Musarrat Nazir
Encyclopedia
Musarrat Nazir is a singer and actress who sang and acted in many Urdu
and Punjabi
films. She also sang solo, mostly wedding and folk songs. She was born to a middle class family on October 13 1940. Her parents were of Kashmiri origin from Lahore
. Her father, Khwaja Nazeer Ahmed, worked for the municipal corporation as a registered contractor at the time of her birth.
, Dr. Arshad Majeed and both of them settled in Canada
in the mid 1960s. Dr. Arshad’s father, Sheikh Majeed, is an entrepreneur
and owns Lala Zaar cinema, Sialkot
.
Despite their meager resources, Musarrat’s parents wanted her to be a doctor
. They provided her the best possible education they could afford. Musarrat passed the matriculation examination with distinction. Two years later, she passed the intermediate examination from Kinnaird College
in Lahore.
Musarrat, who is 70 years of age, and in an excellent health without doubt, lives with her husband in Toronto
Canada
. She has three children including Omar Majeed
all of which are married and two have children of their own. Moreover, she in her real life is known to be very friendly and humorous, cracking jokes frequently. Musarrat sang for quite some time. She retired from the cinema years ago. However, she continued singing for the Pakistan
television (PTV
) up until recently. She is also an incredible cook.
. However, insufficient money from the radio took her to the film director, Anwar Kamal Pasha. She explained to Pasha about her strong desire to sing for the movies. Instead, Pasha suggested her to become an actress. Musarrat needed her parent’s approval. Pasha himself met Musarrat’s father and convinced him to allow his daughter to work in movie industry as a singer and actress.
Pasha changed Musarrat’s name to Chandni and signed her for a side role in his movie. Hence, Chandni made her debut with Nayyar Sultana in Pasha’s film ‘Qatil’ in 1955. Her role was secondary but forceful.
Sheikh Lateef of capital films Lahore
planned to make a Punjabi
film. Lateef’s friend, poet and script writer, Baba Aalam sia poash, advised him to cast Chandni (Musarrat) in the film. Sheikh Lateef agreed. This was the debut of Musarrat in Punjabi
films, with a nickname Chandni. And then Chandni appeared in the hit Punjabi film, Patan, with her real name, Musarrat Nazeer.
She played the lead role opposite Santosh Kumar
also. The producer was Sheikh Lateef and the film was directed by Luqman.
The film Patan opened the doors for Musarrat in the Punjabi
film industry, which led her to the all time hit film Paatay Khan. She was the supporting actress. The film was Produced by Shami and Musarrat Nazeer acted along with Noor Jehan
and Aslam Pervez.
cinema’s greatest melodramas like the films Maahi munda and Yakkay wali. It is said that, the films Yaar beli, ‘Kartaar Singh’ and Zeher-e-ishq were so interesting and emotional that they left audience with tears in their eyes.
Following is the list of Musarrat's films:
Naukri, Aankh ka nashah, Baap ka gunah, Qismat, Naya zamana, Jatti, Watan, Raza, Sola aanay, Street number 77, Gudda guddi, Lukkan meti, Seestaan, Sahara, Rukhsana, Thandi sarak, Palkan, Sehti, Sunehray sapnay, Mirza Sahebaan, Jaaedaad, Jhoomar, Gulbadan, Ishq per zoar nahin, Chotay sarkaar, Mungoal, Muft bur, Gulfaam, Bahadur, Baaghi, Jaan-e-bahar.
The song Us bay wafa ka sheher hai in the mega-hit film Shaheed, is considered to be the most popular song even today.
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and 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...
films. She also sang solo, mostly wedding and folk songs. She was born to a middle class family on October 13 1940. Her parents were of Kashmiri origin from 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...
. Her father, Khwaja Nazeer Ahmed, worked for the municipal corporation as a registered contractor at the time of her birth.
Personal life
Musarrat married psychiatristPsychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, Dr. Arshad Majeed and both of them settled in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the mid 1960s. Dr. Arshad’s father, Sheikh Majeed, is an entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and owns Lala Zaar cinema, Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
.
Despite their meager resources, Musarrat’s parents wanted her to be a doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. They provided her the best possible education they could afford. Musarrat passed the matriculation examination with distinction. Two years later, she passed the intermediate examination from Kinnaird College
Kinnaird College
Kinnaird College for Women is a college in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is partially semi- government institute recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.-Early history:...
in Lahore.
