Sohail Rana
Encyclopedia
Sohail Rana is a Pakistan
i music
composer
for film
s. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad
in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi
sang his compositions in such films like Arman
and Doraha. He is now based in Canada
.
, British India to renowned Urdu poet Rana Akbar Abadi. The family moved to Pakistan
after partition. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Karachi
through D.J. Science College initially. Later he received his final B.A. degree from National College, Karachi
.
Sohail Rana learned music from various ustads and familiarized himself with numerous musical instruments, which added to his experience. The film Jab say deikha hai tumhain was Waheed Murad
’s second film as a producer and the musical debut of Sohail Rana. Theatrical release was on March 29, 1963, and huge audiences were drawn to the three highly popular songs of the film, Ye khushi ajab khushi hai (singer: Ahmed Rushdi
), Tu haseen tera jahan haseen (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
and Jab say deikha hai tumhain, dil ka ajab Aalam hai (singer: Saleem Raza
).
The other most popular songs of his are Ko-Ko-Korina, Bay taab ho udhar tum, Jab pyar mein do dil miltay hain, Oont pay baitha mera munna, were recorded by Ahmed Rushdi.
Sohail Rana composed the hit songs for the golden jubilee film, Heera aur pathar, released on December 11, 1964. The film completed 68 houseful weeks. The film became a musical phenomenon, and Sohail Rana became a necessity in the burgeoning music industry. The composition of Mujhay tum say mohabbat hai (singers: Ahmed Rushdi
and Najma Niazi), and Ja ja ray chanda ja ray (singer: Mala) earned him big fame for the film.
Pakistan’s first platinum jubilee film was Armaan. It is an epic tale of broken hearts and broken dreams. The evergreen song Akele na jana (singer: Mala), with sixty five musicians then, the biggest orchestra ever in Pakistani cinema. Further, Sohail Rana won the prestigious Nigar
and graduate Awards for the best composer for the film Armaan.
By the mid-1960s, Sohail Rana had become such a success, where he was able to fathom the depths of emotions through his musical masterpieces. He came out with yet more superb compositions for the film Ehsaan, released on June 30, 1967. The film attained silver jubilee with such favorites as Ik naye maur pay, Aye meri zindigi aye meray hum safar, Do akhian, ye do sakhian. The songs of film Doraha was composed by him, who was also the producer of the film. The famous tracks are Mujhay tum nazar say gira to rahay ho, bhooli huwee hoon dastaan, tumhain kaisay bata doon tum meri manzil ho.
Over the years, he composed for the nazm
s, Qasm us waqt ki, jab zindigi karwat badalti hai (Film: Qasam us waqt ki, singer: Mujeeb Alam) is a cornerstone of Pakistani entertainment that reflect reality. Sohail Rana produced lilting music for Nigar Pictures Meray hum safar, released in 1972, three of its popular numbers are Wada karo milo gey (Singer: Ahmed Rushdi), Hai bay qarar tamanna (singer: Mujeeb Alam) and Tujh jaisa dagha baaz (singer: Runa Laila
). Similarly, Tujhay apnay dil say mein kaisay bhula doon (singer Ahmed Rushdi) is one of the greatest hits in his composition.
From 1974 to 1976, Sohail Rana was appointed as the General Manager National Orchestra, for Pakistan Television Corporation
(PTV), based at Karachi
center. His musical masterpieces are Sohni dharti (singers: Shehnaz Begum, Mehdi Hassan
, lyricist: Masroor Anwar) have become part and parcel of Pakistani culture. Likewise, Jeeway Pakistan and Mein bhee Pakistan hoon achieved tremendous success.
Additionally, he devoted his time to compose songs for children. His program for children were telecast from PTV
for 19 years from 1968 to 1987, from Kaliyoan Ki Mala, to Sung Sung Chalain.
Given here below are the names of some of Sohail Rana’s bright students who attained fame for themselves in Pakistani media. Mohammad Ali Sheyki, Amjad Hussain, Alamgir
, Mona sisters, Benjamin Sisters
, Adnan Sami
, Wasim Baig, Nazia Hasan, Zohaib Hassan
, Nazneen, and Fatima Jaffrey. Sohail Rana released two cassettes of Naat
by Anwar Ibrahim Jaan-e-Madina vol. 1 and 2. Both of these cassettes contained the Naats and Humds by Sohail Rana’s father Rana Akbar Abadi.
The film Badal Aur Bijli was also a huge success, essentially due to his Bansi bajanay walay (singer: Noor Jehan
), Dheeray dheeray zara paoon utha (singers: Masood Rana
and Mala), Aaj janay ki zid na karo (singer: Habib Wali Mohammad
and little later a private recording by Farida Khanum
). The Farida Khanum version has been used in an Indian film Monsoon Wedding
(though without Sohail Rana’s permission).
