Ghazals By Ghulam Ali

Who is the most prominent Pakistani you know? Well, that's unfortunate. It should have been this man. Meet him in the flesh tonite.

The Times Hyderabad Festival is back this year with 9 days of music and art. The festival will see some renowned musicians, dancers and singers, like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on the inaugural day, Sonu Nigam on 1st April, and Vani Ganapathy, Ghulam Ali Khan and Ehsan Bharti Ghungroo Wale on 6th April. There are also a fashion show by Vinita Pittie and Neeta Lulla on 7th April, and renowned plays Dance Like A Man by Mahesh Dattani on 7th April and The Vagina Monologues by Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal on 8th April. In addition, there will be carnivals at Eat Street on 31st April and at Hyderabad Central on 7th & 8th April, and cooking classes at Taj Krishna, Novotel, ITC Kakatiya, Mainland China, Taj Banjara and Touch from 2nd to 6th April.

Today, the seventh day of the fest, Ghulam Ali will recite some heart-soothing ghazals for the evening, at the Rock Heights of Shilparamam. Ghulam Ali is synonymous with unforgettable numbers like Chupke Chupke, Kal Chaudhavi Ki Raat Thi, Dil Me Ek Laher Si, Dukh Ki Laher Ne and Karoon Na Yaad Magar. He learnt music mainly from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan's brothers, Barqat Ali Khan, Mubarak Ali Khan and Amanat Ali Khan, in Lahore. He has sung many ghazals, nazms and thumris of many shaayars from India and Pakistan, including Mirza Ghalib, Aamir Khusro, Gulzar, Ahmed Faraz, Qateel Shifai and Farhat Shahzad.

Ghulam Ali composes music for his ghazals too. His compositions are raaga-based and sometimes include a scientific mixture of raagas. He is known for blending gharana-gaayaki into ghazal and this gives his singing the capability to touch hearts. He has travelled around the world presenting his soothing ghazals to huge audiences, winning rave reviews. Though a Pakistani, he is as popular and loved in India as in Pakistan.

The entry to the concert is by invitations, available at The Times Of India office, Planet M and Walden outlets. For further details, please contact 2335-5335.