Daily Times

Actor Nadeem Baig is married to Farzana and has two sons Faisal Baig and Farhan Baig. He was born on July 19, 1941, that makes him 78 now, Masha Allah. According to Site IMDb “Nadeem’s film career spans more than 40 years. He started his career in 1967 and appeared in his first film Chakori in a lead role opposite actress Shabana. The film was produced and directed by Captain Ehtesham, who, in real life, became his father-in-law in 1968. The film did well in both circuits of Pakistani film industry that is West Pakistan and East Pakistan. Nadeem won the prestigious Nigar Award in the best actor’s category for film Chakori. With consecutive hit films, like Chotay Sahab and Sangdil, he became one of the leading film actors of Pakistan. Nadeem’s commercially successful films include Nadan, Anari, Pehchan, Talash, Aina, Hum Dono, Lajawab, Qurbani, Sangdil and Dehleez. In 1980, an Indian film, Sheikh Mukhtar’s film ‘Noor Jahan’, was granted special permission for an exhibition in Pakistan by Ziaul Haq’s regime which turned into a challenge for Pakistani Film industry. Wellknown Pakistani film director Pervez Malik accepted that challenge and produced film Hum Dono, presenting Nadeem in a double role. The film did well in Pakistani cinemas.

Besides acting, Nadeem Baig has also sung many songs for films, in fact he started his career by singing a song for a Bengali film, but the song got cancelled by the director and later was sung by Mehdi Hassan. His first song was a duet with Firdousi Begum “Kahan Ho Tum Ko Dhoond Rahin Hain” in his first film ‘Chakori’.

It was Firdausi Begum who had listened to Nadeem singing in his college at Karachi and had invited him to Dhaka. In due course, Nadeem was considered among the first three super heroes of the Pakistani film industry; Muhammad Ali, Waheed Murad and him.

His successful films are Sangdil, Anaari, Pehchan, Talaash, Aaina, Nadaan, Hum Dono, Amber, Dil Laggi, Sangdil, Qurbani, Mehrbani, Sharafat, Mukhra, Abdulla The Great, Aroosa and Muhafiz.He has played leading roles in more than 200 films.

To pay him tribute I shall talk only about few of his successful movies with respect to their music with reference to my forthcoming book Melody Makers 1.

Actor cum singer Nadeem joined hands with Firdausi Begum for the popular song ‘Kahan Ho Tum Ko Dhoond Rahi Hain, Yeh Baharain, Yeh Samaa’. Poet was Akhtar Yousuf for 1967 successful film ‘Chakori’ which means love-bird. This film was released on March 23, 1967 on Eid-ul-Azha in Dhaka, East Pakistan. The film was directed by Captain Ehtisham. It was Nadeem’s and Shabana’s debut film. The film ran for eighty one weeks, and became a platinum jubilee film. Nadeem played the role of Anwer/Anu.Shabana was Chakori.Reshma also acted in this film. The other cast members were Mirza Shahi, Mustafa, Jalil Afghani and Irfan. The other popular songs were ‘Kabhi Tao Tum Ko Yaad Aaen Gi Yei Baharain Yei Samaan’ by Ahmed Rushdi, ‘Woh Mere Saamne Tasveer Bane Baithe Hain’ by Mujeeb Aalam. The latter song used to be played again and again on Radio Stations. Firdausi Begum also sang this song. The other songs were ‘Khanak Jaye Re Chaandi Ka Mora Jhoomka’ by Firdausi and Rahman, ‘Pyaare Pyaare Yaar Hamaare’ by Ahmed Rushdi, ‘Tujhe Chahein Meri Bahein’ by Ahmed Rushdi and ‘Rut Hai Jawan’ by Najma Niazi.

Movie ‘Sangdil’ was a great success with M. Ashraf’s music. It was Zafar Arts Production’s venture, produced by Shabab Kiranvi and directed by his son Zafar Shabab. It was released on Eid ul Fitr coinciding with January 02, 1968. The cast comprised Deeba, Nadeem, Rozina, Saiqa, Rangeela, Seema, Nanha, Tani, Zeenat, Kamal Irani and Masood Akhtar. Guest appearances were made by Munawar Zareef and singer Masood Rana. Ahmad Rushdi’s song ‘O! Sun Lei Aei Jan-e-Wafa’ was composed in happy mood and was an instant hit filmed on Nadeem. Mala also sang the same song. A song from this movie, a duet this time by Mala and Masood Rana, ‘O! Merey Shokh Sanam’, met similar fate. Other notable songs by Mala were ‘O! Duniya Waalo, Nanhe Rahi Gana Gate Jaaein Gey’ and ‘Thar Thar Mora Kanpey Re Jiya’ and by Ahmad Rushdi were ‘Teri Payal Ki Jhankar Lootey Dil Ka Qarar’ and ‘Kehtey Hain Sabhi Mujh Ko Diwana Tera’. Masood Rana and Mala sang ‘Badshah-e-Ishq Hain Hum’. It was big musical cum dramatic release. Incidentally its remake appeared in the name of ‘Awaz’ in 1978. The movie ‘Sangdil’ ran for fifty weeks in Karachi; a golden jubilee movie.

