Daily Times

I have known singer Irene Perveen for almost five decades. During my PTV Pop Show ‘Sangat’ produced by Rafiq Ahmad Warraich in 1972 – 73 she appeared in one of the episodes. She was bold, confident and tuneful in her performance. Then I kept on following her songs she rendered for films, not many but of good quality till she migrated to UK in 1983. Even during my visits to Birmingham, our common friend Mr. Muhammad Ayyub, CEO Oriental Star Agencies (now closed) used to connect me to Irene Parveen on telephone and we used to exchange civilities. When I asked her as to what was she doing there, she responded that she conducts private shows there. Naturally a singer neither should nor retire especially if one has fans that are willing to respond. It is pertinent to mention that Irene Parveen sang songs when many other singers were in the prime like Zubaida Khanum, Kauser Parveen, Nahid Niazi, Naseem Begum and the Nurjehan.

My general impression is that the Christian community of Pakistan has produced excellent artists like Salim Raza, Arthur Nayyar, Jackson Gill and Irene Perveen. Neelo was a superb actress when she entered film line, was Christian till she married Riaz Shahid and was converted as Muslim. Irene Parveen’s success decade can be termed as in 1960s. She sang for the first time in 1957 film Noor-e-Islam discovered by music composer Hassan Lateef. She became a household name in 1966 when she sang a song ‘Tum Hi Ho Mehboob Mere, Main Kyun Na Tumhain Pyaar Karun’ in the music of Manzoor Ashraf for the film ‘Aaina’. This film was a Shabab Kiranvi Production. The same song can be heard in Masood Rana’s voice sung separately. Deeba filmed this song in outdoors in the mountains with Muhammad Ali as her opposite lead. The words ‘Tum Ho’ echo in the mountains. She rendered this song in a LIVE singing with orchestra for BBC. Irene was a good performer also as she gave slight dancing steps while singing this song dressed in short shirt and shalwar. The song was penned by Khwaja Parvez.

Irene Perveen sang a fast track “Aaj Mere Munne Ki Salgirah Hai”, a song filmed on Nasira featuring the celebrations of the first birthday of a baby boy in the film ‘Suraiya’ with Habib and Nayyar Sultana in the lead. Then, Perveen joined hands with Mala and Batish to sing another birthday song “Tali Bajje Bhai Taal Bajje” filmed on Zeba, Saloni and Muhammad Ali for the 1966 film ‘Lori’. Music was by Khalil Ahmad and poetry by Himayat Ali Shaair. The other cast was Santosh Kumar and Talat Siddiqui. In those Black & White days, qualitystories, acting and music was the norm of the day. This movie had an excellent sad song ‘Khudawanda Yei Kaisi Aag Si Jalti Hei Seene Main’ rendered by Mehdi Hassan for Muhammad Ali. Also Suraiya Hyderabadi rendered a Lori ‘Chanda Kei Hindole Main’. She was one of the wives of Mehdi Hassan in real life.

Birthday songs perhaps were considered as Irene Parveen’s forte. She sang the song ‘Munne Mian Aisi Khushian Dekho Tum Har Saal’ for the film Quli. Music Composer was Ali Hussain. Lyricist was Suroor Barabankvi and stars were Shabana, Nadeem, Azeem, and Sajjata& Naina. The movie was released on Friday, 7 June, 1968.

Irene Perveen sang a fast track ‘Aaj Mere Munne Ki Salgirah Hai’, a song filmed on Nasira featuring the celebrations of the first birthday of a baby boy in the film ‘Suraiya’ with Habib and Nayyar Sultana in the lead. Then, Perveen joined hands with Mala and Batish to sing another birthday song ‘Tali Bajje Bhai Taal Bajje’ filmed on Zeba, Saloni and Muhammad Ali for the 1966 film ‘Lori’

Practically all leading actresses of their time mimed Irene Parveen’s songs on the screen. For instance the song ‘Hut Jao Main Tum Sei Na Bolun’ is filmed on Husna in a swimming pool in the Neelo – Rattan Kumar starrer film ‘Nagin’. I watched this song on YouTube. To me the voice sounds like that of Kausar Parveen and not Irene Parveen. I have mentioned my observation for record purposes.

Suhail Rana composed a film qawwali ‘Zindigi Tau Aap Ki Ra’anaiyon Ka Naam Hei’ sung by Irene with Saleem Shahzad filmed on Masood Akhtar and Zamurrad with Rozina sitting among audience. The movie is Saughat. Then Irene joined hands with Mala to sing a song ‘Ik Haseen Meherbaan’ filmed on Rukhsana released on October 09, 1964. The music was given by A Hameed and song was penned by Fayyaz Hashmi. It was a Zeba, Kemal, Habib, Rukhsana, Nighat Sultana, Lehri, Adeeb, Nabeela, Asad Jafri, starrer film. Irene sang duets with Masood Rana, Ahmad Rushdi and Shaukat Ali. With latter, she sang a Punjabi number ‘Nima Nima Sak Mal Kei’. It is a bold video as both are singing live but Parveen Naaz dances on the tune. This pair was romantically involved at that time.

Filmed on Aaliya seductive dance, a song by Irene Parveen is ‘Aaj Ki Raat, Dil Nache Pyar Ki Dhun Pei, Koi Aa Kei Dil Main Samaye’ for the film ‘Dara’ composed by Master Rafiq Ali. The scene is Aaliya trying to lure bandits such that the hero and his companions are released. Lyricist of this song is Musheer Kazmi. The film’s cast isRani, Nasrullah Butt, Aliya, Nazar, Tarana, Saqi, Adeeb, Sultan Rahi and the release date was Friday, 23 August 1968. Irene Parveen contributed another song ‘Hum Tum Dono Chale Hain, Piyar Ki Rahon Mein’ for this film while Nasarullah Butt gives Rani a ride on an elephant back. He shows his bare upper body in this song being a body builder in real life.

