Daily Times

Mehnaz Begum, one of the most melodious singers of Pakistan, was born in 1950. Her fame was due to her ghazal and playback singing in films. She could also sing geets, thumris, dadra, kheyal, marsia, noha and soz with equal ease. She got training from her mother Kajjan Begum. She was an offshoot of Kajjan Begum and Abdullah, a government officer. Her name was Tasnim, which she changed to Mehnaz Begum after entering show business. Her active singing years were from 1972 to 2012 until she passed away at Manama Bahrain Airport in transit from Karachi to Miami, United States. She was proceeding for medical treatment on January 19, 2013. She was aged 63 as per Wikipedia. Many other TV channels say she was 55 when she died, as her year of birth was 1958.

Let us first talk about some beautiful film songs rendered by Mehnaz. Before doing that, I must mention that she entered the field of singing through Radio Pakistan. The broadcast of her song “Garche Sau Baar Ghum-e-Hijr Se Jaan Guzari Hai”, made her prominent and she was noticed by senior music producers and composers. Then Ameer Imam’s programme ‘Naghma Zaar’ at PTV Studios, Karachi, introduced her through Sohail Rana’s composed songs. About her entry in music, Mehnaz revealed in one of her TV interviews that her uncle Abu Turab Naqvi, the programme manager took her parents’ permission before taking her to Salim Gillani who was a radio producer. From CPU, she went to Home Service and sang songs composed by Niaz Ahmad, Ustad Nazar-e-Hussain, Lal Muhammad Iqbal etc. Abu Turab Naqvi had convinced her parents that Mehnaz sang marsia well with her mother Kajjan Begum but needed to sing music in other formats as well. Kajjan used to render soz-o-salam and marsia in a very strong voice for radio and PTV. Mehnaz’s aunt Ishrat Jehan was a good singer also. I have rendered some songs with her at CPU, Lahore also in the 1970s.

Mehnaz is the only sister of four brothers. She used to go to college and do typing jobs afterwards. She loved painting. One of her most memorable works is ‘Master Piece’. It is a painting that Tasnim created when she was taking a drawing class in college. She was not married but some of her favourite hobbies included bird watching and admiring nature. Her favourite television show and movie was ‘Franklin’ and ‘Bambi’. She also took delight in drawing various flowers and birds.

Her parents had given her freedom to join the air force, painting or singing but she opted for the latter as music was her passion. With the passage of time, her brothers got married and left for America. Her parents also died; first her father and then mother. She was there to look after them in the hospital. Until her death, Mehnaz lived alone but never felt lonely as her friends and relatives were always there for her. He father’s side was religious and discouraged her from singing but her maternal side and parents encouraged her to sing. Her mother used to encourage her to practice music daily, especially in wee hours of the morning.

Mehnaz was introduced as film playback singer by music composer Nisar Bazmi through the song “Mera Pyar Tere Jeevan Ke Sang Rahe Ga” for the film ‘Pehchan’, picturised on a child star singing for his mother Sabiha Khanum. Music composer A Hameed’s film ‘Haqeeqat’ with Mehnaz’s song “Uss Se Milna Buri Baat Hai Jis Ke Sath Sagai Ho” released before Nisar Bazmi’s film. The other cast comprised Muhammad Ali, Deeba and Talish. Its lyrics were penned by Khawaja Parvez. It was followed by music composer Nashad’s film ‘Zeenat’. This film had lovely songs like “Teri Qasam Tere Sir Ki Qasam” picturised on Nadeem and Shabnam. Film ‘Muashara’ had the song “Khuda Woh Din Na Dikhae” filmed on Nisho, composed by A Hameed. Despite all these beautiful entries, “Mera Pyar” from ‘Pehchan’ remained Mehnaz’s first identity.

Mehnaz continued to sing many hit songs composed by Nisar Bazmi in the subsequent years despite of the fact that he used the voices of Madam Noor Jehan and Runa Laila in copiousness.

The song “Kuch Bolo Na” is one such melody from the film ‘Roshni’ in which Mehnaz excels in romantic singing. Another melodious song is from the film ‘Parastish’, “Ho Mujhe Le Chal”. In another catchy song “Baatein Bohut Banata Hai”, she complains to the beloved that he talks a lot on telephone but never meets her. When I listened to this song, I found it to be a very lovely melody but somehow or the other; it did not become a popular number at the time of its release. Shabnam filmed her song for Nadeem “Lipat Jaun Phoolon Ka Haar Bun Ke” for the film ‘Jaageer’. I liked Rani singing Mehnaz’s song “Jia Na Jala Aa Jaa” in the 1975 film ‘Ik Gunah Aur Sahi’; a sweet song. “Pyar Ki Aag Nigahon Mein Sajae Rakhna” is a dance number filmed on Mumtaz much to the agony of Allauddin in the film ‘Talash’ in 1976.The same year, Rani filmed her song “Mun Jhome Mun Gaye” for the film ‘Nag Aur Nagin’ opposite Shahid. Babra Sharif and Rahat Kazmi paired for the film ‘Saima’ and Mehnaz’s song was “Poochna Jab Chahun In Rangeen Nazaron Se”; a melodious number on the innocent looking pair.

