Ghazals remain deeply embedded in Indian classical music and cinema, with their relevance only growing stronger among Gen Z audiences discovering the form through streaming platforms.

The Magic Of Ghazals

Remember this?

‘Ranjish hi sahi, dil hi dukhaane ke liye aa

Aa phir se mujhe chhod ke liye jaane ke liye aa’ – Ahmed Faraz

(Although in anguish, even if it is to hurt my heart, come!
Come! Even if it’s only to abandon me again, come!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih0yJARDWtM

Or this?

‘Tumko dekha toh ye khayaal aaya,

zindagi dhoop, tum ghana saaya’ – Javed Akhtar

(When I saw you, this thought arised,

Life is the strong sun, you are the dense shade)

If you do, then you know the power that a ghazal holds when sung with the right chords. And if you have little or no idea of what I am talking about, but still admire soft melancholic music, then my friend, I advise you to give it a try. I was fortunate enough to have been exposed to this world as a child, as I slept to music playing on the cassette player in the 90s. It’s a magical spell that can numb your soul, giving you a sensation of a surreal icy night with dim luminosities. It can elevate your spirit like the finest wine. Whether you are into ghazals or not, there is a good chance that you have some misconceptions. Although popular, there are prevalent myths about this beauty among most. Let’s lay it bare for you –

Exploring the Myths and Facts about Ghazal

Myth – Ghazal Is A Form Of Music

The fact is that Ghazal is a form of poetry and not music. Originally, it was recited as a form of poetry. All over the world, it is still widely recited only as poetry, by the poets in various mushairas (poetic symposiums). It later fused with music into a popular form of light melancholic singing, which we are quite acquainted with, thanks to the efforts of Begum Akhtar, Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh, Farida Khanum and Ustad Ghulam Ali. The likes of these singers also sing nazm, dohe, thumri and other forms of poetry in a similar genre of music. That this form of music is called ‘Ghazal’ is a myth.

Myth – Ghazal Is A Form Of Sufi Music

The fact is that a ghazal can be Sufi, but all Sufi songs are not ghazals. Also, all songs which have the word ‘maula’ are not Sufi. Sufi is more of an ideology and more often expressed in a musical ‘Qawwaali’ than a ghazal.

“Hazaaron khwahishen aisi ke har khwaahish pe dum nikle

Bahot nikle mere armaan lekin phir bhi kam nikle” – Mirza Ghalib

(Thousands of desires are such that each is worth losing breath.
Many of them I have realized, yet I yearn for more)

This is a couplet from a famous ghazal written by Mirza Ghalib the 18th century.

More than a century later, in 1988, Jagjit Singh gave his voice to this classic in Ghalib’s biographical television series made by Gulzar, played by Naseeruddin Shah and made it known across the world like never before.

Exploring The Form And The Craft Of A Ghazal

Javed Akhtar metaphorically describes a ghazal as a box of assorted biscuits. He calls it so because of its unique structure, which has different flavours packed in a singular box. 2 lines make a couplet (Sher). More than 4 couplets together make a Ghazal. Each couplet is exclusive, independent of other couplets and is complete in itself.

Every single couplet of a ghazal may be about an entirely different topic and yet, has to deliver a comprehensive thought as a whole. This makes it differ from a Nazm.

So, what binds this variety of thoughts together in a Ghazal? It’s Meter (length of line – Behr), Rhyme (Qaafiya) & Refrain (Repeat words – Radeef) together form the syntax of a ghazal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNNiDzWsWsg

• Each couplet should have an equal meter.
• The first couplet is called matla (horizon). Both lines must accommodate a rhyme (charcha, chehra) and refrain (tera).
• The first line of all other couplets doesn’t necessarily adhere to the rhyme and refrain. But the second line of each has to follow the same scheme of rhyme (parda & Insha) and refrain (tera).
• The last couplet is called ‘Matla’ which often employs the pen name (Insha) of the poet creatively.

Busting Additional Myths 

Myth – Ghazals Are Written Only In Urdu

The fact is, when the ghazal originated it was written in Arabic, then moved to other languages like Persian, Hebrew and Urdu. Today, ghazals are written in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, English, German and several other languages. Dr Ghazal Srinivas is known as a pioneer of Telugu ghazals. It can be conceived in any language, although the most popular is Urdu.

Myth – The Thought Of Urdu Ghazal Is Restricted To Longing And Unattainable Love

Ghazals focused on love in the earlier days, lekin aur bhi ghum hai zamaane mein mohabbat ke siva (but there are several other tragedies in life apart from love). The thought carried by ghazals has evolved over the years by the inherent social awareness of the poets. From philosophy to a rebellious and satirical take on the social issues, some ghazals have outlined the liberal thought, taking a jibe at fundamentalism and sometimes to outright irreverence to religion.

Frequently used words have their symbolic meaning. Maiqana (Bar), the maiqwaar (drinker), haram (place of worship), waiz (preacher) and many such are often used metaphorically. As Ghalib says in one of his ghazals –

Hum ko maaloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat, lekin

Dil ko khush rakhne ko Ghalib yeh khayaal achcha hai

(I know the truth about paradise, but

if this fable provides comfort Ghalib, the thought’s not bad)

The Mystique Aura Of Ghazal

Duniya jise kehte hain jaadu ka khilona hai

Mil jaye toh mitti hai, kho jaye toh sone hai – Nida Fazli

(What we call as the world is a magical toy

If found it is earthen, if lost it is golden)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimfkv8MhKg

However deep we delve into the world of ghazals, something that we fail to demystify is its mystique aura. There is an old lady known as amma, who sits at her small kirana shop at the end of the road leading to my house. She knows nothing of the form, origin or the contribution of ghazal to literature and society. Yet she listens to them every lazy sunny afternoon and late evening. She says that it takes her to another peaceful world, a symphonic world of nostalgia and love, and makes her forget about her daily worries and chaos of this life.