Ghulam Ali in Mumbai this week; hosts seek security

Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali will be in the city this week to attend an event and his hosts have sought adequate security for him from Maharashtra Government, months after his concert here was cancelled due to right-wing regional party Shiv Sena’s opposition.

Ali, scheduled to arrive here on Thursday, will attend the music launch of “Ghar Wapsi”, a movie directed by TV show host-turned-filmmaker Suhaib Ilyasi, on January 29. He has sung a patriotic song in the movie apart from acting in it.

Ilyasi of “India’s Most Wanted” fame has requested the state’s BJP-led government to provide adequate security to the 75-year-old artist during his two-day visit here.

“On January 29, we are releasing the music of our film. We want him to have a secure and peaceful stay while he is Mumbai. We have requested the Mumbai Police and the state government to provide protection for the same, so that no untoward incident happens,” Ilyasi told PTI today.

“In October last year, his concerts (in Mumbai and Pune) were cancelled due to a threat by Shiv Sena. The reason they gave was the tension prevailing between India and Pakistan,” he said.

The director added that he was yet to get a confirmation from the authorities on his request for security to Ali.

“I am yet to get a confirmation… But I am hopeful I will get it in a day or two. We will proceed only if we have the conformation, until then everything is on stand by.”

Ilyasi said his upcoming film will be about the issue of “intolerance” in the country.

Asked if he is anticipating any controversy regarding the film and its title, the director said, “I am not… the word ‘ghar wapsi’ has become the hot topic today.

“Through the film we want to send an important message to political persons. The film is about intolerance.”

Ali has sung a song in “Ghar Wapsi” and will be playing himself in the film.

“It was a wonderful experience working with him.

Initially, he was a little uneasy with all the retakes and cuts. He is not used to get interrupted… But he picked up gradually,” Ilyasi said.

Inputs by PTI