Ghulam Haider | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ghulam Haider 1908 |
| Died | 9 November 1953 (aged 44–45) |
| Other names | Master Ghulam Haidar |
| Occupation | Filmmusic composer |
| Years active | 1932 – 1953 |
| Awards | Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) by thePresident of Pakistan (2011) Pride of Performance Award by thePresident of Pakistan (2018) |
Ghulam Haider (1908 – 9 November 1953; also known by the honorary titleMaster Ghulam Haider) was aPakistanimusic composer who worked both inIndia and later inPakistan after itsindependence in 1947.
He changed the face of film songs by combining the popularRaags with the verve and rhythm ofPunjabi music,[1][2] and also helped raise the status of film music directors inBritish India. He is also known for giving her first break in the film industry to the well-known playback singer,Lata Mangeshkar inMajboor (1948 film).[1][2]
In an interview, Lata Mangeshkar herself disclosed on her 84th birthday in 2013, "Ghulam Haider is truly my Godfather. It was his confidence in me that he fought for me to tuck me into the Hindi Film Industry which otherwise had rejected me". Remembering her early rejection, Lata once said, "Ghulam Haider was the first music director who showed complete faith in my talent. He introduced me to many producers includingS. Mukerji, a big name in film production, but when he too rejected me, Ghulam Haider was very furious. Hence, finally he convincedBombay Talkies, a banner bigger than S. Mukerji and introduced me through their movie Majboor (1948 film)".[3][4]
According to one account, Ghulam Haider was born in 1908 inNarowal,Punjab,British India[1] (now inPakistani Punjab). Another account says that he was born inHyderabad,Sindh.[2][5]
According to a major newspaper, "Ghulam Haider hailed from Muslim PunjabiKhatri family. After passing his intermediate examination, he was admitted to a college of dentistry and completed his education as a dentist. Being curious about music, he started learning music from Babu Ganesh Lal, Bhai Santoo Khan Pakhawaji (Murad Ali Khan) and Ustad Jhanday Khan.[6][1][5] His love for music made him leave his career as a dentist, facing the wrath of his family, he still found a job with Alfred Theatrical Company and Alexander Theatrical Company as a piano player inCalcutta, and worked with Jenaphone (Genophone) Recording Company as a music composer as well. He composed music for the then famous singer,Umrao Zia Begum, who was working for Pancholi Studios,Lahore. He later married her in 1938.[2][5]
Haider broke into films with the father-son duo Roshan Lal Shorey and Roop Kumar Shorey who were based inLahore, and thenA.R. Kardar gave him the opportunity to compose music for the 1935 film,Swarg Ki Seerhi and Ghulam Haider ended up moving to Bombay. He got his first big breakthrough with D.M. Pancholi'sPunjabi film,Gul-E-Bakavali (1939) starringNoor Jehan.[1] This was followed by filmYamla Jat (1940). His first big hit song came withKhazanchi in 1941,[1] which helped cause a revolution in the music industry. The music of the filmKhazanchi (1941), in particular, the songSawan Ke Nazare Hain sung byShamshad Begum and Ghulam Haider himself caused a revolution in music composing. By then Music Directors of the 1930s, who had composed film songs set in classical ragas, were beginning to sound commonplace.Khazanchi's refreshingly 'free wheeling music' not only took the audiences by storm but also made other film music directors sit up and take notice. With this film, Ghulam Haider ensured that the Indian film song would never be the same again.Khandan (1942), the first film ofNoor Jehan as lead actress, was also a big hit[1] and established him as a top film composer. FilmPoonji (1943) was also successful. Then Haider moved toBombay and composed music for many films includingHumayun (1945) and Majboor (1948 film), the first major breakthrough film forLata Mangeshkar in Hindi films.[1] FilmsShaheed (1948) andKaneez are his other big hits.[3]
He introducedLata Mangeshkar,Shamshad Begum,Sudha Malhotra andSurinder Kaur to theIndian Film Industry.[2][6]Besides them, as a film song composer, he played a key role in giving first breakthrough popularity toNoor Jehan in filmKhandan. Master Ghulam Haider also gets major credit for introducing the Punjabi folk music and instruments likedholak in the film music. His pioneering work in music later inspired many Punjabi film music directors likeHansraj Behl, Shyam Sunder,Husnlal Bhagatram andFeroz Nizami. His assistants inMumbai were film music composersMadan Mohan,Datta Naik andNashad, not to be confused here withNaushad.[2] Later in Pakistan, film music directorA. Hameed worked as his assistant.
Afterindependence in 1947, he returned toLahore in 1949 and his firstPakistani film wasShahida (1949). He composed music for many otherPakistani films likeBeqarar (1950),Akeli (1951) andBheegi Palken (1952) but the films flopped. He died just a few days after the release of Pakistani film Gulnar (1953) due to throat cancer at age 45 atLahore. Pakistan.[1][5][6]
His major films are:
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| People | |
