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MUSIC:
An Evening of Ghazals: Ghulam Ali and Munni Begum The Sunnyvale Hindu Temple recently presented an evening of ghazals. A Siliconeer report. (Above): Munni Begum and Ghulam Ali(r). [Sharif Ahmed/Siliconeer photo]
Two of the most illustrious exponents of ghazals performed June 7 at the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple. Ghazal exponents Ghulam Ali and Munni Begum held a sold-out audience in thrall with their exquisitely presented ghazals.
Both singers presented their perennial audience favorites, much to the delight of the assembled gathering.
Born in the Sialkot district of pre-partition Punjab Ghulam Ali belongs to a musical family; his father was a vocalist and a sarangi player who gave him early training. At the age of 15, he became a student of the legendary Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, who was a master of the Patiala Gharana. His actual training was provided mainly by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s three brothers: Barqat Ali Khan, Mubarak Ali Khan, and Amanat Ali Khan.
Munni Begum grew up in Dhaka. In 1971, Begum’s family fled their home country during its war for independence, and ended up in a refugee camp in Pakistan.
Three decades later, Munni Begum lives in Chicago and is a U.S. citizen. She often performs in North America and South Asia.
