Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan غلام علی خان
Ghulam Ali in Chennai
Background information
Born	(1940-12-05) 5 December 1940 (age 85) Galotian Khurd, Daska, Punjab, British Raj (now in Sialkot, Pakistan)
Genres	Hindustani classical music Ghazal Playback singing
Instruments	Vocals Harmonium Tabla
Years active	1960– present
Labels	Radio Pakistan, PTV

Ustad Ghulam Ali (Punjabi: غُلام علی; born 5 December 1940) is a Pakistani ghazal 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. 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.^[1] 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 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.

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,^[2] 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.^[3][4]

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 rhumri Saiyyan Bolo Tanik Mose Rahiyo Na Jaye. After he finished, Ustad hugged him and made him his disciple.^[1] Apart from the harmonium, he would also learn to play the tabla.^[2]

He was married to Afsana Ali, with whom he has a daughter, Manjari Ghulam Ali. His sons Aamir Ghulam Ali^[5] and Nazar Ali Abbas are also musicians.^[6]

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.^[3]

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."^[1]

Though from Pakistan, Ghulam Ali remains as popular in India as in Pakistan. He first came to India in 1980.^[3] Asha Bhosle has done joint music albums with him, beginning with Meeraj-E-Ghazal in 1984.^[3] 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).^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

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.^[10]

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. These songs were compiled in an album entitled Narayan Gopal, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma, and are popular among Nepali music lovers to this day.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[3]

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.

In 2015, due to protest by Shiv Sena at Mumbai, his concert was cancelled.^[11] After this, he received invitations from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.^[12] After this cancellation, he performed in Lucknow,^[12] New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode, India.^[13]

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.^[13]

• Tere Shehar Mein – 1996^[1]
• Lamha Lamha – 1997
• Mahtab – 1997
• Madhosh – 1999
• Khushboo – 2000
• Rabba Yaar Milaade – 2000
• Passions – 2000
• Sajda – 2001
• Visaal – 2004^[14]
• Aabshaar – 2006
• Parchhaiyan – 2006
• Husn-E-Ghazal – 2007
• The Enchanter – 2010
• Anjuman Behtareen Ghazalein^[1]
• At His Very Best Ghulam Ali
• Aawargee
• Dillagee
• Ghazalain – Live at Islamabad^[1]
• Ghazals
• Great Ghazals
• Geet Aur Ghazals
• Hungama Live in Concert Vol.1^[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^[1]
• Narayan Gopal, Ghulam Ali Ra Ma (Nepali Ghazals)^[1]
• 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)^[1]
• A Live Concert
• The Best of Ghulam Ali
• Once More^[1]
• Mehraab
• Ghulam Ali Live at India Gate – Swar Utsav 2001 – Songs of the Wandering Soul^[1]
• Ghalib – Ghazals – Ghulam Ali – Mehdi Hassan
• The Latest, the best"\
• Meraj-E-Ghazal, Ghulam Ali & Asha Bhosle^[14][1]

• Pride of Performance Award in 1979 by the President of Pakistan
• Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award (Star of distinction) in 2013 by the President of Pakistan^[15]

• Ghulam Ali on Facebook