Ghulam Haider

Ghulam Haider
Birth name	Ghulam Haider
Also known as	Master Ghulam Haidar
Born	1908 Hyderabad, Sind, British India
Origin	Pakistani
Died	November 9, 1953(1953-11-09) (aged 45) Lahore, Pakistan
Occupations	Dentist, Music composer in Bollywood, Lollywood
Instruments	Harmonium Player
Years active	1932–1953

Ghulam Haider (1908 - 9 November 1953) was an early film music composer who worked both in India and Pakistan. Ghulam Haider was born in Hyderabad, Sind in 1908.

Erly Life

After a few years of indifferent schooling, and after passing his intermediate examination, he was admitted to a college of dentistry. Meanwhile, he also took music lessons from Baba Ganeshlal. He gave up dentistry before completing his degree, and joined the Alfred Theatrical Company in Calcutta as a Harmonium player. Later, he quit that company and joined the Alexander Theatrical Company. He also briefly worked for the Jenaphone Recording Company as a music composer.

Career

Haider composed the music for several songs and ghazals recorded by the famous singing star Umra-o-Zia Begum, which were released as gramophone records. In 1932, the year Haider joined Playart Photophone, A.R. Kardar gave him the opportunity to compose the music for his film Swarg Ki Seehri (1935) which was a Lahore-based production, a film in which Umra-o-Zia played a major role. It was released under the banner of National Modi, Lahore and directed by Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj. Unfortunately, the film did not do well at the box office. Haider soon married Umra-o-Zia Begum, who quit show business after their marriage.

Then, Dalsukh M. Pancholi asked him to write the musical score for his Punjabi venture Gul Bakavli (1939) which became an instant hit. Baby Noor Jehan's songs, Shala jawaaniyan mane and Pinjray day vich qaid jawani, were soon on the lips of every Punjabi film fan. But Ghulam Haider's hour of glory was still to come. His biggest hit came with Khazanchi (1941). The music of Khazanchi caused a revolution. By then composers of the 1930s, who had embellished films with their exquisite compositions based on classical raagas, were beginning to sound commonplace. Combining popular raagas with the rich verve and rhythm of Punjabi music, Haider ensured the Indian film song would never be the same again.

Haider's association with Pancholi was to last until 1944, a period during which he scored scintillating music. He moved to Bombay with his team in 1944, where he worked in films like Chal Chal Re Naujawaan (1944), Phool (1944), Humayun (1945), Bairam Khan (1946), and Shama (1946). The soundtrack of Shama was notable for the dexterous use of the tabla. As his fellow music composer Naushad put it, the tabla "spoke the words". His best known compositions are sung by Shamshad Begum, and invoke Punjabi folk songs, and extensively feature percussion instruments like the dholak. While in Bombay, Haider also composed music for Bombay Talkies' Majboor (featuring the song Dil Mera Toda by Lata Mangeshkar), Wali Saheb's Padmini, Diwan Pictures' Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, Pancholi's Patjhar and Filmistan's Shaheed, all made in 1948.

It was Haider who gave Lata Mangeshkar her major break in Hindi films with Majboor (1948). He had earlier taken 16-year-old Lata to S. Mukherjee to try and win her the opportunity to sing in Shaheed, but Mukherjee rejected her, saying her voice was too thin. Haider predicted that this "poor little thing" would soon put every other singer to shame including Noor Jehan. Other singers he introduced were Sudha Malhotra and Surinder Kaur. Shaheed and Kaneez (1949) were among his last big hits in India. The former featured the patriotic song Watan Ki Raah Mein Watan Ke Naujawaan Shaheed Ho, which was used twice in the film, first at a fast tempo to raise the morale of the revolutionaries, and later in a slow and solemn version during the revolutionary hero's funeral procession.

Following the explosion of the ammunition laden ship at the Bombay docks towards the end of World War II, and the mass exodus of its citizens from the city, Ghulam's musicians migrated to Lahore. In vain, Haider pleaded with them to stay on. He offered them two months' salary in advance and secure shelter, but they refused and bid him a tearful farewell. Later, Ghulam Haider left for Lahore himself and floated his own concern, Filmsaz, in partnership with Nazir Ajmeri and actor S. Gul. Their maiden production, Gulnaar, was released on 6 November 1953 and three days later, Haider died at the age of 45. His funeral on 10 November was attended by prominent people from all branches of the film trade. The Cine Musicians' Association called a special meeting to mourn his death.