The success of this film owes a lot to the melodious music by Robin Ghosh who introduced modern style in making music compositions with Bengali touch in Pakistan; in the sense the way OP Nayyar, Khayyam and Madan Mohan used Punjabi touch in their music as when needed. Robin used rich violins in melodious longish interludes. Each line of the poetry would stay longer on the last word. For example listen to the song ‘Mujhe Dil Sei Na Bhulana’ by Alamgir and Mahnaaz from this film. On the words ‘Sei’ and ‘Bhulana’ singers stay longer on their respective notes. Even Robin passed on his successful style to Mehdi Hassan whose own singing style was different.

This movie met with extra ordinary success and still maintains the record of longest running film in Pakistan. The film was a musical success as well and songs visualizations by the able director Nazr-ul-Islam became a trendsetter. The playback singers used by Robin for this movie were Mehdi Hassan, Mehnaz, Alamgir, Nayyara Noor and Akhlaq Ahmed. The theme song is ‘Mujhe Dil Sei Na Bhulana’ sung in happy and sad moods by Mehdi Hassan and Mahnaaz and child version filmed on the child star at the climax of the movie sung by Nayyara Noor. The child star role was played by the younger child Shahzeb of PTV producer Kanwar Aftab Ahmad. All the songs of the movie ‘Aina’ were hit songs like ‘Kabhi Mein Sochta Houn’ by Mehdi Hassan’, ‘Wada Karo Saajna’ by Mehnaz and Alamgir, ‘Haseen Wadion Sei Yeh Pucho’ by Akhlaq Ahmed and Nayyara Noor’ and ‘Ruthey Ho Tum Tum Ko Kaisay Manaun Piya’ by Nayyara Noor.

The film Aina is a love story of two bodies and souls. Unfortunately each hails from different social classes as is so in romantic movies. The girl Rita is daughter of a business giant. The male character Iqbal played by Nadeem is very conscious of self-respect. He is a self-made individual. He is a realist and a person full of confidence. On the other hand, Rita is a happy lucky go person spoiled with all the amenities of life made available by his father. Nadeem is merely a hotel receptionist. As the luck would have it, they fall in love. From this movie it was established that Nadeem and Shabnam pair seemed natural. Their chemistry clicked despite the fact that Nadeem paired with Zeba, Nisho and other heroines in many other of his successful movies. This great film was shown in Karachi’s cinemas from March 18th, 1977 to January 14th, 1982.

1974 film ‘Dillagi’ was a success story for music composer Master Rafiq Ali. The film, the songs were hit. Mujeeb Alam’s song ‘Mujhe Jaan Sei Bhi Pyara Mehboob Mil Gaya Hei’ with Nurjehan is even hummed today after more than four decades. Poet was Bashir Khokhar. This was a Shabnam-Nadeem starrer picture. This pair clicked as Shabnam had a cultured look unlike her contemporaries. Nurjehan’s songs ‘Dillagi Main Aisi Dil Ko Lagi Keh Dil Kho Gaya’ became hit penned by Riaz ur Rehman Saghar. Nurjehan rendered another song ‘Saiyyan Anari Mere Dil Ko Jaleye Re’ which was filmed on dancer Nimmo. It was Khwaja Parvez’s penned song. One must not forget the popular duet ‘Saath Hamara Choote Na, Yaad Rahe Yei Baat’ rendered by Nurjehan and Mehdi Hassan filmed on Nadim and Shabnam. Mehdi Hassan’s solo ‘Hum Challe Iss Jehan Sei, Dil Uth Gaya Yehan Sei’ is a heartbreaking song and a popular one too. Another heartbreaking song is ‘Murjhae Hue Phoolon Ki Qasam, Iss Dais Main Phir Na Aaun Ga’ rendered by Masood Rana. He also sang Musheer Kazmi’s penned song ‘Aa Laga Kar Chupne Waale, Sun Mera Afsana’ filmed on Nadeem. The support cast comprised Nayyar Sultana, Lehri, Aqeel, Talish, Rehan and guest artist Sultan Rahi; a respectable cast. It was Aslam Dar’s directed movie. Writer was Aziz Meerthi and songs were penned by Mushir Kazmi, Khwaja Parvez, Riaz ur Rehman Saghar and Basheer Khokhar. Cameraman was Saeed Dar. It was a platinum jubilee film in Karachi Circuit.

The year 1976 brought good luck to Master Rafiq Ali when he bagged another Aslam Dar directed movie ‘Saiyyan Anari’. It was a Shabnam-Nadim starrer movie which ran for silver jubilee in Karachi. The film was released on June 11, 1976 in both Lahore and Karachi circuits. Support cast were Saiqa, Aslam Parvez, Ilyas Kashmiri, Tammana, Rehan, Aliya, Durdana Rehman, Masood Akhtar, Afzaal Ahmad, Meena Daud, Saqi, Nasarullah Butt, Aqeel, Munir Zarif and Albela. Writer was Aziz Meerthi. Fayyaz Hashmi and Musheer Kazmi wrote the songs sung by Nuejehan, Nahid Akhtar, Mehdi Hassan, Afshan, and Akhlaq Ahmad.