Nabeela, a fine character actress of Lollywood act on Irene Parveen’s song ‘Is Duniya Se Kar Shikwa Na Gila Jahan Pyar Kei Badle Dard Mila’; a sad melody. The movie was ‘Chauda Saal’ and composer was Muhammad Ali Munnoo. Lyricist was Shorish Dehelvi. The film’s cast was Nabeela, Yousuf Khan, Sabira Sultana, Shehbaz, Asif Jah, Fazal Haq, Gul Zaman, Imdad Hussain and Sultan Rahi.

Irene Parveen sang a very melodious song ‘Allah Allah Hum Kahan Aur Aap Ki Mehfil Kahan’ for a dance sequence in the costume film ‘Hazaar Daastaan’. Credits say she sang this song with Mala. The two dancing girls danced Arabian style dance very well. Actors of this film were Muhammad Ali, Rani, Nazar, Razia, Talish, Asad Bukhari, Husna and Saqi. A song ‘Yei Haseen Wadian Yei Samaa’ is highlight of the film ‘Tum Mile Pyar Mila’ filmed on Zeba. It is a black and white film. Then Khalil Ahmad composed Fayyaz Hashmi’s penned song ‘Shareer Kaheen Kei’ for the movie ‘Daataan’ filmed on Aaliya. She sings it for her pet deer.

As can be deciphered from the few songs mentioned above, Irene could sing both happy and sad songs with equal ease. One of her popular songs was ‘Dil Na Lagan Ja Kei Dais Paraye’ from the film ‘Insaniyat’. Khwaja Parvez penned the lyrics for the music composer Manzoor Asharf. Khwaja Saheb did poetry all his life, nothing else. When Punjabi film era came, he introduced the spoken vocabulary in his songs like ‘Bad-o-Baddi’ and ‘Tweetri’. Such songs became popular as the lyrics carried mass appeal. The others in the arena like Qateel Shifai and Ahmad Rahi kept on doing good job in the traditional manner. Earlier, Robin Ghosh used Irene’s voice with Masood Rana for the song ‘Aa Jao Mil Baithain’ in the film ‘Daagh’. Lyricist was Amin Akhtar. This was Nadeem’s earlier films with Shabana. The other cast were Naina, Jalil Afghani, Mirza Shahi and Anis. This movie was released on April 4, 1969.

Naghma has also mimed Irene Parveen’s voice in the film ‘Hath Jori’ for the song ‘Jithe Aa[ Wasna Aein Mihiya’ in this Rangeela and Munawar Zarif’s film of 1964. It is a simple melody with simple lyrics truly depicting the emotions of a villager. A song ‘Tut Jaan Na Bilori Wangaan Merian’ was released in an album by EMI Recording Company. From the music interludes of flutes and clarinet combination, it seems to be an old melody of 1960s.

Irene Parveen married Cecil Samuel, a man from a prominent Peshawari family. She has lived in England since 1983.

Irene’s thirty one super hit films include Saheli, Gulfam, Mouj Mela, Maa Kay Aansoo, Daaman, Touba, Mera Mahi, Aashiana, Hath Jori, Phannay Khan, Jeedar, Malangi, Aag Ka Darya, Hamrahi, Bhaiyya, Chakori, Devar Bhabhi, Aag, Mirza Jatt, Behan Bhai, Salgirah, Diya Aur Toofan, Mukhra Chann Warga, Teray Ishq Nachaya,Anwara, Heer Ranjha, Rangeela, Meri Zindagi Hay Naghma, Baharo Phool Barsao and Umrao Jan Ada. The span of these films was from 1960 to 1972. Her total released films were 354 put of which 215 were Urdu films and 135 Punjabi films.

Irene Parveen’s 54 hit films were Jhoomar, Saltanat, Surayya, Gul Bakavli, Chaudhary, Mera Kya Qasoor, Qaidi, Mehboob, Kala Pani, Shikwa, Ik Tera Sahara, Khandan, Gehra Dagh, Beti, Peigham, Aisa Bhi Hota Hay, Do Diwaney, Sartaj, Hazaar Dastan, Mann Mouji, Jaag Utha Insan, Aadil, Bharia Mela, Goonga, Badnam, Banki Naar, Lori, Aaina. Abba Jee, Yaar Maar, Chacha Jee, Ehsan, Akbara, Jani Dushman, Maidaan, Roti, Dara, Babul Da Vehra, Dara, Punj Darya, Tum Milay Pyar Mila. Dard, Ghar Damaad, Veryam, Ishq Na Puche Zaat, Vichora, Aakhri Chattan, Naseeb Apna Apna, Bazi, Teri Soorat Meri Aankhain, Ucha Naan Pyar Da, Wehshi, Zaildar, Zindagi Ek Safar Hay and Nishan. Seventy seven were average films.

Perveen’s six unreleased films, three each in Urdu and Punjabi are ‘Husn Ki Shahzadi’, ‘Ghairtan Da Rakha’, ‘Iradah’, ‘Munshi Sub Rang’, ‘Nai Zindagi’ and ‘Udeekan’. The peak in her career was when she rendered Khawaja Khurshid Anwar’s song for the hit film ‘Heer Ranjha’. The song was “Balocha Haniya Tu Chor Main Teri Chori” filmed on Zamarud playing the role of Sehti and Aqeel as Murad. The song was penned by Ahmad Rahi. Another hit song “Rut Sawen Ki Re Mun Bhaawan Ji” was composed by Wazir Afzal for the film ‘Zameen’.

The writer is the recipient of the prestigious Pride of Performance award. He can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com