Munna Shaokath Ali studied Hindustani Classical under the Gurukul Tradition and was groomed by Mohammed Abdul Baki for over fifteen years in the Agra Gharana Gayaki, of Faiyyaz Khan fame. While learning the traditional style of Agra Gharana, Munna Shaokath Ali started to give performances from the tender age of seven and came to be affectionately called as the 'Munna Qawwal'. He chose the genre of Qawwali, which was perfected by Shankar Shamboo, the celebrated Sama Qawwals at Hazrat Moinnuddeen Chishti, Ajmer. While he had rigorous training in the classical medium, he also had extensive lessons in Urdu and Arabic. This stood him in good stead and he emerged as poet and a lyricist of note, having written the soul-stirring "Piya Haji Ali" for the Bollywood Film Fiza; and Zikr-'Ahle talab A Jao Zikr Mein' for The Forgotton Hero - Subhash Chandra Bose, both under the unparalleled music direction of Shri A. R Rahman.
Munna Shaokath Ali founded the Bharat Qawwali Sangam in Bangalore and trained many students into this medium. During this time, he gave over two thousand sama performances at the various Dargaahs all over India. He also performed at the palace of Nawab Safdarjung in Hyderabad, for Mysore Maharaja, and in the presence of Indira Gandhi at Nagpur.
Presently, Munna Shaokath Ali is President and Founding member of Amir Khusro Sangeet Academy, a non-profit Trust given to promoting Hindustani classical music in the region.
An artist with the All India Radio Bangalore, he has sung more than 100 Devotional Cassettes and trained some of the well known names as play-back singers. His repertoire includes extensive Raga delineations in the traditional Dhrut pieces and the light classical modes like the Ghazal.
