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 rhumri Saiyyan Bolo Tanik Mose Rahiyo Na Jaye. After he finished, Ustad hugged him and made him his disciple. 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. Other popular ghazals include Hungama Hai Kyun Barpa and Awaargi. He tends to select the ghazals of famous poets.250px|right|thumb|Ghulam Ali in Hyderabad, 2007One of his memorable concerts was at the Taj Mahal. 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.
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. 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,
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.
- Aabshaar – 2006
- Parchhaiyan – 2006
- Husn-E-Ghazal – 2007
- The Enchanter – 2010
- Anjuman Behtareen Ghazalein