Ghulam Ahmed Chishti
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Ghulam Ahmed Chishti ( Punjabi, ur, ), (often abbreviated to G.A. Chishti) ( Punjabi, ur, ), (17 August 1905 – 25 December 1994) was a Pakistani music composer, attributed as being one of the founders of Indian and Pakistani
film music A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to e ...
. He is also sometimes referred to as ''Baba Chishti''. Working with
filmi Filmi ("of films") music soundtracks are music produced for India's mainstream motion picture industry and written and performed for Indian cinema. In cinema, music directors make up the main body of composers; the songs are performed by playba ...
music, Chishti excelled at Punjabi compositions and was 'apt at weaving the design of influences around Punjabi music'. With almost 5,000 tunes to his credit, he composed scores for 140 – 150 films and was the first musician to reach the '100 films' threshold in newly independent
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
after 1947. Being a poet, he had written lyrics for 12 of the most popular Pakistani film songs besides writing hundreds of other film songs during his career.


Biography


Early life

Ghulam Ahmed Chishti was born in 1905 in a small village Gunnachaur near
Jallandhar Jalandhar is the third most-populous city in the Indian state of Punjab and the largest city in Doaba region. Jalandhar lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected rail and road junction. Jalandhar is northwest of the state ...
, now in Nawanshahar district. Early in his childhood, Chishti became fond of music and would sing '' na`ats'' at his school. He was later noticed by a stage play director
Agha Hashar Kashmiri Agha Hashar Kashmiri (born Muhammad Shah, 3 April 1879 – 1 April 1935) was an Urdu poet, playwright and dramatist. A number of his plays were Indian Shakespearean adaptations. Early life He started to show interest in stage dramas and mo ...
when Chishti came to
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
in 1934. Kashmiri was a well-known writer and playwright whose works were praised throughout the
Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
and would occasionally compose songs for theatres.
Kashmiri Kashmiri may refer to: * People or things related to the Kashmir Valley or the broader region of Kashmir * Kashmiris, an ethnic group native to the Kashmir Valley * Kashmiri language, their language People with the name * Kashmiri Saikia Baruah ...
hired Chishti to assist him with his work and offered him a salary of 50-rupees-per month. Under Kashmiri's influence, Chishti began learning the intricacies of the music industry and trained with him. Upon Kashmiri's death, Chishti joined a recording company and began composing on his own. Amongst his first records were those for
Jaddanbai Jaddanbai Hussain (Hindi: जद्दनबाई हुसैन, Punjabi: ਜੱਦਨਬਾਈ ਹੁਸੈਨ, Urdu: ; 1892 – April 8, 1949; known professionally as Jaddanbai) was an Indian singer, music composer, dancer, actress, filmma ...
and
Amirbai Karnataki Amirbai Karnataki (c. 1906 – 3 March 1965) was a famous actress/singer and playback singer of the early Hindi cinema and was famous as ''Kannada Kokila''. Mahatma Gandhi was an ardent fan of her song ''Vaishnav Jan To''. Early life Amirbai ...
in
British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
before 1947.


Composing for films in India

Chishti is responsible for bringing
Noor Jehan Noor Jehan ( Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Pres ...
to the Lahore stage, when she was 9-years-old in 1935. Noor Jehan had continued working with Chishti after his later migration to
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. He started his career composing music for the films with ''Deen-o-Dunya'' in 1936. Once he got some recognition, he was offered to compose music for L. R. Shori's film ''Sohni Mahival'' in 1938. There was an earlier movie 'Sohni Mahiwal (1933) also. Later the Censor Board banned his composition for the song ''Aik Shehr Ki Londiya'' from the film ''Shukriya'' in 1944 bestowing much needed attention upon the composer. He became known for his compositions both in Urdu and Punjabi languages. Baba Chishti also had given some music lessons to the now well-known Indian film musician
Khayyam Ghiyāth al-Dīn Abū al-Fatḥ ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm Nīsābūrī (18 May 1048 – 4 December 1131), commonly known as Omar Khayyam ( fa, عمر خیّام), was a polymath, known for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, ...
, when Khayyam was still young and briefly had come over to
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
. Baba Chishti was a contemporary of famous musicians Pandit
Amar Nath Pandit Amarnath (1924–1996) was an Indian Classical Vocalist and composer. He composed music for the film Garam Coat in 1955. He should not be confused with the very popular composer of the same name, Amarnath, who was very active in Lahore a ...
and Master Ghulam Haider of the 1940s.


