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A Qalandari Musician
by Inaam Nadeem
An Urdu website on Nazir Ali
by Pakistan Film Magazine |
The rhythm of sound is music and Nazir Ali can
best be described as master of the rhythm. With his passing away, we
lost a music director with a rare skill, who made the Pakistani Punjabi
film music a great form of entertainment. The compositions of Nazir Ali
evince that he was an authority of the highly specialized Punjabi film
compositions.
The 50s and early 60s of Pakistan movie scene
gave us a new breed of musicians like Nazar Hussain, Mohammad Ali Mannu,
Niaz Ahmed, Mohsin Raza, Saleem Iqbal and on. As far as the Punjabi film
music is concerned, those were the days of
G.A. Chishti, Bakhshi Wazir, Tufail Farooqi and Wazir Afzal. And this was
the time when Nazir Ali made his niche in the world of music.
Nazir Ali began his career as a music director
in 1966, with a Punjabi film "Paida Geer". With his God-gifted talent,
he rapidly climbed the runs of the ladder and within no time, he was
competing with the remarkable music composers of his period. Nazir Ali's
climb to fame began when he scored music for "Mastana
Mahi" in 1971, The song "Sayoni mera mahi mere bhaag jagavan aa
gaya" was a instant hit, and Nazir Ali became a busy music director.
He won his first Nigar award on this film.
| There was 'Dhamaal' act, and then there was
Nazir Ali. He had managed to infuse his own brand of into his
compositions. He added his unique dash of pep and verve into
Punjabi film music. He was the first music director who added
a flavor of 'Dhamaal' into lilting Punjabi tunes, and created
a brand of music so distinctly his own. |
Nazir Ali started the popular phase of Punjabi
film music in Pakistan. He left his indelible stamp on the Punjabi film
music scene. There was 'Dhamaal' act, and then there was Nazir Ali. He
had managed to infuse his own brand of into his compositions. He added
his unique dash of pep and verve into Punjabi film music. He was the
first music director who added a flavor of 'Dhamaal' into lilting Punjabi
tunes, and created a brand of music so distinctly his own. Destiny unites
and destiny parts this was music director Nazir Ali's firm belief. Perhaps,
it was this destiny that made him team up with super-performer Noor
Jehan in 1969, starting with the most popular 'Dhamaal' song "Lal
meri pat rakhio bhala jhole laalan" for film "Dillan
de sode". They weaved magic together for three decades.
Some memorable film
songs
Along with
innumerable songs, Nazir Ai and Noor
Jehan's team produced some immortal dhamaals, which had swayed
the seventies. Some quick examples are:
- Lal meri patt rakhio bala, Jhooley Lalan...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Dillan de soudey 1969)
- Rakh laaj meri
lajj paal, bacha lai meunu Lal Qalandar...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Tuhadi izzat da sawaal a 1969)
- Hussaini Laal Qalandar, Nabi (saw) di aal Qalandar...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Aaso
Billa - 1971)
- Sarkar Bari, Imam Bari, meri khoti qismat karo kharri...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Sajjan
be parwah - 1972)
- Jeevey Shah, Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Rabb razi te...
(singer Masoor Rana, film Doulat te Ghairat 1972)
- Mere Aaqa, mere Daata, ik din te main aawan ga...
(singer Masood Rana film Jeera Blade
1973)
- Ae Nagri Daata di,
Sajno, eithey aanda kul zamana...
(singers Masood
Rana/Noor
Jehan, film Nagri
Daata di 1974)
- Aai aan duware sakhi Laal...
(singer Noor
Jehan,
film Dynia Pyar di 1974)
And the high pitched
- Shehbaz kare parwaz te janey raaz dillan de...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Maa te Maama 1973)
which is one of Noor
Jehan's best-remembered dhamaal song.
- Sehvan di Sarkar, karo je nazr-e-karm ik war...
(singer Naheed Akhtar, film Khanzada 1975)
Nazir Ali had a good year in 1972 with "Sultan" a
film by M. Akram, featuring Naghma, Eijaz and Aaliya. The film powerfully
illustrated his firm grip on such songs sung by Noor
Jehan:
- Do dil ik mik ho jaan ge...