Music composer Robin Ghosh also used Mehnaz extensively for his songs. The song “Tum Meri Zindagi Ho Tum Meri Bandagi Ho” is from the film ‘Mom Ki Guriya’ filmed on Shabnam and Alamgir singing for Ghulam Muhiuddin. The movie ‘Aaina’ was a super hit film with Mehnaz singing once again. The song was “Wada Karo Sajana” with Shabnam and Nadeem riding a motorbike on seashore. This was a popular number. The same film had another popular song “Mujhe dil se na bhulana” by Mehnaz and Alamgir filmed on the same pair.

Apart from Alamgir, Robin Ghosh used Mehnaz in duets with Mehdi Hassan and Akhlaq Ahmad. The latter sang for a new artist opposite Shabnam in ‘Dooriyan’, “Bus Ik Tere Siwa Koi Nahin Hai Mera” and naturally Mehnaz sang for Shabnam. Mehdi Hassan sang “Dou Pyase Dil Aik Hue Hain Aise” with Mehnaz for the popular pair Nadeem and Shabnam in ‘Bandish’. Hassan rendered a duet “Tum Ko Jab Hum Se Pyar Ho Jata Hai” in a totally different mood as opposed to his ghazal singing, with Mehnaz in the film ‘Anmol Muhabbat’.

In a sad tone, Hameed recorded a song “Khuda Woh Din Na Dikhaye” picturised on Nisho for the film ‘Muashera’ penned by Tasnim Fazli, as mentioned above. Though generally Mehnaz sang in lower notes better, but in this song she used higher pitch in antras. Shabnam filmed a sensuous song “Bahar hai barsaat bala ki sardi hai” creating a suggestive sway.

In another beautiful song “O Mere Sanwariya Bansuri Bajei Ja”, Mehnaz excels on actress Aasia’s dance while Nadeem plays a flute. It is a catchy dance number.

The song “Pyar Ka Wada Kaise Nibhaein” is Mehnaz’s song with Hassan composed by music composer Khalil Ahmad for the film ‘Aaj Aur Kal’, picturised on Shabnam and Ghulam Mohiuddin. From composer Nazeer Ali, this singing duo sang “Lo Aa Gaein Baharain Aaya Samaan Suhana” for the film ‘Dou Aansu’, picturised on Nadeem and Shabnam. From the above list of songs, it seems that the mid 1970s and onwards was a busy time for Mehnaz. Music composer Kamal Ahmad recorded a duet “Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye Jahan Mil Gaya” filmed on Mumtaz and Muhammad Ali for the film ‘An-Daata’. Master Abdullah got the two together for the song “Ye Safar Tere Mere Pyar Ka” for the film ‘Sheeshe Ka Ghar’. A Nayyar and Mehnaz’s duet “Tere Sung Dosti Hum Na Torain Kabhi” became popular. It was sung for a child by Nadeem and Babra Sharif with Talish looking lovingly at the family in a car ride with an open roof. It was music composer M Ashraf’s composition for the film ‘Zindigi’. M Ashraf took A Nayyar again for the song “Hum Ik Doosre Se Khafa Ho Ke Dekhain” picturised on Rani and a new hero in the film ‘Taraana’. A semi-classical song “Allah Hi Allah” by Ghulam Ali and Mehnaz was picturised on Sajjad Kishwer and Sharif for the film ‘Mehrbani’, composed beautifully in raag aimen. Ashraf gave many songs to Naheed Akhtar but the ones he gave to Mehnaz were outstanding in melody like “Main Hoti Ik Morni” for the film ‘Baraat’, picturised on Shahid and Sharif. This song became very popular. Ishrat Chaudhry danced to Mehnaz’s song “Parda Utha Ke Jaan-e-Mun Surat Tau Daikh Li’ for the bandit (role) Shahid on a lilting tune for the film ‘Aankhon Aankhon May’. The song “Pal Dou Pal Ki Baat Nahi Hai” was from the film ‘Badaltey Mausam’. It is again a Shabnam-Nadeem starrer film. Another song “Pyar Kyun Na Karu Main Tujhe Saajna” is Ashraf’s tune in the film ‘Khoobsurat’. The lading pair is none other than Shabnam and Nadeem. In the film ‘Nadani’, Mehnaz sang for foreign actresses in this co-production movie. The songs were “Aane Waali Hai” and “Abhi Na Dekho Itne Pyar Se”.

In one of her interviews with a private television channel, Mehnaz mentioned her interaction with Noor Jehan. She revealed that Madam’s attitude was full of love for her. Madam would invariably mention Mehnaz as a melodious singer in her interviews whether in India or in Pakistan, Mehnaz revealed. All what Madam desired was that juniors gave her respect. That was not much to ask and if she did not get that respect, she used to get infuriated. When Mehnaz went to enquire about Madam’s health in Agha Khan Hospital, Karachi she asked her to sing the ghazal “Dayar-e-Ghair Main Kaise Basar Ho”. When Mehnaz sang it, Madam started crying. Perhaps she was missing Lahore.

