It is very difficult for me to distinguish Muslehuddin from Nahid Niazi while writing about their professional capabilities. The couple had not only enjoyed a successful professional life but also a happy married life. They created outstanding melodies together, one composing, and the other singing. Muslehuddin himself was also a melodious singer with a soft, husky voice. This was a well-admired couple in music in the 1960s. First of all, let me briefly tell my readers about the email which was sent to me by Niazi on February 25 from UK when I asked her about her wedding date. She responded, “We got married on a bitterly cold day of January 10, 1964. We had 500 plus guests in our two adjoining gardens under tents, and then Kamal brought 200 plus more studio guests in coaches! We ran short of food! What a prank to play! Jaffrey was the photographer/journalist. I have many pictures but they are still bound in cartons. Someday, I shall send them to you for a later article. Sorry for that!”
Muslehuddin was a successful music composer, though he gave music in only 16 movies but his repertoire for making Bengali music and television programmes is also very impressive. His original name was Abul Qasim Muhammad Muslehuddin. He was born in East Pakistan on October 27, 1932. When young, he migrated to West Pakistan in 1956. He did not have inheritance in music as he belonged to an educated family. He learnt music himself, hence can be labelled as a self-taught musician. He had a Master’s degree in Commerce & Economics which was sufficient to get him a managerial job in a reputed organisation. Instead his passion was music and he made it as means of livelihood as well. It was his love and dedication that attracted him to Pakistani cinema. His educational background therefore was reflected in his approach towards composing music.
At the age of 26, Muslehuddin got a break to compose music for the film ‘Aadmi’. The movie was directed and produced by Luqman with actors, Yasmin, Habib, Nayyar Sultana, Diljeet Mirza, Talish and Allauddin. The story was written by Sarwer Ayub, brother of Indian actor Dilip Kumar. The story revolved on the lives of coal miners. Two songs by Niazi “Jaag Taqdeer Ko Jaga Loon Gi and “Zamana Pyar Ka Itna Hi Kum Hai” were the highlights of the film. The tranquillity created by these compositions and their sad impact still haunts music lovers. These compositions matched those songs composed in India by Shankar Jaikishen at that time. The use of violins and violins plucking notes created a melodious impact. Even solo links on violin reminded me of Madan Mohan’s song by Lata Mangeshkar “Chain Nahi Aye” from the film ‘Samandar’. The song “Magar Aei Haseena-e-Nazneen Mujhe Tujh Se Koi Gila Nahin” by crooner Salim Raza for the film ‘Rahguzar’ was one of the songs of Muslehuddin that bagged him the prestigious 1960 Nigar Award for Best Music. This song created an exuberating impact.
Niazi’s first song quoted above aims at awakening the heroine’s off-shoot and encouraging her to grow and face hardships. The year 1958 was a busy year for Niazi and Muslehuddin as Niazi rendered duets “Is Jahan Se Dil Laga Ke Daikh Le” and “Zameen Par Qadam Hai Falak Par Nazar Hai” with Salim Raza for the 1958 movie ‘Aadmi’. Her other solos were “Mera Kaha Kabhi Maan Lo” and “Meri Muhabbat Ne Aarzoo Ke Diye Jalaei”. All its songs were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Muslehuddin’s personality was naturally reflected in his music. His etiquettes and behaviour towards his studio colleagues soon attracted the attention of two great directors Shaukat Hashmi and Zia Sarhadi. Muslehuddin had hardly got time to celebrate the success of his first triumph that he got these two great offers. This was in the shape of two movies ‘Rahguzar’ directed by Sarhadi and ‘Hamsafar’ directed by Shaukat Hashmi which released on January 22, 1960 and April 8, 1960 respectively. The former movie’s cast comprised Sabiha, Aslam Parvez, Sultana, Talish and latter’s Yasmin, Parvez, Nazar, Nighat Sultana and Asad Jafri. I still hum Raza’s song “Magar Aei Haseena-e-Nazneen Mujhe Tujh Se Koi Gila Nahin” after nearly 56 years of its creation. Even when heard today, it invites new listeners to appreciate it. This music created a sensation at that time.
The film ‘Hamsafar’ was produced by A Majeed who was a horticulturist by profession and remained the president of Pakistan Film Industry’s Producers Association for some time. He was the father of Mian Izzat Majeed, CEO of Sachal Studios that won fame for fusion of Western symphonies with eastern instruments globally.
Continued