Agreeing that there's a responsibility that comes with being the heir of an icon, Aamir Ghulam Ali doesn’t like comparison with his father. By Jigyasu Joshi
Artists are simply artists. They have nothing to do with Pakistan or India. And, they should be kept out of all this mess which they are dragged into”, said Aamir Ali, son of Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan. Aamir Ghulam Ali and his father maestro Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan were in the town for the launch of Aamir’s his latest single Nahin Milna. Sharing his disgust on the past events of concert cessation, Aamir said, “There are some elements in our society who create this nuisance. There is no need to divide art or artists. What we do is pure and simple.”
As a youngster dabbling in a genere of music that is considered ‘slow and unhip’ among the youth today, Aamir, unlike his father, has his work cut out for him. “I find today’s youth is unable to connect with my father’s ghazal. I’m trying to do my bit for changing this. I try contemporise those ghazals-some of which are 20 years old-so that it can connect with today’s audience”, said Aamir. Why Indian artists do not get due respect in Pakistan as the Pakistani artists get in IndiaIJ “I do not believe in that. Great artists from India are well recieved in Pakistan. Same happens in India as well”, he said.
Agreeing that there’s a responsibility that comes with being the heir of an icon, Aamir said, “I would never compare myself with my father. There is no way that I can become like him ever.” “But I also feel that every artist is unique”, he adds. For his new launch, however, Aamir promised a blend of modernistic visuals with contemporary ghazal to meet the expectations of the present day audience. Further talking about the changing face of music, he said, “My father has always said that no music is bad. Provided that it makes you feel good.” “I feel sad that at present a singer pops out of nowhere, sings anything and degrade the taste of music for the public. People deserve to listen to good music to feel the core of it. lyrics should make sense atleast.”
At the end, Aamir is optimistic that the golden days of ghazals will be back and people will someday get to hear, what it is called as ‘good music’.