‘Sur kya cheez hai, rishta bana deta hai’

 

Ghulam Ali completes 46 years of singing ghazals this year. No one can believe that this short, unassuming man has the power to mesmerise thousands of music lovers with the strength of his voice. Apart from his amazing singing ability, two more qualities stand out - his humility and his wry sense of humour. “I am not as big an artiste as I am made out to be. “ I’m blessed to be getting more love than I deserve,” he says.

 

The illustrious singer began his musical career at the young age of eight in Sialkot, Pakistan (his birthplace). “My father had big ambitions for me. I hope I have achieved them,” he smiles.

 

A lot of doors are opening up for Indians and Pakistanis. Does he feel relieved with the new understanding? “I first came here in 1980, when things were not as liberal as they are today. We musicians have always tried bridging the gap. There have been some Indian musicians like Jagjit Singh, Hariharan, Daler Mehendi, Ustad Bismillah Khan and others who have come to Pakistan to perform. This increases love amongst our two nations and where there is love, there is strength. Sur kya cheez hai rishta bana deta hai. We are related to each other through music,” he says.

 

Why then did it take him 20 years to perform in Mumbai? “I kept visiting the country. But I haven’t had the chance to sing here because I don’t sing during ordinary programmes.” So, what can we expect today? “I haven’t really decided what to sing. I have 2000 ghazals.  I don’t sing ghazals which are easy to learn,” he signs off, but not before breaking out into a song, “Muddate hogayi chup rehte, koi sunta toh hum bhi kehte…’

 

What more could we ask for!

 

 

 

 

“My all time favourite is Lata Mangeshkar’s

 

‘Baharon, mera jeevan bhi savaanro…’ written by Khayyam.”