As his new track “Koyal” wins hearts, the singer opens up about his musical roots, the fading charm of ghazals, and the need for stillness in today’s restless times
As the soulful notes of Koyal, composed by DigVijay Singh Pariyar and featuring Vidhya Gopal, echo across platforms as part of Hyundai Spotlight Season 3, Javed Ali is once again in the spotlight—and rightly so. Known for superhit songs like Kun Faya Kun, Jashn-E-Bahaaraa, Guzarish, Tu Hi Haqeeqat, and Arziyan, the versatile singer has carved a place in listeners’ hearts with his emotive renditions and spiritual depth.
In an exclusive conversation with The Movie Mail, Javed spoke candidly about his early musical influences, the fading appreciation for ghazals, the anxieties plaguing the music industry today, and the importance of finding sukoon—a feeling no other word can quite capture.
A Musical Legacy Born at Home
Javed’s journey began in a home where music wasn’t just a passion but a way of life. “I was raised on a steady diet of qawwalis at home,” he recalls, with a fond smile. His father, Ustad Hamid Hussain, was a respected qawwal, and the young Javed found himself constantly surrounded by melodies that were both spiritual and deeply emotional. “Abba never imposed anything on me. He always told me, ‘Stay honest to your riyaaz.’ That stayed with me.”
The Path Less Travelled: Finding His Own Sound
Despite growing up in a space where qawwalis and ghazals thrived, Javed felt an instinctive pull toward softer, romantic tunes and sufi-inspired melodies. His later work in Bollywood reflects that, where he seamlessly lent his voice to ballads and spiritual songs that transcended generations.
Ghazals: The Forgotten Melody
However, the ghazal—once a staple of Indian music—is something Javed feels is quietly slipping away from public memory. “Ghazals are beautiful—lyrical, poetic, and meant to be savoured slowly. But film music tends to dominate, and now we’re in this era of 30-second reels,” he says, the disappointment evident in his voice.
He believes the genre’s diminishing presence isn’t because young people don’t like it—it’s because they haven’t been given the chance to fall in love with it. “There’s a stereotype that ghazals are for older people, but that’s not true. They’re like old-school romance—you can’t rush them. Aaj kal sab kuch 30 second mein chahiye, toh ghazal ka maza kaun lega?”
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A World in Need of Patience
This, he feels, is part of a larger problem. “I think people are losing patience—not just in how they listen to music, but in life itself,” he reflects. “Everyone’s always looking for something new—new voices, new lyrics, new visuals. But this constant search isn’t really about creativity. Ye bas logon ke dil ka bechaini hai.”
His voice turns introspective as he adds, “Everything today is squeezed into a 30-second reel—or even 15 seconds now. And this bechaini—this restlessness—isn’t just about content. It’s about what’s going on around us, the pressure of everyday life. It’s affecting how people experience music.”
Finding Peace in a Restless World
In a time where everything is moving faster than ever, Javed finds solace in two words: thehrav and sukoon. These words, he explains, have no true translation in English. “Sukoon is just sukoon,” he says, his voice calming with the thought. As both an artist and a listener, Javed believes that slowing down and savouring the music is essential. It’s not just about enjoying a song—it’s about feeling it deeply.
The State of the Live Music Scene
When asked about the ongoing conversation around India’s inadequate infrastructure for live music—something fellow artist Diljit Dosanjh recently highlighted—Javed chooses to keep it simple. “I know what he said, but I’d rather not comment. I’m an artist—immerged in my music—and that’s where my focus stays,” he said.
And that focus shows. In a time when attention spans are fleeting and music is often judged by its viral potential, Javed Ali remains rooted in his craft. His voice still carries the same honesty his father once asked of him, and his songs continue to bring sukoon to a world that could use a little more of it.
