Ghulam Ali to launch 'Ghar Wapsi' music in Delhi, police cover sought

The makers of Indian film "Ghar Wapsi" on Thursday announced that Ghulam Ali will launch the movie's music in the capital on April 4, after "a brave but failed attempt" to do so in Mumbai earlier this year. Director Suhaib Ilyasi has demanded "adequate" security for the Pakistani ghazal maestro.

Ilyasi said here that he had to shift the location of the film's music launch from Mumbai to Delhi in view of a threat to Ghulam Ali -- who has composed and lent his voice to a patriotic song in the film and is even making his acting debut with the project -- from right wing Maharashtra political party Shiv Sena.

"We hope the government will provide adequate security to Ghulam Ali saab while he is in Delhi. I hope the programme will go smoothly," Ilyasi told IANS.

At a press conference here, Ilyasi maintained that a legend like Ghulam Ali should not be dragged into controversies and should not be made a scapegoat for petty politics.

"Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena was very categoric when he said that he would not allow Ghulam Ali saab on Indian soil and would oppose it. Shiv Sena has a certain strength in the capital and we want to ensure that Ghulam Ali saab is safe and secure," Ilyasi said in an official statement.

The music launch of "Ghar Wapsi" was scheduled to take place in Mumbai on January 29, but trouble ensued after threats from Shiv Sena, following which the event was called off.

Last year too, his concerts in Mumbai and Pune were called off after Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt his live performances.

The 75-year-old singer, who made an entry into Indian cinema with his popular song "Chupke chupke raat din" for B.R. Chopra's "Nikaah", had expressed his anguish and disappointment over the issue. But he has always maintained that music has no boundaries, and his love for Indian music lovers remains the same even after the controversy.

"Ghar Wapsi" is about a family that is faced with multifarious issues and the dilemma of a cultural identity. It is about a family that is unable to cope with the cultural dichotomy during their homecoming.

The film, which is in the final stages of post-production, is set for release this summer and stars Farida Jalal, Zarina Wahab, Alok Nath, Reema Lagoo, Deepak Tijori, Srishti Goutam and Harsh Nagar.