Mehnaz was the only sister of four brothers. She used to go to college and do typing jobs afterwards. She loved painting. One of her most memorable works is ‘Master Piece’. It is a painting that Tasnim created during a drawing class in college

Her favourite songs were “Sakhee Ri More Nain Piya Sang Laage” and “Barkha Bahar Ayi” both composed by her Ustad Nazar-e-Hussain. Both are semi-classical tunes. In her later life, when she moved to Karachi after spending 30 years in Lollywood, she started singing dadra and thumris, mostly memorised from her mother’s recordings. She regretted that she had not learnt this form of singing when Kajjan was alive. This work needed lots of practice and there was no short cut to perfection.

Since Lahore was the hub of Pakistani film industry, Mehnaz learnt to live cordially with her fellow musicians. She picked up Punjabi language very early. She would often speak in Punjabi with her musicians who called her Mehnaz Ji or Didi. She had great respect and spoke well for senior singers like Zubeda Khanum.

Mehnaz had to cater to her family. Being the eldest and as her father had retired and her mother was getting old, she had to earn bread and butter especially for her four younger brothers. All her brothers got married with some settling in the US. Suddenly Mehnaz realised that she had passed her marrying age. She never regretted it and her relatives, aunts, brothers, their wives and kids were her family in the later part of her life.

A ghazal “Milate Ho Usi Ko Hath May Jo Dil Se Milta Hai”, composed in raag Vrindhaavannee Saarang/Brindabani Sarang is hallmark of traditional thumri-oriented tune that Mehnaz was an expert in rendering. It was recorded in a mehfil with Ustad Nazim Ali Khan on Sarangi for PTV Lahore Studios. Another Dagh Dehelvi’s ghazal “Lutf Who Ishq May Paye Hain Ke G Janta Hai” composed by Ustad Nazar-e-Hussain is available in Radio Library. It became popular. It became more popular when Noor Jehan also rendered it for PTV’s ‘Tarranum’. Her rendition of Ahmad Faraz’s ghazal “Ab Ke Tajdeed-i-Wafa Ka Nahi Imkaan Janaan” was exemplary.

Although Mehnaz has rendered many filmy and non-filmy songs as reiterated above, I would like to discuss some of non-filmy songs perhaps rendered in the later part of her singing career. When I listened to Mehnaz’s song “Kagwa Tu Urr Gaya Meethi Bol Ke”, I straightaway recognised it to be a Sachal Studio production due to the instrumental treatment imparted on this song. The second song “Goondho Ri Malan Phoolon Ka Sehra” re-establishes as an expert in rendering expert murkis in this Ameer Khusro’s geet. Another song “Tera Dil Jo Mere Dil Se Aan Mila” is from the album ‘Tera Dil’. As a matter of fact, all these songs I am talking about are from this album. The song “Ant Bano Tum Beete Dino Ka” again is a Rajasthani-style composed song. A Punjabi number “Har Shei Parai Hoi” is catchy. The song “Aei Rang-e-Khaak” is a slow and soothing number. “Hare Hare” is a rich melody tune and instruments support wise.

Mehnaz has won the Nigar Award for Best Female Playback Singer 13 times and in 2011, she was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lux Style Awards. She also sang for TV serial ‘Wafa’ in 1999 and for the film ‘Mahnoor’ in 2004.

While on visits to the US, she used to perform for selective audience at mehfils.

Mehnaz was born in 1958 and as mentioned above, received initial training in music from her mother Kajjan, a distinguished singer and Soz Khwan. The family belonged to Mahmudabad in UP, India, and migrated to Pakistan in the ‘50s. ‘Surrayya Bhopali’ was one of the first films that she sang songs for and Zeba Bakhtiar’s ‘Babu’ was the last. Some of the films in which her playback singing was widely appreciated were ‘Haider Ali’, ‘Paristish’, ‘Bandish’, ‘Zindagi’ and ‘Aina’. Apart from her famous songs mentioned in above discourse, some of her other famous songs were “Kyun Roey Shehnai” and “Ja Ja Ri Koyalia”. She was a focused singer and used to rehearse for quite a long time before performing. She was laid to rest in Waadi-e-Hussain graveyard in the presence of artists, relatives and politicians. Asif Mehdi Hassan termed her death as a great loss to the music fraternity. Ironically, the only other singer present at the burial was Muhammad Ali Shehki. In a TV interview, Naheed Akhtar condoled Mehnaz’s death. She praised the cooperation they shared with each other while singing songs together. She mentioned that in the later part of her career, Mehnaz used to complain of music directors neglecting her and so she moved to Karachi.

Akhtar complained that artists who had contributed wholly in the domain of music are neglected for their needs and we only realise their importance when they are no more. The government and well-to-do people should take cognisance of this dilemma.

The writer is an award-winning musician and author. He Tweets at @amjadparvez and can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com

Published in Daily Times, October 3^rd 2017.