sing raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
.
Career
Ali started singing for Radio Lahore in 1960. Along with singing ghazalGhazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
s, Ghulam Ali composes music for his bhajan. His compositions are raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
-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 hearts. He beautifully sings Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
songs too. Most of his Punjabi songs have been extremely popular. Though from Pakistan, Ghulam Ali remains as popular in India as in Pakistan.
He entered Hindi Cinema with a Hindi film song Chupke Chupke Raat Din in B. R. Chopra's film, Nikaah
Nikaah
Nikaah is a 1982 Hindi film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Raj Babbar, Deepak Parashar and Salma Agha in her Hindi movie debut role. The film also had Asrani, Iftekhar and Gufi Paintal in support roles. The films music is by Ravi. The original name of the movie was Talaq...
. Other popular ghazals include Hungama hai kyon barpaa and Awaargi.
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
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
."
Ali has also sung some beautiful ghazals like Kina kina timro tasveer, Gajalu tee thula thula aankha, Lolaaeka tee thula and Ke chha ra diun in Nepali language
Nepali language
Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
with Narayan Gopal
Narayan Gopal
Narayan Gopal Guruacharya is the most prominent and popular singer and composer in the history of Nepali music. He is popularly referred to as "Swar Samrat" in Nepali music. He is also known as "Tragedy King." He is well known as a singer as well as a composer...
, a well known Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
i singer, and composer Deepak Jangam.Those songs were written by King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
Mahendra of Nepal
Mahendra of Nepal
Possibly no heir for the time period of 1911 through 1920. Previous Crown Prince: Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah, from 1906 to 1911....
These songs were compiled in an album entitled Narayan Gopal
Narayan Gopal
Narayan Gopal Guruacharya is the most prominent and popular singer and composer in the history of Nepali music. He is popularly referred to as "Swar Samrat" in Nepali music. He is also known as "Tragedy King." He is well known as a singer as well as a composer...
, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma, and are popular among Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
i music lovers to this day.
One of his memorable concerts was at the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white Marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal...
.
Notable ghazals/songs
- Ae husn-ae lala faam
- Apne Dhun Mai Reheta Hun Mai Bhee Tere Jaisa Hun
- Apni Tasveer Ko Aankhon Se
- Arz-e-gham say bhi faida tou nahain (Poet: Raees WarsiRaees WarsiRaees Warsi is an Urdu poet, writer and lyricist from Pakistan. He has blended contemporary issues into classic rhyme. Where Urdu poetry was confined to the issues of love, romance and its tragedies till the early 20th century, Warsi and some other notable contemporary poetry have expanded Urdu...
) - Baharon ko Chaman
- Barsan Lagi Sawan Bundiya Raja
- Chamakte Chand Ko Tuta Hua Tara Bana Dala
- Chhup Chhupa Ke Piyo
- Chupke Chupke Raat Din
- Dil Buk Buk Ahro
- Dil Jala Ke Mera Muskuraate Hain Woh
- Dil dhadakne ka sabab ( Poet: Nasir KazmiNasir KazmiSyed Nasir Raza Kazmi, was a renowned Urdu poet of Pakistan. He was one of the greatest poets of this era, especially in the use of "ista'aaray" and "chhotee beher". Kazmi was born on December 8, 1925 at Ambala in British India.-Education and Career:Kazmi was educated at Ambala, Simla and Lahore...
) - Dil Mein Ek Leher Si Uthi Hai Abhi (Poet: Nasir KazmiNasir KazmiSyed Nasir Raza Kazmi, was a renowned Urdu poet of Pakistan. He was one of the greatest poets of this era, especially in the use of "ista'aaray" and "chhotee beher". Kazmi was born on December 8, 1925 at Ambala in British India.-Education and Career:Kazmi was educated at Ambala, Simla and Lahore...
) - Fasle Aise Bhi Honge
- Hadaff-e-Gham na kiya sing-e-mallamat nay mujhay (Poet: Raees WarsiRaees WarsiRaees Warsi is an Urdu poet, writer and lyricist from Pakistan. He has blended contemporary issues into classic rhyme. Where Urdu poetry was confined to the issues of love, romance and its tragedies till the early 20th century, Warsi and some other notable contemporary poetry have expanded Urdu...
