Sung by Inayat Hussain Bhatti
Music by Safdar Hussain
In loving memory · 1926 – 1991
Hazeen Qadri
حزیں قادری
The village poet from Raja Tamoli who became one of the most sought-after lyricists of Lahore’s film industry, writing the Punjabi songs that Noor Jehan, Inayat Hussain Bhatti and Masood Rana carried into every home in Pakistan.
Basheer Ahmad, known to millions as Hazeen Qadri, at his writing desk
Legends never die.
They live forever.
250+
films written for Punjabi cinema
38
years in film, 1950 to 1988
1955
the year of Heer and Patay Khan
His life
From a village school to the songs of a nation
Hazeen Qadri was born Basheer Ahmad in 1926 in Raja Tamoli, a small village near Gujranwala. Poverty ended his schooling at the primary level, but not his gift for verse.
After Partition he came to Lahore, where Radio Pakistan gave him a chance to write songs. The director Anwar Kamal Pasha, struck by his talent as a Punjabi lyricist, brought him into films. Over the next two decades he became one of Lollywood’s busiest and most loved songwriters.
He also wrote stories, scripts and dialogue. In his final years a stroke left him paralysed and largely homebound. He passed away in March 1991, aged 64.
1926
Born in Raja Tamoli
Born Basheer Ahmad in a small village near Gujranwala, Punjab.
1947
Arrives in Lahore
After Partition he sets out to find his way into the new Pakistani film industry, writing for Radio Pakistan.
1950
First film songs
Anwar Kamal Pasha gives him his first film, Do Ansoo, which becomes a commercial hit.
1952
Nath
Writes the songs, story, script and dialogue for the film Nath.
1955
The breakthrough year
Heer, Patay Khan and Pattan are released. His first big hit song comes with Heer.
1957
Nooran
Another musical success, with songs by Noor Jehan and Munir Hussain.
1964–72
The busiest songwriter in Lollywood
Daachi, Hath Jori, Malangi, Dil Da Jaani and Khan Chacha, Pakistan’s first Diamond Jubilee Punjabi film.
1991
Passes away
Dies in March 1991, aged 64, after years of illness following a stroke.
From the family album
Moments from a life in film
Blockbuster hit songs
The songs Pakistan still sings
His first big hit came with Heer in 1955. A selection of the songs he wrote, with the voices and composers who brought them to the screen.
Heer
1955
Sahnoon Sajanan Dey Milnay Di Taang Aey
Heer
1955
Baddal Nuun Hath Laanwan
Sung by Munawar Sultana
Music by Safdar Hussain
Pattan
1955
Saada Sajra Pyar
Sung by Zubaida Khanum & Inayat Hussain Bhatti
Music by G. A. Chishti
Patay Khan
1955
Kalli Kalli Jaan Dukh Lakh Tay Karore Wey
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Akhtar Hussain
Patay Khan
1955
Aaja Meri Pharlay Baanh
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Akhtar Hussain
Nooran
1957
Panchhi Te Pardesi
Sung by Noor Jehan & Munir Hussain
Music by Safdar Hussain
Daachi
1964
Taangay Wala Khair Mangda
Sung by Masood Rana
Music by G. A. Chishti
Malangi
1965
Mahi Wey Sahnun Bhul Na Jaavin
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Master Abdullah
Malangi
1965
Chhad Chali Babula
Sung by Mala
Music by Master Abdullah
Man Mauji
1965
Aanay Da Glass Piyo
Sung by Masood Rana
Music by Tufail Farooqi
Dil Da Jaani
1967
Sayyo Ni Meray Dil Da Jaani
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Wazir Afzal
Juma Janj Naal
1968
Kehnday Ne Nainan Teray Kole Rehna
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Wazir Afzal
Khan Chacha
1972
Dhian Da Dhan Praaya Wey Babula
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Nazir Ali
Ishq Mera Naan
1974
Mahia Jay Mein Kabootri Howaan
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Nazir Ali
Yaar Mastanay
1974
Jaa Aj Tau Mein Teri
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Wazir Afzal
Heer
1955
Sahnoon Sajanan Dey Milnay Di Taang Aey
Sung by Inayat Hussain Bhatti
Music by Safdar Hussain
Heer
1955
Baddal Nuun Hath Laanwan
Sung by Munawar Sultana
Music by Safdar Hussain
Pattan
1955
Saada Sajra Pyar
Sung by Zubaida Khanum & Inayat Hussain Bhatti
Music by G. A. Chishti
Patay Khan
1955
Kalli Kalli Jaan Dukh Lakh Tay Karore Wey
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Akhtar Hussain
Patay Khan
1955
Aaja Meri Pharlay Baanh
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Akhtar Hussain
Nooran
1957
Panchhi Te Pardesi
Sung by Noor Jehan & Munir Hussain
Music by Safdar Hussain
Daachi
1964
Taangay Wala Khair Mangda
Sung by Masood Rana
Music by G. A. Chishti
Malangi
1965
Mahi Wey Sahnun Bhul Na Jaavin
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Master Abdullah
Malangi
1965
Chhad Chali Babula
Sung by Mala
Music by Master Abdullah
Man Mauji
1965
Aanay Da Glass Piyo
Sung by Masood Rana
Music by Tufail Farooqi
Dil Da Jaani
1967
Sayyo Ni Meray Dil Da Jaani
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Wazir Afzal
Juma Janj Naal
1968
Kehnday Ne Nainan Teray Kole Rehna
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Wazir Afzal
Khan Chacha
1972
Dhian Da Dhan Praaya Wey Babula
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Nazir Ali
Ishq Mera Naan
1974
Mahia Jay Mein Kabootri Howaan
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Nazir Ali
Yaar Mastanay
1974
Jaa Aj Tau Mein Teri
Sung by Noor Jehan
Music by Wazir Afzal
Selected films
250 films for Punjabi cinema
Landmarks from a career that shaped the sound of Lollywood's golden age.
1950
Do Ansoo
His film debut
1952
Nath
Songs, story & dialogue
1955
Heer
Lyricist and writer
1955
Patay Khan
Lyricist and writer
1955
Pattan
Songs
1957
Nooran
Songs
1964
Daachi
Songs
1964
Hath Jori
Songs
1965
Malangi
Songs
1967
Dil Da Jaani
Songs
1972
Khan Chacha
First Diamond Jubilee Punjabi film
1974
Yaar Mastanay
Songs
[Year]
Lakha
Songs, music by Wajahat Attre
The artists who sang his words
Voices & melodies
Singers
- Noor Jehan
- Inayat Hussain Bhatti
- Masood Rana
- Zubaida Khanum
- Munawar Sultana
- Mala · Kausar Parveen
- Munir Hussain · Naheed Akhtar
Music directors
- G. A. Chishti
- Safdar Hussain
- Akhtar Hussain
- Master Abdullah
- Wazir Afzal
- Nazir Ali
- Wajahat Attre · Rashid Attre
Remembrance
Share a memory
Did one of his songs play at a wedding in your family, or on the radio in your village? Family, fans and friends are invited to leave a tribute.
Grandchild · Gujranwala
Dada Jee never talked about his fame. We learned who he was from strangers who stopped at our door with tears in their eyes and said, “Your grandfather wrote my mother’s favourite song.” A boy who left school after primary grew up to be remembered by a nation. We keep his awards and photographs the way other families keep jewellery.
Ahmad Bashir · Lahore
Over thirty-eight years, he wrote through Heer, Patay Khan, Malangi, Dil Da Jaani and the Diamond Jubilee of Khan Chacha. Lollywood’s golden age needed great singers, great composers and great words. Hazeen Qadri gave us the words.