Daily Times

This movie was made in 1967. Mala became popular through the film ‘Shareek-e-Hayat’ song “Kise Awaz Du Tere Siwa’ picturised on Shabnam, clad in a princess dress and Kamal running after the lady in a dreamy sequence.

It was like Madhubala from the film ‘Mahal’; a moment she is on the swing and the next moment she vanishes. The song’s style is like “Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil” from ‘Bees Saal Baad’ with Wahida Rahman in a jungle and Biswajeet looking for her. A Hameed utilised Mala’s voice well though again it sounded shrill at places as the song was composed on higher notes. I repeat that the music composers should have given Mala songs in lower notes to enjoy the smoothness to her voice like Master Inayat Hussain did for her in the movie Naila.

Mala rendered “Hum Hain Deewane Tere’ for the film ‘Akhri Chattan’ where Nasarullah Butt, a wrestler was cast as hero with Rani as the heroine. In the movie ‘Aakhri Chattan’, Mala sang “Baato Baato May Agar Yeh Baat Barh Gai” where Tarana dressed in a skirt and a blouse, sang in a dry hilly terrain. It was director Aslam Dar’s venture starring Rani, Nasarullah Butt, Sultan Rahi, Gul Zaman, Salma Mumtaz, Tarana and Adeeb. Rafiq Ali gave the music for Mushir Kazmi’s songs.

In 1967, Mala sang a duet “Mujhe Talash Thi Jis Ki” with Ahmad Rushdi where Waheed Murad drives a tonga with Shabnam sitting on the back seat on the streets of Karachi. The film was ‘Hum Hain Diwane Tere’. The most popular duet of these singers however was “Aei Baharo Gawah Rehna” filmed on Shamim Ara and Muhammad Ali from the film ‘Saiqa’ shot in hilly areas. Another duet was “Suniye Tau Muhteram”; an evergreen, melodious, old, hit and classic song from the black and white film ‘Honhaar’. Its music was by A Hamid, starring Waheed Murad and Rukhsana. A dream sequence was rendered by Mala with Ahmad Rushdi which was “Mere Dil May Samao Mere Dilruba” filmed on Kamal and Rukhsana for the film ‘Albaila. It was a black and white film. Mala joined Runa Laila and Masood Rana for the song “Kal Bhi Tum Se Pyar Tha Mujh Ko Aaj Bhi Hai” for the film ‘Khwaab Aur Zindigi’ in which Shamim Ara tries to woo Waheed Murad during a car ride. It was a catchy song. The other cast members were Saiqa, Lehri and Sabiha Khanum. It was a technicolour film.

‘Khatarnak’was a Punjabi film in which Mala sang “Pyar Mainu Kar Oei Pyar” in a clear melodious voice. She gave sensuous expressions as it was a song in which the dancer revealed her body a lot. The movie was released on August 23, 1974. It was a mega hit film. Its director was Rahmat Ali. He was an unknown and immature film director who got noticed with this action film with some very vulgar dances by Anita, Mizla, Nazli and Humaira Chaudhry. The film’s story was about the revenge of a murder. The film’s story was based on a book Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey. It was also a comeback for actress Neelo who left the film industry after film ‘Zarqa’ but after the death of her husband Riaz Shahid, she joined the film industry again. Mustafa Qureshi got a breakthrough as a super star villain in Punjabi movies. This film celebrated diamond jubilees in Lahore. The cast comprised Neelo, Yousaf Khan, Nanna, Afzaal Ahmad, Fazal Butt, Mustafa Qureshi, Seema, Ajmal, Nazli, Anita, Mizla, Humera Chaudhry and Kamal Irani. Its music was composed by Safdar Hussain and the lyricist was Khawaja Parvez.

A very catchy number “Tu Ne Baar Baar Kiya Mujhe Pyar” for the film ‘Saza’ filmed on Rozina and Jamil was very entertaining. The breakthrough came for Mala with the film ‘Farangi’ when she rendered “Bun Ke Mera Parwana, Aaei Ga Akbarkhana” filmed on Shamim Ara. For such songs, one can safely say that with the passage of time, the value of gold increases manifold, it also applies on good songs. Therefore, gold never becomes old, similarly good songs are evergreen, fresh and everlasting. This song is also invincible by the ravages of time. Mala sang another beautiful song “Sapno May Uri Uri Jaun” for the film ‘Mehboob’ filmed on the pretty Shamim Ara in a black and white film; a song composed by the immortal Rasheed Attre. Remembering the good old days, Saloni danced for Adeeb to the song “Shama Ka Shola Bharak Raha Hai” for the film ‘Aadil’ in the music of Nisar Bazmi. Continued