Ijaz Hussain Hazarvi

A contemporary of Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, he began to sing for Radio Pakistan in Lahore, having received his training from the maestro, Ustad Bare Ghulam Ali Khan. His forte was the thumri-accented ghazal, interspersed with enchanting taans and sargam snatches. Born in 1928, he died in 1989.

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Roshan jamal-e-yaar – Lyrics – Hasrat Mohani – Music – Ijaz Hussain Hazarvi

Barkat Ali Khan

The Kasur-born Barkat Ali Khan (1910-63) was one of the greatest ghazal singers of his time. He possessed a rich and highly cultured voice which he employed with great delicacy to produce haunting melodies whose magic time has not been able to dim. His style was strongly influenced by the Patiala Gharana with its abundance of classical overtones and polyrhythmic nuances. He was equally adept at thumri, dadra and pahari Geet.

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Hasti apni habab ki si hai – Lyrics – Mir Taqi Mir – Music – Ustad Barkat Ali Khan

Farida Khanum

Farida Khanum is an accomplished practitioner of the semi-classical style of ghazal singing. Musically, she takes after her celebrated sister Mukhtar Begum. She received her early training from the legendary Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana. She received the Pride of Performance medal in 1971.

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Woh mujh say – Lyrics – Sufi Tabassum – Music – Hassan Latif

Mehdi Hassan

Mehdi Hassan has no equal when it comes to male ghazal singers. Hailing from a family of professional singers, he has put his own mark on the technique of ghazal singing. His voice, though small, is capable of rendering the most delicate melodic patterns in a manner which is authoritatively and unmistakably his. He has recorded hundreds of ghazals and travelled widely, holding concerts all over Europe and the United States.

He was honoured with the Pride of Performance medal in 1985.

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Baat karni mujhay – Lyrics – Bahadur Shah Zafar – Music – Mehdi Hassan