I don't take life for granted anymore: Lucky Ali opens up on fragility, faith and music

In May 2024, while driving back from Goa to Bengaluru with his daughter, singer Lucky Ali suddenly felt too unwell to continue. His daughter immediately took the wheel and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a transient ischemic attack (TIA). “My recovery was possible only because my daughter got me to the hospital in time. The procedure was painless, and I feel even healthier now,” he says with quiet gratitude, adding, “I think my lifestyle and stress caused these situations.” Since then, every concert he performs has become more than just another show — it is a reminder of how fragile life is. Excerpts from the conversation:
‘EVERY CONCERT IS MY LAST CONCERT’
Ali speaks about music with disarming honesty: “Every concert is my last concert. I’ve had friends who died at concerts, so I don’t take anything for granted.” It’s this awareness, he believes, that gives his music its meditative quality, as listeners often describe it, and he admits he leans into that consciously. “I like meditative vibes on a track,” he tells us.

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‘I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE JOURNEY I HAVE HAD’
Far removed from the frenzy of fame, Ali values the space he has carved for himself. “Being in the spotlight only takes away from you. It doesn’t give you anything,” he says. Looking back at his decades-long journey since his breakthrough in 1996, he has no regrets. He says, “I’m very grateful to the Almighty for the journey I’ve had. I’ll continue for as long as I can, as long as I feel good about it.” For Ali, music is inseparable from lived experience. “Each song of mine is a story. An aspect of my life or my experience with somebody else, which I try to put into lyrics and then I find the right movement for it in music,” he reveals.

‘EVERYONE IS QUICK TO REACT NOWADAYS’
Ali worries about a culture of instant reactions. “People should not get triggered so easily. We are so reactionary that it creates more problems. And unfortunately, we don’t have a very honest press,” he says. His advice: “Be sensible, evaluate what you listen to, instead of simply reacting.”

‘I CANNOT HIGHLIGHT THE ENOUGH’
“The only reason I was able to recover and return to music fully was because of timely treatment,” Ali says. “A stroke or TIA is a medical emergency — but treatable if caught early. My advice to anyone is, don’t delay seeking help. Early recognition and treatment can change everything.”

'DON’T RELEASE YOUR WORK IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT'
While many young musicians see him as a guiding light, Ali remains humble. “It’s an honour, knowing young musicians look up to you. But I tell them — until you feel your own work, until you truly like it yourself, don’t release it," he explains.