Ghulam Haider
Encyclopedia
Ghulam Haider was an early film music composer who worked both in India
and Pakistan
. Ghulam Haider was born in Hyderabad, Sind
in 1908.
player. Later, he quit that company and joined the Alexander Theatrical Company. He also briefly worked for the Jenaphone Recording Company as a music composer.
-based production, a film in which Umra-o-Zia played a major role. It was released under the banner of National Modi, Lahore
and directed by Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj. Unfortunately, the film did not do well at the box office. Haider soon married Umra-o-Zia Begum, who quit show business after their marriage.
Then, Dalsukh M. Pancholi asked him to write the musical score for his Punjabi
venture Gul Bakavli (1939) which became an instant hit. Baby Noor Jehan
's songs, Shala jawaaniyan mane and Pinjray day vich qaid jawani, were soon on the lips of every Punjabi film fan. But Ghulam Haider's hour of glory was still to come. His biggest hit came with Khazanchi (1941). The music of Khazanchi caused a revolution. By then composers of the 1930s, who had embellished films with their exquisite compositions based on classical raagas, were beginning to sound commonplace. Combining popular raagas with the rich verve and rhythm of Punjabi music, Haider ensured the Indian film song would never be the same again.
Haider's association with Pancholi was to last until 1944, a period during which he scored scintillating music. He moved to Bombay with his team in 1944, where he worked in films like Chal Chal Re Naujawaan (1944), Phool (1944), Humayun (1945), Bairam Khan (1946), and Shama (1946). The soundtrack of Shama was notable for the dexterous use of the tabla. As his fellow music composer Naushad put it, the tabla "spoke the words". His best known compositions are sung by Shamshad Begum
, and invoke Punjabi folk songs, and extensively feature percussion instruments like the dholak. While in Bombay, Haider also composed music for Bombay Talkies
' Majboor (featuring the song Dil Mera Toda by Lata Mangeshkar
), Wali Saheb's Padmini, Diwan Pictures' Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, Pancholi's Patjhar and Filmistan
's Shaheed, all made in 1948.
It was Haider who gave Lata Mangeshkar
her major break in Hindi films with Majboor (1948). He had earlier taken 16-year-old Lata to S. Mukherjee to try and win her the opportunity to sing in Shaheed, but Mukherjee rejected her, saying her voice was too thin. Haider predicted that this "poor little thing" would soon put every other singer to shame including Noor Jehan
. Other singers he introduced were Sudha Malhotra
and Surinder Kaur
. Shaheed and Kaneez (1949) were among his last big hits in India
. The former featured the patriotic song Watan Ki Raah Mein Watan Ke Naujawaan Shaheed Ho, which was used twice in the film, first at a fast tempo to raise the morale of the revolutionaries, and later in a slow and solemn version during the revolutionary hero's funeral procession.
Following the explosion of the ammunition laden ship at the Bombay docks towards the end of World War II
, and the mass exodus of its citizens from the city, Ghulam's musicians migrated to Lahore
. In vain, Haider pleaded with them to stay on. He offered them two months' salary in advance and secure shelter, but they refused and bid him a tearful farewell. Later, Ghulam Haider left for Lahore himself and floated his own concern, Filmsaz, in partnership with Nazir Ajmeri and actor S. Gul. Their maiden production, Gulnaar, was released on 6 November 1953 and three days later, Haider died at the age of 45. His funeral on 10 November was attended by prominent people from all branches of the film trade. The Cine Musicians' Association called a special meeting to mourn his death.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Ghulam Haider was born in Hyderabad, Sind
Sind Division
The Sind Division was the name of Sindh after being annexed by the Bombay Presidency province of British India in 1843 , following a British Indian conquest led by then Major-General Charles Napier. The region separated from the Bombay Presidency to become the Sind Province on 1936-04-01....
in 1908.
Erly Life
After a few years of indifferent schooling, and after passing his intermediate examination, he was admitted to a college of dentistry. Meanwhile, he also took music lessons from Baba Ganeshlal. He gave up dentistry before completing his degree, and joined the Alfred Theatrical Company in Calcutta as a HarmoniumHarmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
player. Later, he quit that company and joined the Alexander Theatrical Company. He also briefly worked for the Jenaphone Recording Company as a music composer.