) - Heer
- Hum Tere Shahar Mein Aaye Hain
- Hum To Kitno Ko Mehzabeen Kehte Hain
- Humko Kiske Gham Ne Mara' ( Poet: Masroor Anwar )
- Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa
- Itni muddat baad mile ho
- Jin ke honton pe hansi
- Kabhi neki mein mujhe
- Kachhi Deewar Hoon Thokar Na Lagana
- Kaisi Chali Hai Abke Hawa
- Kal Chaudvin Ki Raat Thi ( Ebne Insha)
- Kal Raat Bazm mein jo mila
- Kehte Hai Mujhse Ishq Ka Afsana Chahiye (Qamar Jalalabadi)
- Khuli Jo Aankh
- Khushboo Gunche Talash Karti Hain
- Khushboo Jaise Log Mile
- Ki Pucchde Ho Haal
- Kiya Hai Pyaar Jise
- koi humnafas nahi hai
- Main Nazar Se Pee Raha Hoon
- Mariz-e-muhabbat unhi ka fasana (Poet: Qamar Jalalvi)
- Mehfil Mein Baar Baar (Agha Bismil)
- Mera Kya Tha Tere Hisaab Mein
- Ni Chambe Diye Bandh
- Patta Patta Boota Boota (Poet: Meer Taqi Meer)
- Paara Paara Huan Pairaahan-e-jaan (Poet: Syed Razid-e-Ramzi)
- Rabba Mere Haal Da
- Tak Patri Waaleya Lekh Mere
- Tumhare Khat Mein Naya Ik Salaam
- Woh Kabhi Mil Jayen To
- Woh Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qarar Tha (Poet; Momin Khan MominMomin Khan MominMomin Khan was an Indian poet known for his Urdu ghazals and used "Momin" as his takhallus . He was a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib and Zauq, today his grave lies near the parking area near Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi.-Early life:Momin Khan Momin was born in Delhi...
) - Yeh Batein Jhooti Batein Hain
- Yeh Dil Yeh Pagal Dil (Poet: Mohsin NaqviMohsin NaqviSyed Mohsin Naqvi was a great Urdu language poet of Pakistan. He is believed to have been murdered on 15 January 1996. He was born in a village Sadat near Dera Ghazi Khan. He did his Graduation from Govt. College Bosan Road Multan. The secret of his life is that his actual Name was Ghulam Abbas. He...
) - Zakhm-e-Tanhai Mein Khusboo-e-Heena Kiski ThiDeat 15 nov 2006 in pakistaan
Discography
- Narayan Gopal, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma (Nepali Ghazals)
- Suraag - In Concert
- With Love
- Mast Nazren -Ecstatic Glances Live in London, 1984
- Ghazalain - Live at Islamabad
- Passions
- Hungama Live In Concert Vol.1
- Poems of Love
- Tere Shahar Mein
- Saadgee
- Haseen Lamhen
- Ghazals
- Anjuman Behtareen Ghazlen
- Soulful
- Once More
- The Golden Moments - Patta Patta Boota Boota
- Live in USA Vol 2 - Private Mehfil Series
- Suno
- Live in USA Vol 1 - Private Mehfil Series
- Saugaat
- Khwahish
- At His Very Best
- Aawargee
- The Finest Recordings Of Ghulam Ali
- Great Ghazals
- The Golden Collection
- Geet Aur Ghazals
- Dillagee
- Kalaam-E-Mohabbat
- Chupke Chupke - Live In Concert, England
- Rang Tarang vol 1,2
- Janay Walay
- Heer
- Khushboo
- Ghulam Ali - The Very Best
- Ghulam Ali - Mehfil - Collection From Live Concerts
- The Best Of Ghulam Ali
- Lag Gaya Nain
- Awargi—Ghulam Ali - Vocal CDNF418/419 Live. Vol.3 & 4.
- Aitbaar
- Aadaab Ustad (Ghazals)
- Mahtab
- Ghulam Ali Vol.1 and 2
- A Ghazal Treat - Ghulam Ali In Concert
- Ghulam Ali In Concert
- Khushboo
- 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
- The Golden Moments Ghulam Ali Vol.1
- A Live Concert
- The Best of Ghulam Ali
- Aabshaar
- Lamha Lamha
- Once More
- Parchhaiyan
- 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"\
- Miraz-E-Ghazal, Ghulam Ali & Asha Bhosale