Karim Shah (owner of Nawab Palace Indian Restaurant, Carnegie) welcomes Gulam Ali at the Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, Clayton. PHOTO: South Asia Times.
By Neeraj Nanda
Melbourne, 26 September: Gazal icon Gulam Ali enthralled thousands of Melbourne fans yesterday at the Monash University’s Robert Blackwood Hall. He sang popular and choicest gazals starting with Bade Gulam Ali’s ‘Gori tare naina..’. He also recited his famous ‘chupke chupke raat din aansoo bahana..’ and many other gazals by famous urdu writers. A few gazals in Punjabi and Persian added to the joy of the audience. The most popular which enthralled the fans was ‘Heer’ by Waris Shah.
Earlier in the day, Gulam Ali said that new technologies have made the difference for singers. He feels new technology like You Tube on the internet is an advantage to spread the art of an artist but on the other hand it has made the income of artists less. Mr. Gulam Ali, 69, was addressing a media conference at the Nawab Palace Indian Restaurant, Carnegie.
Answering to a question by South Asia Times, Mr. Gulam Ali said , “Because of the You Tube people around the globe who did not know me, now know and appreciate my gazals.”
Mr. Ali credited god for his presence in Melbourne and said , “The love of my fans brought me here.”
The famous gazal singer who has toured most countries said he had the best audience in Calcutta despite them not understanding Urdu.
“They told me in Calcutta that your songs are good whether we understand them or not, “Mr. Gulam Ali said.
About relations between India and Pakistan Mr. Gulam Ali said, “ My gazals have always been above the political discord between the two countries.”.
“ I am happy the people of India love me so much”, he said.
