Ahmed Hussain and Mohammed Hussain

Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Ustad Mohammed Hussain are brothers from Jaipur who perform ghazals as a duo. They were jointly named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of art, from Rajasthan ^[1].

A family of musicians

Ahmed Hussain was born on 3 February 1951 and Mohammed Hussain on 2 December 1953, both in Jaipur ^[2]. Their father, the late Ustad Afzal Hussain, was a well-known musician of his day ^[2]. Both brothers began as child artists on All India Radio, Jaipur, in 1959, and built their craft through years of strict practice ^[2].

Two voices, one style

The brothers have quite different voices, yet they sing as one, weaving the two together so closely that the blend has become their signature ^[2]. They chose to stay within light classical music, keeping the form pure while setting fine poetry to melody ^[2].

Their recordings run to about 80 ghazal albums, among them Guldasta, Shraddha Bhawna, Noor-E-Islam, Ek Hi Saroop, a collection of Sikh shabad kirtan, and Hum Khyaal ^[2]. They have also given free concerts to raise help for people with cancer, people with disabilities and patients with thalassaemia ^[2].

Recognition

The brothers have judged music auditions for All India Radio and Rajasthan University and appeared as judges on television music shows ^[2]. They have received the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi award and the central Sangeet Natak Akademi award, presented by the President of India, along with titles from admirers such as Shahenshah-e-Ghazal ^[2].