Daily Times

The other two songs were “Aei Meri Zindagi” and “Zindagi Ki Rah May”. Other films that featured Munir Hussain as a playback were ‘Shatranj’, ‘Khyber Paas’, ‘Mamta’, ‘Azad’, ‘Landa Bazar’, ‘Paigham’ and ‘Gehra Dagh’.

A lone Punjabi film was ‘Paani’. Hussain’s duet with singer Irene Parveen “Pyar Kiya Hai Tou Sanam” was noted for the film ‘Paigham’.

During the 1965 war with India, Hussain was a frequent visitor to Radio Pakistan, Lahore Station and he sang many motivational songs with singer Salim Raza. At the same time, he was contributing to playback singing for films as well. He sang 15 songs for 12 films; 11 songs in eight Urdu films and four Punjabi songs, one each in four films. Some songs which need mention are “Jo Mangna Hai Maango”, “Hum Ko Duaein Dou Tumhay Qatil Bana Diya”, “Bol Nain Tere Anmol” and “Akhan Kuj Hore Tei Nigahan Kuj Hor”.

Hussain also sang a comedy song “Lapak Jhampak” for actor and producer Waheed Murad and Iqbal Yousaf. The other movies that year for Hussain were ‘Aurat’, ‘Bahana’, ‘Chawkidar’, ‘Ye Jahan Waley’ and ‘Raqaasa’.

The year 1966 was successful for Hussain. He rendered nine songs in eight movies, which were “Dum must qalandar Ali Ali”, “Mehki Mehki Hai Fiza’ for ‘Jalwa’, “Ho Jaye Tou Muhabbat Chupai Nahi Jaati” for the film ‘Honhaar’, “Tumhare Pyar May Humay for film ‘Sawaal’ and “Barra Sukh Chain More Chotte Se Gaon Main” for the film ‘Parda’.

Other films whose songs Hussain lent his vocals to in 1966 were ‘Ghar Ki Laaj’, ‘Mera Salaam’, ‘Mojza’ and ‘Tabedar’. Hussain’s competition grew with the entry of singers Mujib Alam and Roona Laila. Hussain bagged 10 songs in eight films in 1967. The only Punjabi film was ‘Dil Da Jani’ in which he sang a song with singer Ahmad Rushdi and Irene Parveen. Hussain’s hit film was ‘Gunehgar’ in which composer Rasheed Attre composed two solo songs for him, which were filmed on actor Habib. The songs were “Hum Ne Tou Pyar Kiya Hai Ik Dilruba Se” and “Mujhe Tasveer Banani Hai Koi Naaz Dikha.”

Among duets, Hussain sang, “Tumhay Bhool Kar Bhi Na Bhula Sakay Ge”, with Mala, “Zalim Ne Hans Ke Jo Diwana Keh Diya”, “Ae Raat Bata Kya Un Se Kahay”, and “Jab Se Dikhaein Tu Ne Ulfat Ki Rahay”.

As mentioned elsewhere, “Ik Tum Mile Tou Sara Jahan Mil Gaya Mujhe” stood out in music composer A Hameed’s film ‘Shareek-e-Hayat’. Music composer M Javed’s song “Ve Chaita Rakh Laveen Soneya” with singer Naseem Begum was noticed for the film ‘Mauj Bahar’, picturised on Ejaz and penned by Khawaja Parvez. Hussain sang 10 songs for nine films that year. ‘Taj Mahal’ and ‘Shareek-e-Hayat’ were Urdu films in which Hussain’s vocals were used.

The year 1969 was memorable for Hussain when he sang 19 songs for 12 films. ‘Zarqa’, ‘Door Ki Awaz’ and ‘Tum Mile Pyar Mila’ were Urdu films. The rest were Punjabi films called ‘Chan Putter, Chan Veer’, ‘Jaggu’, ‘Ishq Na Puche Zaat’, ‘Tere Ishq Nachaya’, ‘Sheran De Sher Putter’ and ‘Varyam’. Most of these songs became popular unlike in the previous years. A song “Maan Pyari Maan” with singer Masood Rana, picturised on Habib and Sudhir was an emotional song from the film ‘Varyam’. Its title song “Ho Laal Mori Pat Rakhiyo” was sung with Sain Akhtar Hussain for this film.

The year 1970 brought success to the film ‘Heer Ranjha’ and to Hussain, especially with the song “Wanjali Waleriye” as mentioned earlier. One would have expected great success for Hussain after ‘Heer Ranjha’, but in 1971 he got only five songs in four films. Composer Baba Chishti came to Hussain’s rescue and gave him songs “Hath Jora Pakhian Da” and “Lagian Tore Nibhaein”.

A new voice Rajab Ali entered the music arena of Lollywood.

Hussain had a soft voice. Also fresh voices like Akhlaq Ahmad, A Nayyar and Mujib Alam were introduced by various music composers like Robin Ghosh, M Ashraf and Nisar Bazmi. Mehdi Hassan, Ahmad Rushdi and Masood Rana were already in demand. In the years to come, Hussain was made to sing duets or choruses. Hussain’s songs comprised three duets. The rest of the songs were either in qawwali format or in chorus form.

For the films ‘Ghairat Da Nishan’ and ‘Maan Te Qanoon’, nothing worth mentioning efforts were visible as far as Hussain is concerned. Akhlaq Ahmad joined the industry as a playback singer that year. In 1974, Hussain bagged eight songs in eight films; “Pyar Khud Jeene Ke Andaz Sikha Daita Hai” picturised on Nadeem for A Hameed’s film ‘Samaj’, “Wafa Ka Wada Kis Ne Torra” with Alam and Mala for Hameed’s film ‘Jawab Dou’ picturised on actor Darpan.

Continued