Career
Haider composed the music for several songs and ghazals recorded by the famous singing star Umra-o-Zia Begum, which were released as gramophone records. In 1932, the year Haider joined Playart Photophone, A.R. Kardar gave him the opportunity to compose the music for his film Swarg Ki Seehri (1935) which was a LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
-based production, a film in which Umra-o-Zia played a major role. It was released under the banner of National Modi, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and directed by Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj. Unfortunately, the film did not do well at the box office. Haider soon married Umra-o-Zia Begum, who quit show business after their marriage.
Then, Dalsukh M. Pancholi asked him to write the musical score for his Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
venture Gul Bakavli (1939) which became an instant hit. Baby Noor Jehan
Noor Jehan
Noorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
's songs, Shala jawaaniyan mane and Pinjray day vich qaid jawani, were soon on the lips of every Punjabi film fan. But Ghulam Haider's hour of glory was still to come. His biggest hit came with Khazanchi (1941). The music of Khazanchi caused a revolution. By then composers of the 1930s, who had embellished films with their exquisite compositions based on classical raagas, were beginning to sound commonplace. Combining popular raagas with the rich verve and rhythm of Punjabi music, Haider ensured the Indian film song would never be the same again.
Haider's association with Pancholi was to last until 1944, a period during which he scored scintillating music. He moved to Bombay with his team in 1944, where he worked in films like Chal Chal Re Naujawaan (1944), Phool (1944), Humayun (1945), Bairam Khan (1946), and Shama (1946). The soundtrack of Shama was notable for the dexterous use of the tabla. As his fellow music composer Naushad put it, the tabla "spoke the words". His best known compositions are sung by Shamshad Begum
Shamshad Begum
Shamshad Begum is an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry.Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab. She was a big fan of K.L. Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times...
, and invoke Punjabi folk songs, and extensively feature percussion instruments like the dholak. While in Bombay, Haider also composed music for Bombay Talkies
Bombay Talkies
The Bombay Talkies Limited was a movie studio produced 102 movies, founded in 1934 in Malad, Bombay , India, by Himanshu Rai, Rajnarayan Dube and Devika Rani along with businessmen like F. E...
' Majboor (featuring the song Dil Mera Toda by Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
), Wali Saheb's Padmini, Diwan Pictures' Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, Pancholi's Patjhar and Filmistan
Filmistan
Filmistan was a film production company and film studio of Indian film industry from Goregaon, Mumbai. It is located very near to Patkar College on SV road spread over seven acres. Many students have claimed to see superstars in the studio. Patkar College's reputation has increased due to this...
's Shaheed, all made in 1948.
It was Haider who gave Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
her major break in Hindi films with Majboor (1948). He had earlier taken 16-year-old Lata to S. Mukherjee to try and win her the opportunity to sing in Shaheed, but Mukherjee rejected her, saying her voice was too thin. Haider predicted that this "poor little thing" would soon put every other singer to shame including Noor Jehan
Noor Jehan
Noorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
. Other singers he introduced were Sudha Malhotra
Sudha Malhotra
Sudha Malhotra is an Indian playback singer. She also acted in some Bollywood films and as a play singer worked in popular Bollywood movies in the 1950s and 60s, like Arzoo, Dhool Ka Phool, Ab Dilli Door Nahin, Girl Friend, Barsat Ki Raat, Didi, Kala Pani, Prem Rog, Dekh Kabira Roya...
and Surinder Kaur
Surinder Kaur
Surinder Kaur , was an Indian singer and songwriter. She sang mainly Punjabi folk-songs, where she is credited for pioneering and popularising the genre and later was known as the ‘Nightingale of Punjab’; she also sang some Hindi movie songs, between 1948-1952.In an illustrious spanning nearly six...
. Shaheed and Kaneez (1949) were among his last big hits in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The former featured the patriotic song Watan Ki Raah Mein Watan Ke Naujawaan Shaheed Ho, which was used twice in the film, first at a fast tempo to raise the morale of the revolutionaries, and later in a slow and solemn version during the revolutionary hero's funeral procession.
Following the explosion of the ammunition laden ship at the Bombay docks towards the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the mass exodus of its citizens from the city, Ghulam's musicians migrated to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. In vain, Haider pleaded with them to stay on. He offered them two months' salary in advance and secure shelter, but they refused and bid him a tearful farewell. Later, Ghulam Haider left for Lahore himself and floated his own concern, Filmsaz, in partnership with Nazir Ajmeri and actor S. Gul. Their maiden production, Gulnaar, was released on 6 November 1953 and three days later, Haider died at the age of 45. His funeral on 10 November was attended by prominent people from all branches of the film trade. The Cine Musicians' Association called a special meeting to mourn his death.
