Sung by Inayat Hussain Bhatti
Music by Safdar Hussain
His life story · 1926 – 1991
Biography
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.
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The man behind the songs
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. Over the next two decades he became one of Lollywood’s busiest and most loved songwriters.
- Birth name
- Basheer Ahmad
- Born
- 1926, Raja Tamoli, near Gujranwala
- Died
- March 1991, aged 64
- Profession
- Punjabi film lyricist; writer of stories, scripts and dialogue
- Years in film
- 1950 – 1988
- Debut film
- Do Ansoo (1950)
- Known for
- Heer, Patay Khan, Malangi, Khan Chacha
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
1972
Khan Chacha, the first Diamond Jubilee Punjabi film
His story
A Life In Chapters
01
1926 – 1946
A village boy with a gift for verse
Basheer Ahmad was born in 1926 in Raja Tamoli, a small village near Gujranwala in Punjab. His family’s circumstances were modest, and poverty ended his schooling at the primary level.
Formal education stopped early, but his gift for verse did not. The Punjabi he grew up speaking became the language of his songs, and it is the everyday language of village life that his listeners later recognised in his words.
02
1947 – 1949
Lahore and Radio Pakistan
After Partition in 1947 he made his way to Lahore, the centre of the new Pakistani film industry. He set out to find a place for himself there, and Radio Pakistan gave him his first chance to write songs.
The radio years were his apprenticeship. They brought his lyrics before an audience and into the hearing of people working in films.
03
1950 – 1954
Into films
The director Anwar Kamal Pasha, struck by his talent as a Punjabi lyricist, brought him into cinema. His first film, Do Ansoo (1950), became a commercial hit and opened the way for everything that followed.
In 1952 he wrote the songs, story, script and dialogue for Nath, a sign that he was more than a songwriter. Over his career he wrote stories, scripts and dialogue as well as lyrics.
04
1955 – 1957
The breakthrough years
1955 was the year that made his name. Heer, Patay Khan and Pattan were all released, and his first big hit song came with Heer: “Sahnoon Sajanan Dey Milnay Di Taang Aey”, sung by Inayat Hussain Bhatti to music by Safdar Hussain.
Patay Khan gave Noor Jehan two of his best-known lyrics, “Aaja Meri Pharlay Baanh” and “Kalli Kalli Jaan Dukh Lakh Tay Karore Wey”, both composed by Akhtar Hussain. In Pattan, Zubaida Khanum and Inayat Hussain Bhatti sang “Saada Sajra Pyar”. In 1957 Nooran added another musical success, with songs by Noor Jehan and Munir Hussain.
05
1964 – 1972
The busiest songwriter in Lollywood
Between 1964 and 1972 he was one of the busiest songwriters in the industry. His films from these years include Daachi, Hath Jori, Malangi, Dil Da Jaani and Khan Chacha.
The songs of this period travelled far: Masood Rana sang “Taangay Wala Khair Mangda” in Daachi (1964) and “Aanay Da Glass Piyo” in Man Mauji (1965), while Noor Jehan sang “Mahi Wey Sahnun Bhul Na Jaavin” in Malangi (1965) and “Sayyo Ni Meray Dil Da Jaani” in Dil Da Jaani (1967). Khan Chacha (1972) became Pakistan’s first Diamond Jubilee Punjabi film.
06
1973 – 1988
The later films
His partnership with Noor Jehan continued into the mid-1970s. In 1974 she sang his words in Ishq Mera Naan (“Mahia Jay Mein Kabootri Howaan”, music by Nazir Ali) and Yaar Mastanay (“Jaa Aj Tau Mein Teri”, music by Wazir Afzal).
His film career ran for 38 years, from 1950 to 1988, with more than 250 films written for Punjabi cinema. Among the later soundtracks that carry his words is Lakha, with music by Wajahat Attre, released by EMI Pakistan.
07
1988 – 1991
Final years and legacy
In his final years a stroke left him paralysed and largely homebound. After years of illness he passed away in March 1991, aged 64.
His songs, and the voices of Noor Jehan, Inayat Hussain Bhatti and Masood Rana that carried them, remain part of Punjabi film music. His family has preserved his awards, jubilee shield and photographs, which are shown on this website.
Timeline
Milestones
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.
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
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
From the family album
Moments From A Life In Film
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