Music Director

He work as a music director in many movies listed below,

• Gulnar (1953)
• Aabshar 1953
• Beqarar 1950
• Do saudagar (1950)
• Putli (1950)
• Kaneez (1949)
• Majboor (1948)
• Padmini (1948)
• Shaheed (1948)
• Shama (1948)
• Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1948)
• Patjhad (1948)
• Jag Biti (1947)
• Majhdhaar (1947)
• But Tarash (1947)
• Mehndi (1947)
• Jag Biti (1946)
• Bairam khan (1946)
• Humayun (1945)
• Phool (1945)
• Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944)
• Bhai (1944)
• Poonji (1943)
• Khazaanchi (1941)
• Khandan (1942)
• Zamindar (1942)
• Chaudhry 1941
• Khazanchi (1941)
• Yamla Jatt (1940)
• Gulbakawali (1939)
• Majnu (1935)
• Swarg ki sidhi (1935)
• Thief of Iraq (1934)

Ghulam Haider Popular Compositions

• Yasrib ko janey waley, mara salaam le ja..........(singer: Umra-o-Zia Begum)
• Aashiyaane Ko Mere Jab..........(film: Thief of Iraq 1934)
• Shala jawania maney, aakha na morin, pee lai..........(singer: Baby Noor Jehan, film: Gul Bakawli 1939)
• Pinjare De Vich Kaid Jawanee Mastanee..........(singer: Baby Noor Jehan, film: Gul-E-Bakawali 1939)
• Kanka dian pakian faslan ne..........(singer: Noor Jehan, film: Yamla Jatt 1940)
• Bas bas we Dholna, tere naal ki bolna..........(singer: Noor Jehan, film: Yamla Jatt 1940)
• Sawan ke nazarey hain, ha ha ha..........(singer: Shamshad Begum, film: Khazanchi 1941)
• Ek Kalee Naajo Kee Palee..........(film: Khazaanchi 1941)
• Tu koun si Badli mein, mere Chand hay aa ja..........(singer: Noor Jehan, film: Khandan 1942)
• Mere liye jehan mein chain hay na qarar hay..........(singer: Noor Jehan, film: Khandan 1942)
• Sajan Aa Ja, Rajan Aa Ja..........(film: Bhai 1944)
• Chamko Chamko Bijaliya, Han Bijaliya..........(film: Chal Chal Re Naujawan 1944)
• Mujhe Madhur Lagata Hai Unase..........(film: Chal Chal Re Naujawan 1944)
• Ai Chand Too Bata De..........(film: Humayun 1945)
• Data Toree Daya Se Abb Des Hamara..........(film: Humayun 1945)
• Ho Chand Chamaka Andhere Me Aaj Hai..........(film: Humayun 1945)
• Ashko Pe Huwa Khatam Mere Gham Kaa Fasana..........(film: Bairam khan 1946)
• Gulshan Pe Hai Bahar Koyal Kee Hai Pukar..........(film: Jag Biti (1947)
• Ham Hain Dukhiya Iss Duneeya Me..........(film: Jag Biti (1947)
• Aaj Mohe Sajan Ghar Jana..........(film: Majhdhaar 1947)
• Aa Jao Beedeshi Baalama..........(film: Padmini 1948)
• Aajaa Bedardi Baalama..........(film: Shaheed 1948)
• Aana Hai Toh Aa Jao Gar..........(film: Shaheed 1948)
• Ab JiKe Koyi Kyaa Kare - (film: Majboor 1948)
• Watan ki rah mein, watan ke no-jawan shaheed ho..........(singer: Mohammed Rafi, film: Shaheed 1949)
• Lo, chal diye woh ham ko tasalli diye baghair..........(singer: Noor Jehan, film: Gulnar 1953)
• Bachapan Kee Yadgaro, Mai Tumko Dhundhatee Hu..........(film: Gulnar 1953)

External links

• Ghulam Haider at the Internet Movie Database