Akhlaq Ahmad and Nayyara Noor appeared in Robin Ghosh’s composition ‘Kyun Na Raahon Main Palkain Bichaein Hum’ in 1975 film ‘Umang’. This movie was again Nadeem-Shabnam starrer movie with Roohi Bano appearing as Nadeem’s sister. A song by Nayyara but this time with A. Nayyar is a comedy song ‘Tere Honton Ki Laali Chura Loon Tau’ when the pair finds refuge in a rest house in a rainy night. Masud Akhtar plays the role of a modern landlord who does not believe in giving any rights to his workers. Lehri as Munshi is as usual a situational comedian creating humour with dialogues. In the film ‘Umang’ Shabnam though hailing from an urban setup this time puts on villager’s dress and croons Mehnaz’s song ‘Nachun Gi Nachun Gi Main Tau Ban Kei Banwariya’. Nayyara and Akhlaq sing a dance song ‘Raat Bhar Jiya Mora Mujhe Kyun Sataei/Tu Hi Bata Dei Mujhe Samajh Na Aaei’ in a rural backdrop with Bahar and Qavi Khan watching the festivity. Nadeem is successful as hero in this film.

Nadeem’s film ‘Bandish’ was released on November 1, 1980. It was a joint production between Pakistan and Indonesia. The story of the movie revolves around three main characters which are, Nadeem, who is a Pakistani businessman owner of some real estate in Indonesia, Shabnam, who is an air hostess and meets Nadeem in a flight from Karachi to Singapore and Diana Christina who is an island girl in Indonesia.

During the course of the movie, Nadeem is seen taking a leisurely cruise on his business trip to Indonesia. His boat suddenly catches fire and he falls in water. Even though he survives the accident and reaches ashore on an island but due to trauma he suffers memory loss. On the island he meets Jotia who brings him home and takes care of him. Days pass by and Jotia starts learning Nadeem’slanguage. Few scenes later the following song takes place where Nadeem is seen trying to correct Diana’s Urdu grammar and pronunciation. The song is titled ‘Acha Acha Lage Re’ and is sung by Nayyara Noor and A Nayyar.

Besides completing eighty one consecutive week screening in Pakistan, the movie did very good business in Indonesia too. Music of the movie was given by Robin Ghosh and following evergreen song ‘Sona Na Chandi’ from the movie which became very famous and was sung by Akhlaq Ahmed.

This film was Nadeem and Nisho starrer film directed by top class director Hassan Tariq. The support cast was Zamurrad, Aurangzeb, Saiqa, Lehri, Nayyer Sultana, Talish, Tamana, Khalid Saleem Mota, Afzaal Ahmad, Meena Daud. This film was produced by Neelo and written by her husband Riaz Shahid. The main feature of this film was emotional acting by both Nadeem and Nisho who are in love but are victim of egoistic problems of Nadeem’s mother Nayyar Sultana and Nisho’ s father Talish. It had excellent music by Rasheed Attre followed by some songs composed by A. Hameed after Rasheed Attre’s death. Nurjehan, Naseem Begum, Rubina Badar, Mehdi Hassan, Rushdi and Nayyar crooned the songs. I like the songs ‘Aei Raat Raat Bhar Ki’ by Nurjehan and Mehdi Hassan, ‘Kal Tak Jo Kehte Thei Apna’ and ‘Sitaro Meri Raaton Kei Saharo’ by Madam Nurjehan, ‘Kyun Poochte Ho Kaya Tum Sei Kahun’ and ‘Main Jo Sha’air Jabhi Hota Tera Sehra Kehta’ by Mehdi Hassan and finally a duet ‘Yunhi Din Kat Jaye’ by newcomers A. Nayyar and Rubina Badar. This film was released on November 29, 1974 and did Silver Jubilee in Karachi Circuit.

There are many other films of Nadeem I would like to talk about but I shall suffice by saying a few lines about his singing career. Nadeem as reiterated earlier has been aspiring to be a singer also. Singer and composer Robin Ghosh gave him songs right from the beginning. Apart from the ones mentioned above, Nadeem rendered a song “A Tana Tera Tana, Main Na Sunoon Tera Tanaa Re” with Tasawur Khanum in 1974 film ‘Bhool’. This song was penned by Khawaja Parvez. Two songs from the same film are “Hun Udaas Ghum Ki Banhon Main” and “Jahan Kahin Aaj Is Gulshan Main Kali Muskuraei” penned by the same poet are Nadeem’s songs. Nadeem always desired to become a singer also sang a dance number “Najariya Wajariya Millai Le” for a film, this time Shabnam sitting and watching. The song is picturised on Dilip Kumar’s “Nain Lar Jai Hain” of the film ‘Ganga Jamuna’s Style’. Of course his Punjabi song “Kuriye” became popular also.

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