Musarrat, who is 70 years of age, and in an excellent health without doubt, lives with her husband in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She has three children including Omar Majeed
Omar Majeed
Omar Majeed is a Pakistani Canadian film director and producer who studied cinema at York University Film School and later on studied editing at the International Academy of Design in Toronto. He is the son of Musarrat Nazir. He went on to work as producer Toronto's CityTV and won a Gemini Award...
all of which are married and two have children of their own. Moreover, she in her real life is known to be very friendly and humorous, cracking jokes frequently. Musarrat sang for quite some time. She retired from the cinema years ago. However, she continued singing for the 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...
television (PTV
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
) up until recently. She is also an incredible cook.
Career
She had keen interest in music and began singing for radio PakistanPakistan
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...
. However, insufficient money from the radio took her to the film director, Anwar Kamal Pasha. She explained to Pasha about her strong desire to sing for the movies. Instead, Pasha suggested her to become an actress. Musarrat needed her parent’s approval. Pasha himself met Musarrat’s father and convinced him to allow his daughter to work in movie industry as a singer and actress.
Pasha changed Musarrat’s name to Chandni and signed her for a side role in his movie. Hence, Chandni made her debut with Nayyar Sultana in Pasha’s film ‘Qatil’ in 1955. Her role was secondary but forceful.
Sheikh Lateef of capital films 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...
planned to make a 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...
film. Lateef’s friend, poet and script writer, Baba Aalam sia poash, advised him to cast Chandni (Musarrat) in the film. Sheikh Lateef agreed. This was the debut of Musarrat in 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...
films, with a nickname Chandni. And then Chandni appeared in the hit Punjabi film, Patan, with her real name, Musarrat Nazeer.
She played the lead role opposite Santosh Kumar
Santosh Kumar
Syed Musa Raza better known as Santosh Kumar was a famous Pakistani film actor of 1950s and 1960s era. He belonged to a well educated family from Uttar Pradesh, India. He was married to Sabiha Khanum. His brother Darpan was also a renowned film actor during that period. His other brother S...
also. The producer was Sheikh Lateef and the film was directed by Luqman.
The film Patan opened the doors for Musarrat in the 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...
film industry, which led her to the all time hit film Paatay Khan. She was the supporting actress. The film was Produced by Shami and Musarrat Nazeer acted along with 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...
and Aslam Pervez.
Filmography
Musarrat also gave performances in PakistanPakistan
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...
cinema’s greatest melodramas like the films Maahi munda and Yakkay wali. It is said that, the films Yaar beli, ‘Kartaar Singh’ and Zeher-e-ishq were so interesting and emotional that they left audience with tears in their eyes.
Following is the list of Musarrat's films:
Naukri, Aankh ka nashah, Baap ka gunah, Qismat, Naya zamana, Jatti, Watan, Raza, Sola aanay, Street number 77, Gudda guddi, Lukkan meti, Seestaan, Sahara, Rukhsana, Thandi sarak, Palkan, Sehti, Sunehray sapnay, Mirza Sahebaan, Jaaedaad, Jhoomar, Gulbadan, Ishq per zoar nahin, Chotay sarkaar, Mungoal, Muft bur, Gulfaam, Bahadur, Baaghi, Jaan-e-bahar.
The song Us bay wafa ka sheher hai in the mega-hit film Shaheed, is considered to be the most popular song even today.
Popular Songs
One of Musarrat's greatest achievements is the songs listed below:- Mera long gawaacha
- Chalay to cut he jaaye ga safar aahistah, aahistah
- Apnay haatoan ki lakiroan mein.
- Lathe di chader uttay saleti rung mahiya
- Chitta kukkar banairey tay
Best Actress Awards
- Nigar Award for best actress in 1958, for the film Zeher-e-ishq.
- Nigar Award for best actress in 1959, for the film Jhoomar.
- Nigar Award for best actress in 1961, for the film Shaheed.
- Awarded for being one of the most beautiful Pakistani actresses in cinema history.
External links
- Musarrat Nazir's Profile
- Some songs of Musarrat Nazir
- Albums on Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, Accessed 2009-08-12 - Looking For Musarrat Nazir
- Live UK Performance of Main kamli da dhola