- Raah vich behne aan tera kii lene
aan...
- Dildar sadqe lakh vaar sadqe...
He won his next Nigar award on this beautiful coposition.
Film "Khan
ChaCha" (1972), was also a milestone in Nazir Ali's career. All
compositions of the film are stll called as the "Best of Nazir Ali" and
sung by Melody
Qurenn Madam Noor Jehan .
Such as
- Jinna teri marzi nacha Belia...
- Adhi raatoon dhal gai raat...
- Sajna O Belya...
- Dhiyan te dhan paraya veBabla...
- Akhan di zubani kinni vaar samjhaya
ae...
Beside Punjabi film songs, Nazir Ali composed
some superhit compositions for Urdu films too. Such as:
- Tere bina youn gharyaan beeti, jaie sadian beet gein...
(singers Masood Rana/Noor
Jehan, film Ansoo -
1971)
- Jaan-e-jaan to jo kahe, gaun main geet neye...
(singer Mehdi
Hassan, film Aansoo -
1971)
- Na ab who sama hai na hai who fizaein...
(singer Naseem
Begam, film Pardes -
1972)
- Dekh ke dil ka kora kaghaz, likh diya main ne
slaaam...
(singer Mehdi
Hassan, film Kora Kaghaz -
1975)
- Jaan-e-tammna kab tak tum na pyar
mera pehchano ge...
(singer Ghulam
Abbas, film Aashi -
1977)
- Tere qadmo mein bikhar jaane ko ji
chahta hai...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Society
girl - 1976)
- Kuchh dair to ruk jaao barsaat ke
bahane...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Bara
Aadmi - 1981)
These Urdu songs are also fresh in the memory of music lovers.
Nazir Ali's constant effort to break musical typecast
of Punjabi films and explores new possibilities came through in the music
that he made. Be it the intoxicating tunes like:
The mujra songs like:
- Jehre kende si maran ge naal tere...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Khoon da darya 1973)
- Doltan waleyo ajj main tathun, puchh ke rahn gi...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Insaan ik tamasha 1973)
The fast numbers like:
Melodious tunes like:
Love songs like:
- Mahi aave ga mein phullan nal dharti
sajavan gi...
(singer (Noor
Jehan, film Qaidi 1986)
- Rus ke tur paey o sarkaar...
(singer Masood
Rana, film Khanzada 1975)
- Zulf da kundal kulle na...
(singer Inayat
Hussain Bhatti - film Dhol Jawanian Mane 1972),
Classical mode composition:
- Apna bana ke dil la ke, nas jain na...
(singer Masood Rana, film Genterman
1969)
- Payel chhanan chhan chhanke...
(singer Mehdi
Hassan, film Pardes 1972)
Duets like:
Sizzling numbers like:
- Akh lare te larai ja chup kar ke
(singer Nahid
Akhtar, Khanzada 1975)
Sad songs like:
Nazir Ali had done them all. He was brilliant at slow romantic compositions
and the antara's of such songs are so unique:
- Mahya je mein kabootri hovan...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Ishq
mera naa 1974)
- Mere man vich dhol sama gaya...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Maa te Mama 1973)
- Panjaban theth mahya...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Budha Sher 1974) and obviously
- Sayo ni mera mahi...
(Singer Noor
Jehan, film Mastana Mahi 1971) and
- Dildar sadqe lakh war
sadqe...
(singer Noor
Jehan, film Sultan 1972)
While making music for films, non-film music always remained
Nazir Ali's passion. He composed for ghazals occasionally and when he did,
it was never gone unnoticed. Though he did as much justice to ghazals as
he did to the film songs that he composed. Who can forget his ghazal compositinos
like:
- Jo na mil sake wohi be wafa... and
- Mein ne har kaanta
teri raah ka palkon se chuna...
sung by Noor Jehan.
During his memorable music career, Nazir Ali composed
music for more than 140 films, producer Riza Gujjar's forthcoming film "Kamli
yaar di" was his last assignment. He represented the essence of musical
and social Punjabi culture in his compositions. His music was both convincing
and charming. He was died on 5th of January 2003 at Lahore.