Apart from that, Sohail Rana also composed music for the films, Phir chand niklay ga (1970) and Usay deikha Usay chaaha (1974). He also served as Resident composer in PIA Arts Academy sponsored by Pakistan International Airlines
from 1972 to 1974, where he conducted Ballet Heer Ranjha
, composed and re-arranged music for folk dances and under the directorship of Zia Mohyeddin
and with a team of eighty-eight dancers, musicians, singers. He toured the whole world performing in prestigious auditoriums and earned the appreciation of international audience.
Sohail Rana also composed the Summit Anthem Allah-O-Akbar, for Pakistan Television Corporation
, in the voice of Mehdi Zaheer and a group of hundred singers, for the first Islamic Summit conference
held in Lahore
, Pakistan
, in 1974.
Sohail Rana composed music for about twenty-four movies. The film Hesaab which was released in 1986 happened to be the last movie for which Sohail Rana composed music. Three of those movies, Guriya, Pagal and Hulchul could not be released. However, popular numbers from the film Guriya and Hulchul are available on cassettes and vinyl Eps.
in Canada
in 1990 where he has opened a school for singers and musicians. As of 2005, he was starting to perform live with interactive multi-media and was planning a series of concerts in Toronto involving artists from Pakistan
and India
. He made a huge appearance on the Geo TV
special Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo. This special included multiple, different artists singing the songs Sohail Rana composed in his early years.
, Gold Discs from EMI for the vinyl album, Khyber Mail and his musical works touching the highest sales figures of EMI’s records from 1954 to 1974 in their final sales figures. He was also given the United Nations
Peace Messenger Award, conferred on him, at the United Nations headquarter New York
in 1987.
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...
i music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
for film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad was a legendary Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Waheed is considered to be one of the most famous and influential actors of subcontinent. Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, he was the only child of well-off film distributor Mr. Nisar Murad. He got early education from...
in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi
Ahmed Rushdi
Ahmed Rushdi, SI, PP was a versatile Pakistani playback singer who worked in film music and was "an important contributor to the Golden Age of Pakistani film music." Rushdi is acclaimed as one of the greatest singers ever lived in south asia and was a natural baritone, yet could sing high tenor...
sang his compositions in such films like Arman
Arman
Arman was a French-born American artist. Born Armand Pierre Fernandez in Nice, France, Arman is a painter who moved from using the objects as paintbrushes to using them as the painting itself...
and Doraha. He is now based 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...
.
Early Life and career
Sohail Rana was born in AgraAgra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, British India to renowned Urdu poet Rana Akbar Abadi. The family moved to 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...
after partition. He earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
through D.J. Science College initially. Later he received his final B.A. degree from National College, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Sohail Rana learned music from various ustads and familiarized himself with numerous musical instruments, which added to his experience. The film Jab say deikha hai tumhain was Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad
Waheed Murad was a legendary Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Waheed is considered to be one of the most famous and influential actors of subcontinent. Born in Sialkot, Pakistan, he was the only child of well-off film distributor Mr. Nisar Murad. He got early education from...
’s second film as a producer and the musical debut of Sohail Rana. Theatrical release was on March 29, 1963, and huge audiences were drawn to the three highly popular songs of the film, Ye khushi ajab khushi hai (singer: Ahmed Rushdi
Ahmed Rushdi
Ahmed Rushdi, SI, PP was a versatile Pakistani playback singer who worked in film music and was "an important contributor to the Golden Age of Pakistani film music." Rushdi is acclaimed as one of the greatest singers ever lived in south asia and was a natural baritone, yet could sing high tenor...
), Tu haseen tera jahan haseen (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
and Jab say deikha hai tumhain, dil ka ajab Aalam hai (singer: Saleem Raza
Saleem Raza
Saleem Raza is a former cricketer. After playing in eight first-class games for his native Lahore City from 1986–87 to 1987–88, Saleem Raza emigrated to the United Arab Emirates, for whom he competed in the 1994 ICC Trophy...
).
The other most popular songs of his are Ko-Ko-Korina, Bay taab ho udhar tum, Jab pyar mein do dil miltay hain, Oont pay baitha mera munna, were recorded by Ahmed Rushdi.
Sohail Rana composed the hit songs for the golden jubilee film, Heera aur pathar, released on December 11, 1964. The film completed 68 houseful weeks. The film became a musical phenomenon, and Sohail Rana became a necessity in the burgeoning music industry. The composition of Mujhay tum say mohabbat hai (singers: Ahmed Rushdi
Ahmed Rushdi
Ahmed Rushdi, SI, PP was a versatile Pakistani playback singer who worked in film music and was "an important contributor to the Golden Age of Pakistani film music." Rushdi is acclaimed as one of the greatest singers ever lived in south asia and was a natural baritone, yet could sing high tenor...
and Najma Niazi), and Ja ja ray chanda ja ray (singer: Mala) earned him big fame for the film.
