I had hard time composing 'Chupke Chupke': Ghulam Ali

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, May 5 (UNI) Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, who has received accolades for his famous ghazal 'Chupke Chupke', today said that in fact he found it quite difficult to set the famous rendition to music.

The renowned Pakistani ghazal singer, who is in the city in connection with a programme here this evening, in an informal chat with reporters here late last evening, revealed that he had a hard time composing the ghazal. ''I spent several days on composing the music of Hasrat Mohani's 'Chupke Chupke','' Ali said adding that later it became one of his favourite ghazal among several hundreds he has sung so far.

The ghazal was also featured in Hindi movie 'Nikaah', for which Ghulam Ali had composed the music.

The 64-year-old music composer and singer, who has been singing ghazals since the age of 14, also expressed concern over the gradual deterioration of Urdu language.

''Ghazals are in Urdu and people who can read the language, at times do not understand it properly,'' he said adding that to understand a ghazal, one not only needs to know the words, but also their meaning.

To a poser, he said these days ghazal singers are composing easy verses, since the listeners are not ready to carry out the heavy load -''sunnewale bhi itna bojh uthana nahi chahte hain,'' he said.

Expressing his happiness over the improved Indo-Pak relations, the artiste said the efforts from both sides have resulted in visits of people like him to India and perform here. There are several other artistes in Pakistan, eager to perform in India and of late their performances in India have increased, he noted.

He also said he was happy to come for a performance to the historic city of Aurangabad, the birth place of Vali Dakhani, a famous Urdu 'shayar' (poet).

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