Music Director
He work as a music director in many movies listed below,- Gulnar (1953)
- Aabshar 1953
- Beqarar 1950
- Do saudagar (1950)
- Putli (1950)
- Kaneez (1949)
- Majboor (1948)
- Padmini (1948)
- Shaheed (1948)
- Shama (1948)
- Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1948)
- Patjhad (1948)
- Jag Biti (1947)
- Majhdhaar (1947)
- But Tarash (1947)
- Mehndi (1947)
- Jag Biti (1946)
- Bairam khan (1946)
- Humayun (1945)
- Phool (1945)
- Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944)
- Bhai (1944)
- Poonji (1943)
- Khazaanchi (1941)
- Khandan (1942)
- Zamindar (1942)
- Chaudhry 1941
- Khazanchi (1941)
- Yamla Jatt (1940)
- Gulbakawali (1939)
- Majnu (1935)
- Swarg ki sidhi (1935)
- Thief of Iraq (1934)
Ghulam Haider Popular Compositions
- Yasrib ko janey waley, mara salaam le ja..........(singer: Umra-o-Zia Begum)
- Aashiyaane Ko Mere Jab..........(film: Thief of Iraq 1934)
- Shala jawania maney, aakha na morin, pee lai..........(singer: Baby Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Gul Bakawli 1939) - Pinjare De Vich Kaid Jawanee Mastanee..........(singer: Baby Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Gul-E-Bakawali 1939) - Kanka dian pakian faslan ne..........(singer: Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Yamla Jatt 1940) - Bas bas we Dholna, tere naal ki bolna..........(singer: Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Yamla Jatt 1940) - Sawan ke nazarey hain, ha ha ha..........(singer: Shamshad BegumShamshad BegumShamshad Begum is an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry.Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab. She was a big fan of K.L. Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times...
, film: Khazanchi 1941) - Ek Kalee Naajo Kee Palee..........(film: Khazaanchi 1941)
- Tu koun si Badli mein, mere Chand hay aa ja..........(singer: Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Khandan 1942) - Mere liye jehan mein chain hay na qarar hay..........(singer: Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Khandan 1942) - Sajan Aa Ja, Rajan Aa Ja..........(film: Bhai 1944)
- Chamko Chamko Bijaliya, Han Bijaliya..........(film: Chal Chal Re Naujawan 1944)
- Mujhe Madhur Lagata Hai Unase..........(film: Chal Chal Re Naujawan 1944)
- Ai Chand Too Bata De..........(film: Humayun 1945)
- Data Toree Daya Se Abb Des Hamara..........(film: Humayun 1945)
- Ho Chand Chamaka Andhere Me Aaj Hai..........(film: Humayun 1945)
- Ashko Pe Huwa Khatam Mere Gham Kaa Fasana..........(film: Bairam khan 1946)
- Gulshan Pe Hai Bahar Koyal Kee Hai Pukar..........(film: Jag Biti (1947)
- Ham Hain Dukhiya Iss Duneeya Me..........(film: Jag Biti (1947)
- Aaj Mohe Sajan Ghar Jana..........(film: Majhdhaar 1947)
- Aa Jao Beedeshi Baalama..........(film: Padmini 1948)
- Aajaa Bedardi Baalama..........(film: Shaheed 1948)
- Aana Hai Toh Aa Jao Gar..........(film: Shaheed 1948)
- Ab JiKe Koyi Kyaa Kare - (film: Majboor 1948)
- Watan ki rah mein, watan ke no-jawan shaheed ho..........(singer: Mohammed RafiMohammed RafiMohammad Rafi , was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades. He was awarded National Award and 6 Filmfare Awards. In 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India....
, film: Shaheed 1949) - Lo, chal diye woh ham ko tasalli diye baghair..........(singer: Noor JehanNoor JehanNoorjehan or Noorjehan was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai who was a legendary singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. Her career spanned seven decades...
, film: Gulnar 1953) - Bachapan Kee Yadgaro, Mai Tumko Dhundhatee Hu..........(film: Gulnar 1953)