Kanwal Naseer, a noted television star, hosted the show. After giving brief introduction of the maestro.
PNCA Director General Tauqeer Nasir highlighted the role PNCA had played in improving the soft image of Pakistan. The evening began with Ghulam Ali’s disciple Mohammad Sabir taking the stage.
Sabir, originally a tabla player of quality, belongs to a musical family and is the younger brother of tabla player late Ustad Mohammad Tufail.
After sensing the downfall of music in Pakistan, he migrated to America where he teaches music. Sabir sang some of Ghulam Ali’s ghazals in his style. The audience enjoyed and appreciated his skills.
Ghulam Ali was given a standing ovation when came to the stage. Ghulam Ali, perhaps performing after a very long time in Islamabad thanked the organisers, the minister, PNCA and the audience.
Ghulam Ali engaged the audience with his wittiness as well as his singing.
The maestro got a bit uneasy with the excessive flash photography. But was kind enough to request them in a courteous and humorous manner to level off the lightening as it was disturbing his singing.
He sang all almost all his hits such as Chupke Chupke, Hangama hai kiyun barpa, Ni champay de ai band kalyay, and other popular numbers.
He also sang a ghazal by Ahmed Faraz.
During the performance he said, “Faraz is the Ghalib of today.”
The audience was very responsive and kept on requesting songs. His voice, however, was not what it once used to be. Age takes its toll but he still has a lot to offer.
Ghulam Ali has a unique style of singing, especially the way he produces murqees (trills) and variations like brief taans in ghazals, which makes him a unique performer.
He often touches notes of other ragas while performing but maintains the beauty of the raag in which he sings.
Ghulam Ali is from a musical gharana. His father, an excellent musician of his time, was his first tutor as well.
Later, Ali became a student of one of the greatest classical singers of the subcontinent, Ustad Baray Ghulam Ali Khan.
Baray Ghulam Ali then handed him over to his younger brothers Ustad Barkat Ali Khan and Mubarik Ali Khan as they were based in Lahore.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2010.
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