Can’t ignore Kashi, its people: Ghulam Ali

VARANASI: It is the charm of Kashi and its people that attracts Pakistani ghazal legend Ghulam Ali to be here and render his choicest compositions for admirers. He has visited the city thrice on different occasions and is now coming to perform at the famous music festival of Sankat Mochan Temple beginning April 8.
“Banaras walon ne itne chahat se bulaya hai toh main itne ache mauke ko miss nahi kar sakta.Mein shukragujar hun unka jinhone humein wahan perform karne ke liye bulaya (It is the call of Banarasi music lovers that I can’t afford to miss such a fine opportunity to perform there. I am thankful to those who invited me),” Ghulam Ali said while talking to TOI over phone from New Delhi on Saturday.
“Itne pyar se bulaya hai to aana hi hoga (I can’t ignore the love and affection of my admirers,” the ghazal maestro said. He said that noted musician Pt Vishwanath, who would also perform at the music festival, told him about Sankat Mochan Music Festival which hosts renowned musicians every year. “Pt Vishwanath motivated me to be a part of this great music fest,” he added.
“Itne sare mahan fankar aa rahe hain wahan, mujhe khushi hai ki unko sun sakunga, unse milunga aur unse baatein hongi. Bahut sare log mujhse senior hain jo wahan maujood rahenge (A galaxy of musicians will be there, I am glad that I will hear them, meet them and talk to them. Many of them who will be there are senior to me),” he said. It would be a great experience for him to perform at Sankat Mochan Music Festival, he added.
“Banaras is a nice place and I visited the city thrice earlier at an interval of six-seven years. This time, I feel delighted to perform in presence of music stalwarts like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt Birju Maharaj and Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia,” Ali, who will present classical thumri and dadra in Hanuman durbar, said.
“If demand of ghazal comes from audience I will love to render the finest ghazals that suits the environment and occasion,” he said.
Ghulam Ali will perform on the first night of the five-day music festival that will begin with a kathak presentation by Pt Birju Maharaj and Deepak Maharaj. Before Ghulam Ali’s performance, flute maestro Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and vocalist Pt Vishwanath will render music. After Ghulam Ali’s performance, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with his sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayyan Ali Khan will perform. The other distinguish musicians of the first night are Pt Ajay Phankar from Mumbai and Anibrat Chatterjee from Kolkata.
As many as 57 musicians from across the country are expected to perform during the annual music festival that has been continuing since 1923 as part of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations at Sankat Mochan Temple, established by legendary poet Tulsidas, the author of epic Ramcharitmanas.