Pakistan’s first platinum jubilee film was Armaan. It is an epic tale of broken hearts and broken dreams. The evergreen song Akele na jana (singer: Mala), with sixty five musicians then, the biggest orchestra ever in Pakistani cinema. Further, Sohail Rana won the prestigious Nigar
Nigar Awards
The Nigar Awards, the official awards of Pakistani film industry, are the oldest awards to honour the show business personalities of Pakistan. The awards were first introduced in 1958 by Ilyas Rasheedi, the editor of weekly Nigar magazine, with a purpose to recognize the achievements of those who...
and graduate Awards for the best composer for the film Armaan.
By the mid-1960s, Sohail Rana had become such a success, where he was able to fathom the depths of emotions through his musical masterpieces. He came out with yet more superb compositions for the film Ehsaan, released on June 30, 1967. The film attained silver jubilee with such favorites as Ik naye maur pay, Aye meri zindigi aye meray hum safar, Do akhian, ye do sakhian. The songs of film Doraha was composed by him, who was also the producer of the film. The famous tracks are Mujhay tum nazar say gira to rahay ho, bhooli huwee hoon dastaan, tumhain kaisay bata doon tum meri manzil ho.
Over the years, he composed for the nazm
Nazm
Urdu Nazm is a major part of the Urdu poetry, that is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose style poems. Nazm has many different forms as,* Doha * Geet * Hamd * Hazal * Hijv...
s, Qasm us waqt ki, jab zindigi karwat badalti hai (Film: Qasam us waqt ki, singer: Mujeeb Alam) is a cornerstone of Pakistani entertainment that reflect reality. Sohail Rana produced lilting music for Nigar Pictures Meray hum safar, released in 1972, three of its popular numbers are Wada karo milo gey (Singer: Ahmed Rushdi), Hai bay qarar tamanna (singer: Mujeeb Alam) and Tujh jaisa dagha baaz (singer: Runa Laila
Runa Laila
Runa Laila is a singer of the Indian subcontinent who is from Bangladesh. She started her career from Pakistan film industry and is effective in Ghazals also. She made a hit pair with famous singer Ahmed Rushdi after replacing Mala. She also has done numerous playbacks for movies in Bangladesh,...
). Similarly, Tujhay apnay dil say mein kaisay bhula doon (singer Ahmed Rushdi) is one of the greatest hits in his composition.
From 1974 to 1976, Sohail Rana was appointed as the General Manager National Orchestra, for Pakistan Television Corporation
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...
(PTV), based at Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
center. His musical masterpieces are Sohni dharti (singers: Shehnaz Begum, Mehdi Hassan
Mehdi Hassan
Mehdi Hassan is a Pakistani ghazal singer and a former playback singer for Lollywood. He is famously known as the 'King of ghazal' . He has ruled the Pakistan film industry along with Ahmed Rushdi...
, lyricist: Masroor Anwar) have become part and parcel of Pakistani culture. Likewise, Jeeway Pakistan and Mein bhee Pakistan hoon achieved tremendous success.
Additionally, he devoted his time to compose songs for children. His program for children were telecast from 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...
for 19 years from 1968 to 1987, from Kaliyoan Ki Mala, to Sung Sung Chalain.
Given here below are the names of some of Sohail Rana’s bright students who attained fame for themselves in Pakistani media. Mohammad Ali Sheyki, Amjad Hussain, Alamgir
Alamgir (pop singer)
Alamgir is a Pakistani pop singer of the 1970s, who is in fact one of the pioneers of the Urdu pop music in Pakistan. His style of singing is inspired by legendary playback singer Ahmed Rushdi.-Life & career:...
, Mona sisters, Benjamin Sisters
Benjamin Sisters
The Benjamin Sisters were a Pakistani singing group of three sisters, Nerissa, Beena and Shabana Benjamin. Usually chorus-singing together in appearances on Pakistan Television in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they achieved immense popularity in both Pakistan and neighboring regions of North...
, Adnan Sami
Adnan Sami
Adnan Sami is a British-born Pakistani-Indian- Canadian singer, musician, pianist, actor and composer of Pakistani origin. He currently holds Canadian citizenship and works and lives in Mumbai, India...
, Wasim Baig, Nazia Hasan, Zohaib Hassan
Zohaib Hassan
Zoheb Hassan is a self retired Pakistani pop icon, who left the music industry after the sad demise of his sister and sub-continental pop legend, Nazia Hassan.-Career:Zoheb Hassan was born on November 18, 1966....