Migration to Pakistan

However, for Chishti's career, things were to take a drastic turn for the better, after the
independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
of
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
in 1947. He decided on migrating to Pakistan in 1949, where the film industry was reeling in its infancy. The new industry was at the mercy of learned musicians and filmmakers and lacked funds to compete with the imported Indian films. Chishti offered his services as a musician to the
Pakistani film industry Cinema of Pakistan, popularly known as Lollywood ( ur, ), refers to the filmmaking industry in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to several film studios centres, primarily located in its three largest cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. ...
. Due to shortage of talent in the music industry, it is reported that Chishti had to compose music for three films at the same time in 1949. His initial compositions for ''Sachai'', ''Mundri'' and
Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.Nazir Ahmed Khan Nazir Ahmad Khan ( ur, ) (1904 – 26 August 1983) was a Pakistani film actor, director and producer. Biography It was back in 1929, when a young artistic man left the city of Lahore to go to Calcutta to fulfill his passion and make movie ...
to compose music for his film ''Pheray''. Upon its initial screening,
Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.Actress Swaran Lata and music composer Chishti team-up for the success of film Pheray (1949) upperstall.com website
Retrieved 8 July 2020
It is reported that the six songs in the film were written, composed and recorded in a single day. Later in 1955, Punjabi film ''Pattan'' (1955) came along and became a musical hit film for Baba Chishti. ''Pattan'' (1955) really boosted his career and he became a well-sought-after music director by the film producers after the box-office success of this film. ''Baba Chishti'' was the music director for
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
's many early successful films - for example, Pakistan's first silver jubilee film
Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.golden jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali ''"সু ...
films - ''Sassi'' (1954) and ''Noukar'' (1955) and then super-hit films like ''Dulla Bhatti'' (1956) and ''
Yakke Wali ''Yakke Wali'' is a 1957 Pakistani Punjabi language film directed by M. J. Rana and produced by Bari Malik. It tells the story of a woman who earns a living by driving a tanga. Musarrat Nazir played the title role in the film with Sudhir, M. A ...
'' (1957).


Chishti's discoveries

Ghulam Ahmed Chishti first introduced into the Pakistani film world the following film playback singers... *
Noor Jehan Noor Jehan ( Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Pres ...
as a singer on
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
stage when she was just 9 years old, back in 1935. *
Zubaida Khanum Zubaida Khanum (1935 – 19 October 2013) was a Pakistani playback singer who recorded over 250 songs during Golden Age of Pakistani film music of 1950s and 1960s. She was considered Pakistani equivalent to Marni Nixon of Hollywood for giv ...
in film ''Billo'' (1951). * Saleem Raza in film ''Noukar'' (1955). *
Naseem Begum Naseem Begum ( ur, ), (24 February 1936 – 29 September 1971) was a popular, and well known Pakistani film playback singer. She was known as ''The Tradegy Queen'' for singing sorrowful and downhearted songs in films. She rose to promine ...
in film '' Guddi Gudda'' (1956). * ''Nazir Begum'' in film ''Miss 56'' (1956). * Mala in film ''Abroo'' (1961). *
Masood Rana Masood Rana ( ur, , 6 August 1941 – 4 October 1995) was a Pakistani film playback singer. He began his singing career in 1962 with the film ''Inqalab'', became one of the top male singers in both Urdu and Punjabi films for more than thr ...
in a Punjabi film ''Rishta'' (1963). *
Parvez Mehdi Parvez Mehdi, born Pervez Akhtar (1947 – 29 August 2005) was a Pakistani ghazal singer. Early life Parvez Mehdi was born Pervez Akhtar in Lahore in 1947. He was trained in music by his father Bashir Hussain Rahi, who was also a singer. C ...
in film ''Chann Tara'' (1973).


