Munir Hussain demonstrates his classical skill in music director A Hameed’s Tansen. In some ways, Dr Bukhari rated Hussain better than singer Mehdi Hassan. Music composer Hameed used Mala and Hussain for Kamal-Shabnam starrer film ‘Shareek-e-Hayat’ for the song “Ik Tum Mile Tou Sara Jahan Mil Gaya Hamay” composed on a cha cha cha beat. The other actors for this film were Sabira Sultana. The lyrics of this song were by poet and writer Fayyaz Hashmi. Late Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar’s ghazal “Baat Karni Mujhe Mushkil Kabhi Aisi Tou Na Thi” was filmed on Mehdi Hassan. Popular music composer Nisar Bazmi used Hussain with Mala for the song “Tera Dar Chor Ke Diwana Kahan Jaye Ga” for director Hassan Tariq’s historical film ‘Laila Majnu’ released on October 18, 1974. The movie was produced by Attaullah Shah Hashmi and its songs were penned by producer Saifuddin Saif. The singers used in this film were Noor Jahan, Runa Laila, Mala, Hassan, Masood Rana, Hussain, Shaukat Ali. Actress Rani and actor and producer Waheed Murad were supported by Masood Akhtar, Zamurd, Talish, Rehan and Allauddin. For the same film Rana joined Hussain for a qawwali “Allah Hu”. One lesser heard song “Jab Se Dikhai Tu Ne Ulfat Ki Rahain” is a duet by Hussain and Mala picturised on a young and slim Muhammad Ali and actress Neelo. The film was ‘Naghma-e-Sehra’. Its supporting cast comprised Sudhir and Lehri. Now I must come to Riaz Shahid’s film ‘Zarqa’ and mention Hussain singing with Mala “Aye Gham-e-Jahan Nach” filmed on Neelo and Ejaz. Its music was given by music composer Rasheed Attre but was completed by his son Wajahat Attre when Rasheed Attre expired during the film’s shoot. Surprisingly, this song could not be a hit, despite its spell-binding lyrics. However Hussain’s song “Nisar May Teri Galiyon Pe Aei Watan Ke Jahan” by poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz for the movie ‘Shaheed’ was quite popular. Its music was by Rasheed. The lyrics try to inspire the citizens to revolt against the occupation. Surprisingly, Hussain’s voice always sounds strong and tuneful when sung in the music of Rasheed as compared to the songs of other music composers where his voice sounds raw. Although actors Santosh Kumar, Sabiha Khanum and Meena Shorey, and Rehan starrer film ‘Mausiqar’ is more famous for Salim Raza-Noor Jahan’s song “Tum Jug Jug Jiyo Maharaaj Re” but when it came to a classical based song, his choice was Hussain who rendered “Mitwa Tarsain Mori Akhian” filmed on Santosh Kumar. Another song “Hai Koi Aisa Jis Ko Mujh Se Pyar Hai?” from this film stands out in the voice of Hussain. A song by Noor Jahan and Hussain “Rim Jhim Rim Jhim Pare Phoohaar” for the film ‘Koel’ is a hit. Hussain played his innings well in Punjabi films too. Top of the list is a duet with singer Zubeda Khanum “Raatan Kalian Chaiyan Ni, Ghum Se Snehe Le Ke Yadaan Terian Aaiyan Ni”. This song is composed in Mahiya style and more or less a question-answer session informing each other about their state of mind while missing each other too. This wonderful duet was put to tune by music composer Safdar Hussain for Sabiha-Santosh starrer movie ‘Naji’. Both actors shine in this film. Naji was a 1959 film directed by Qadeer Ghouri and with dialogues written by screenwriter Baba Alam Siaposh. Its supporting cast comprised Ilyas Kashmiri, Ajmal, Ghulam Ahmed Kamla, Hamid, Imdad, Mahmood, Nazar and M Ismail. The film’s story was written by Sultan Khoosat, father of Irfan Khoosat and grandfather of Sarmad Khoosat. The songs of this film were written by Waris Ludhianvi. This movie was produced by Sabiha Khanum. Her name appeared as Sabiha Muhammad Ali. Tonga rides were popular in those days. Sabiha rides on a tonga with a young Zeenat while singing the song “Charheya Mahina Chait Da” in the opening scene. Nazar played a comic role. Hussain and singer Naseem Begum sang a lovely duet “Dil Akh De Ishare Naal Lut Ke”. This song was picturised on Ejaz and Firdaus. The composer for this song was Baba GA Chishti. ‘Dooron Dooron Takdi Saan” was rendered by Mala and Hussain, picturised on Ejaz and Firdaus for the film ‘Pather Te Leek’. I have no comments to offer about this song except that it is a happy-go-lucky type of song with a weak melody. Speaking of songs with little classical base, Hussain has sung many of these. Noor Jahan and Hussain sang “Ashiq Te Parwana Donwain Ishq Piche Mar Jaande Ne” for the film ‘Tere Ishq Nachaya’ with music by Wajahat who composed in a morning Raag Todi, filmed on Alia and Yousaf Khan. Continued