, Nazneen, and Fatima Jaffrey. Sohail Rana released two cassettes of Naat
Naat
A Na`at is a poetry that specifically praises the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Many of the famous scholars in the earlier days of Islam wrote Naat. People who recite Naat are known as Naat-Khua'an or Sana'a-Khua'an.-History:...
by Anwar Ibrahim Jaan-e-Madina vol. 1 and 2. Both of these cassettes contained the Naats and Humds by Sohail Rana’s father Rana Akbar Abadi.
The film Badal Aur Bijli was also a huge success, essentially due to his Bansi bajanay walay (singer: 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...
), Dheeray dheeray zara paoon utha (singers: Masood Rana
Masood Rana
Masood Rana was a Pakistani playback singer. He began his singing career in 1962 with the film Inqalab and became one of the top male singers in both Urdu and Punjabi films for more than three decades...
and Mala), Aaj janay ki zid na karo (singer: Habib Wali Mohammad
Habib Wali Mohammad
Habib Wali Mohammad is a Pakistani ghazal singer.-Early life:Habib Wali Mohammad was born in Rangoon to a conservative Memon family, which later moved to Bombay. His family, Tabani, an industrial house has large business holdings in Pakistan.During his childhood Habib Wali often listened to...
and little later a private recording by Farida Khanum
Farida Khanum
Farida Khanum is a Pakistani Ghazal singer from Punjab. The Times of India has called her "Malika-e-Ghazal" ....
). The Farida Khanum version has been used in an Indian film Monsoon Wedding
Monsoon Wedding
* Originally featured in the Hindi film Loafer * Originally featured in the Hindi film Biwi No.1 -Awards:The movie won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival...
(though without Sohail Rana’s permission).
Apart from that, Sohail Rana also composed music for the films, Phir chand niklay ga (1970) and Usay deikha Usay chaaha (1974). He also served as Resident composer in PIA Arts Academy sponsored by Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation commonly known as PIA, is the flag carrier airline of Pakistan. The airline has its head office on the grounds of Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. and operates scheduled services to 24 domestic destinations and 38 international destinations in 27...
from 1972 to 1974, where he conducted Ballet Heer Ranjha
Heer Ranjha
For 1970 Hindi movie of same name and characters, see Heer Raanjha.Heer Ranjha is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. The other three are Mirza Sahiba, Sassi Punnun and Sohni Mahiwal. There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being 'Heer' by Waris Shah...
, composed and re-arranged music for folk dances and under the directorship of Zia Mohyeddin
Zia Mohyeddin
Zia Mohyeddin is a Pakistani actor famed for his voice.He was born in Faisalabad, , British India in a Urdu Speaking Family. He passed his early life in Karachi. He was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London from 1953-1956...
and with a team of eighty-eight dancers, musicians, singers. He toured the whole world performing in prestigious auditoriums and earned the appreciation of international audience.
Sohail Rana also composed the Summit Anthem Allah-O-Akbar, for Pakistan Television Corporation
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...
, in the voice of Mehdi Zaheer and a group of hundred singers, for the first Islamic Summit conference
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Upon the groups's renaming, some sources provided the English-language translation "Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation", but and have since indicated the preferred English translation omits the "the". is an international organisation consisting of 57...
held in 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...
, 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...
, in 1974.
Sohail Rana composed music for about twenty-four movies. The film Hesaab which was released in 1986 happened to be the last movie for which Sohail Rana composed music. Three of those movies, Guriya, Pagal and Hulchul could not be released. However, popular numbers from the film Guriya and Hulchul are available on cassettes and vinyl Eps.
Later life
Sohail moved to Mississauga, OntarioMississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
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 1990 where he has opened a school for singers and musicians. As of 2005, he was starting to perform live with interactive multi-media and was planning a series of concerts in Toronto involving artists from 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...
and 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...
. He made a huge appearance on the Geo TV
Geo TV
Geo TV or Geo Television is a Pakistani television network, founded by Mr. Mir Shakil ur Rehman in May 2002 and owned by Independent Media Corporation. The channel began test transmission on 14 August 2002, with regular transmission beginning 1 October 2002...
special Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo. This special included multiple, different artists singing the songs Sohail Rana composed in his early years.
Awards
He received the prestigious Presidential Award Pride of PerformancePride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
, Gold Discs from EMI for the vinyl album, Khyber Mail and his musical works touching the highest sales figures of EMI’s records from 1954 to 1974 in their final sales figures. He was also given the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Peace Messenger Award, conferred on him, at the United Nations headquarter New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1987.
External links
- Official fansite of Sohail Rana
- Article in Now Toronto, August 2005
- South Asian Canadian anthem to be unveiled in Toronto, DNA India, May 18, 2006
- http://www.themuzik.com/articles/index.php?id=39