There are changing times and trends. Just think of
the music we hear nowadays, which is so different to classic Punjabi
film music, which our ears were accustomed to hearing during the grand
era of Pakistani Punjabi film music. Nazir Ali's excellent compositions
are indeed his greatest achievements, as a music director, which stands
as a musical high point as long as the Pakistani film industry exist.
Author's email: deskofnadeem@yahoo.com |
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Filmography
Total 146 films (1966-2001)
41 Urdu 105 Punjabi films
(incl. 4 double version Urdu/Punjabi films)
1966
» Paidagir
1967
» Akbara
» Dushman
1969
» Dillan de soudey
» Dildar
» Genterman
» Tahadi izzat da sawal a
1970
» Sajna door deya
1971
» Aasoo Billa
» Aansoo
» Ghairat mera naa
» Mastana Mahi
1972
» Khan ChaCha
» Kon dillan dian janey
» Pardes
» Dil naal Sajan de
» Changa Khoon
» Sajan beparwah
» Sir dhar di bazi
» Yaar nibhande yaarian
» Dolat te ghairat
» Sultan
» Qasoo
1973
» Khoon da Darya
» Khoon da badla khoon
» Char khoon de pyasey
» Shaado
» Maa te Qanoon
» Jaal
» Ghairat mere Veer di
» Jhalli
» Jeera Blade
» Billa Champion
1974
» Ishq mera naa
» Budha Sher
» Main bani Dulhan
» Duniya pyar di
» Sayyo ni mera Mahi
» Pagg teri Hath mera
» Jawan mere Des da
» Nagri Daata di
» Maa da Laal
» Lambey Hath Qanoon de
1975
» Heer Phumman
» Zulm di akheer
» Sir da badla
» Khanzada
» A Pagg mere Veer di
» Watan iman
» Agg te Khoon
» Guddi
» Athra
» Rajjo
» Sajjan Kamla
» Do Dost
1976
» Hukam da Ghulam
» Aurat ek paheli
» Jano kapatti
» Society Girl
» Yaarana
» Billa Babar Sher
» Do Aansoo
» Ustad Shagird
» Badtameez
» Club Dancer
» Tinn Yaar
» Mujhe galey laga lo
1977
» Dharti lahu mangdi
» Malikzada
» Dildar sadqey
» Amna samna
» Gora Kala
» Aashi
» Jawani deevani
» Insaan (one song)
» Be-gunah
» Goonj
1978
» Qatil te Smuggler
» Kora Kaghaz
» Sub dushman
» Chamman Khan
» Dushman ho to aisa
» Boycott
» Khoon te Qanoon
1979
» Tehka Pehlwan
» Main chup rahun gi
» Goga Sher
» Aurat raj
» Khana jangi
» Nizam Daku
» Ham sub Chor hayn
» Hathiar
1980
» Aap ki khatir
» Farzana
» Ik Wohti tinn Larhey
» Chhotey Nawab
» Mama Bhanja
1981
» Dushman dar
» Shart
» Bara Aadmi
» Lagan
» Sher Medan da
» Geo o Shera
» Parwah nain
» Jatt da vair
» Sultan te Veryam
1982
» Pasban
» Ik Doli
» Shaan
» Ik nikah hor sahi
» Agent 009
1983
» Des Perdes
» Toofan te toofan
» Dushman pyara
» Badalte risthey
1984
» Lal toofan
» Khanu Dada
» Sajawal Daku
1985
» Shahib Bahadur
1986
» Qaidi
» Sanjhi Hathkari
1987
» Sangle
1988
» Daagh
1989
» Deevani Disco di
1990
» Aasman
» Akhri takra
1991
» Watan ke rekhawaley
» Ishq
deevana (dv)
1992
» Dosti (dv)
1993
» Purana Papi
» Tabedar
1994
» Mohabbat
di agg (dv)
» Actor (dv)
» Andaz
1995
» Mundra
» Dil da Chor
1996
» Iqtadar
1997
» Chand girhan
1999
» Duniya se kya darna
» Ghaddar
2000
» abhi nahin to kabhi nahin
2001
» Gujjar 302
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