Songs

* -
Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.Munawar Sultana Munawar Sultana (8 November 1924 – 15 September 2007) was an Indian cinema actress, who acted in Hindi films. She is cited as one of the "popular" actresses of the late 1940s to early 1950s period, along with Noor Jehan, Swarnalata and Rag ...
, Film:
Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.Pheray ''Pheray'' is a 1949 Pakistani Punjabi-language film directed by Nazir Ahmed Khan.Zubaida Khanum Zubaida Khanum (1935 – 19 October 2013) was a Pakistani playback singer who recorded over 250 songs during Golden Age of Pakistani film music of 1950s and 1960s. She was considered Pakistani equivalent to Marni Nixon of Hollywood for giv ...
, film ''Pattan'' (1955) * - ''Pattan'' (1955) * - ''Pattan'' (1955) * (a ''lori'' song) - ''Naukar'' (1955) * (a ''lori'' song) - ''Lakht-e-Jigar'' (1956) * - ''Dulla Bhatti'' (1956) * - ''Guddi Gudda'' (1956) * - ''Guddi Gudda'' (1956) * - ''Peengan'' (1956) * - ''Yakke Wali'' (1957) * - ''Yakke Wali'' (1957) * - ''Yakke Wali'' (1957) * - ''Mitti Diyaan Moortan'' (1960) * - Naheed Niazi, lyrics by Sikkedar, film ''Aabroo'' (1961) * - ''Mera Mahi'' (1964) * -
Masood Rana Masood Rana ( ur, , 6 August 1941 – 4 October 1995) was a Pakistani film playback singer. He began his singing career in 1962 with the film ''Inqalab'', became one of the top male singers in both Urdu and Punjabi films for more than thr ...
, film ''Daachi'' (1964) * -
Inayat Hussain Bhatti Inayat Hussain Bhatti ( ur, ), (12 January 1928 – 31 May 1999) was a Pakistani film playback singer, film actor, producer, director, script writer, social worker, columnist, religious scholar and a promoter of the development of the Punj ...
, film ''Jigri Yaar'' (1967) * - ''Yaar Des Punjab De'' (1971) * - ''Uchhi Haveli'' (1971) *
Mian Muhammad Bakhsh Mīān Muhammad Bakhsh (میاں محمد بخش) was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi and poet. Born in the city of Mirpur to a Gujjar family of Paswal tribe, he is renowned as a great poet and Sufi scholar by the people of Punjab and Azad Kashmir. Wri ...
, film ''Ishq Deewana'' (1971) * -
Runa Laila Runa Laila ( bn, রুনা লায়লা, ur, ; born 17 November 1952) is a Bangladeshi playback singer and composer. She started her career in Pakistan film industry in the late 1960s. Her style of singing is inspired by Pakistani p ...
, film ''Zaildar'' (1972) * -
Noor Jehan Noor Jehan ( Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Pres ...
and Pervez Mehdi, film ''Chann Tara'' (1973)Noor Jehan sings super-hit film song for Baba Chishti
Academy of the Punjab in North America (APNA) website, Retrieved 8 July 2020


Awards

Ghulam Ahmed Chishti was awarded the
Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance ( ur, ), officially known as Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sports, an ...
Award for Arts in 1989 by the
President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Pakistani film industry Cinema of Pakistan, popularly known as Lollywood ( ur, ), refers to the filmmaking industry in Pakistan. Pakistan is home to several film studios centres, primarily located in its three largest cities – Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. ...
as a very simple, affable and kind person. Due to his popularity and venerability, he was called ''Baba Jii'' (father figure) in the film industry. He died at the age of 89 due to a heart attack on 25 December 1994 in
Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
, Pakistan.Profile of G. A. Chishti on muvyz.com website
Retrieved 8 July 2020
In 2017, a number of TV personalities and film personalities gathered at an event at
Alhamra Arts Council Alhamra Arts Council (also known as the Alhamra Hall, Alhamra Cultural Complex, Alhamra Art Gallery and Lahore Arts CouncilLahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
to pay tribute to Ghulam Ahmed Chishti and his music. This event was organized in collaboration with the