Anwar Hussain (born 1 February 1949), known by the

mononym A mononym is a name composed of only one word. An individual who is known and addressed by a mononym is a mononymous person. A mononym may be the person's only name, given to them at birth. This was routine in most ancient societies, and remains ...

Anwar, is an Indian

playback singer A playback singer, as they are usually known in South Asian cinema, or ghost singer in Western cinema, is a singer whose performance is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and the performers lip-sync the ...

Early years

Anwar was born in

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

on 1 February 1949. His father, Ashiq Hussain (Ahmed Ali Khan), was an accomplished

sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Khusrau K ...

and

harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...

player and an assistant music director to the musician Ghulam Haider. Anwar is the brother of actress Asha Sachdev, through Ashiq's first marriage to actress Ranjana Sachdev, and the half-brother of actor

Arshad Warsi Arshad Khan (born 19 April 1968) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films. He is the recipient of List of roles and awards of Arshad Warsi, several awards including a Filmfare Award from five nominations and is noted for acting in varied f ...

through his second marriage after divorce. The siblings have never lived together and are estranged from each other. The young Anwar was classically trained by Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan, along with Mahendra Kapoor, the same teacher who was the preceptor of the legendary playback singer

Mahendra Kapoor Mahendra Kapoor (9 January 1934 – 27 September 2008) was an Indian playback singer. In a long career spanning decades, his repertoire included popular songs such as ''Chalo ekbaar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono'' ( Gumrah) and ''Neele Gagan ...

also. Anwar started singing Mohammad Rafi songs at various concerts. It was during one of those musical shows that Anwar was spotted by the music director Kamal Rajasthani, who gave him a chance to sing for his film '' Mere Gharib Nawaz''.

Singing career

Anwar made his debut as playback singer in the film ''Mere Gharib Nawaaz'' (1973) and the music director who gave him this break was Kamaal Rajasthani. Music Director Kamal Rajasthani relates that during the recording sessions of the song "Kasme Hum Apni Jaan Ki" for this film,

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice ...

was so impressed that he described Anwar as the one singer who could take his place after him. Indeed, the rendition of that song shows promise, but the film, flopped very badly at the box office and the songs also did not find traction with the audience. In 1977, comedian Mehmood and music director Rajesh Roshan hired Anwar to sing for the film '' Janta Hawaldar''. The songs "Teri Aankhon Ki Chahat", and "Humse Ka Bhool Hui", were picturised on famous actor

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, h ...

. Both the film and song were superhit; hence Anwar started getting work and recognition. Here onwards, for several years, Anwar was on a roll. He sang duets alongside playback singers

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar (; born Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. He ...

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; ; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur, actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in the media as one of the ...

and

Alka Yagnik Alka Yagnik (born 20 March 1966) is an Indian playback singer who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. One of the most prominent singers of 1990s era Bollywood, she has received several accolades, including two National Film Awards, two Ben ...

, under music directors Khayyam, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji,

Bappi Lahiri Bappi Aparesh Lahiri (born Alokesh Aparesh Lahiri; 27 November 1952 – 15 February 2022), also known as Bappi Da, was an Indian singer, composer and record producer. He popularised the use of synthesised disco music in Indian music industry and ...

Anu Malik Anwar Sardar "Anu" Malik (born 2 November 1960) is an Indian music composer, singer, music arranger and score composer. He is the recipient of a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards, who primarily composes music for the Hindi film ...

and Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen. In a career span stretching over thirty years, Anwar sang a variety of songs including

filmi Filmi () music soundtracks are music produced for India's mainstream motion picture industry and written and performed for Cinema of India, Indian cinema. In cinema, List of Indian film music directors, music directors make up the main body of c ...

songs, classical songs and contemporary ghazals, bhajans,

qawwali Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing originating in the Indian subcontinent. Originally performed at Sufi shrines throughout the Indian subcontinent, it is famous throughout Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and has ...

, and

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

songs. The Hindi blockbuster movie YEH ISHQ NAHIN ASAN released on DEC 31, 1984 exclusively featured Anwar Hussain as the male singer lead besides others. This movie starred Rishi Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, Radha Saluja and Yogita Bali where the character of the poet/architect Salim Ahmed Salim was played very well by Rishi Kapoor who is well-known to request his playback singer and by then Mohammad Rafi had already left the world (July 1980) and the closest semblance to his voice was Anwar Hussain's rather than Shabbir Kumar's. Frankly, the gazals and songs sung by Anwar Husssain for this movie excels any other movie-group for which Anwar Hussain may have sung.

Recent years

In an interview given to

Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English language, English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media Limited, an entity controlled by the Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia, the daughter o ...

in November 2007, he cite the rise of

Kumar Sanu Kedarnath Bhattacharya (born 20 October 1957), professionally known as Kumar Sanu, is a leading Indian playback singer who primarily sings in Hindi film songs. He is widely regarded as the Melody King of Bollywood. He holds the record for winn ...

after the release of Aashiqui as the reason for his moving to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, where he gave music lessons and performed live shows to audiences in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

and

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. In 2004 Anwar composed an album called ''Meri Aashiqui Se Pehle'' broadcast on popular ''RKB'' show of Sahara Channel. All the songs in the album were mesmerising so much so that one would sense the magic of Mohammad Rafi and appreciate Anwar's talent. In 2007 he admitted being in construction business. He stated that he was expecting the release of his latest album ''Tohfa''. He is not in good terms with his half brother Arshad Warsi and half sister Asha Sachdeva. He was reported by the

Mumbai Mirror The ''Mumbai Mirror'' is an Indian English-language newspaper published in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Launched in 2005 as a compact daily newspaper, its coverage focused on city specific local news and civic issues concerning education, healthcare an ...

to be living on a very meager income obtained by singing in a night bar. Thanks to a 20 November 2010 interview published in the

, Anwar got a few offers to sing for few TV shows like '' Rishton Ke Bhanwar Mein Uljhi Niyati.''

Notable songs

;Film songs * "Humse Ka Bhool Huyi, Jo Yeh Sajaa Hum Ka Mili" (film: '' Janta Hawaldar'' (1979) ;starring

) * "Teri Aankhon Ki Chahat Mein, To Main Sab Kuch Bhula Doonga" (film: '' Janta Hawaldar'' (1979) ;starring

) * "Ek Akela Man Ka Panchhi" (film: ''

Sardar Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar (, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royal family, royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other Aristocracy (class), aristocrats. It ha ...

'') * "Sohni Meri Sohni ... Rab Se Zyaada Tera Naam Leta Hoon" (with

; film: '' Sohni Mahiwal'', starring Sunny Deol and

Poonam Dhillon Poonam Dhillon (born 18 April 1962) is an Indian actress and politician. A former Eve’s Weekly Miss Young India 1978, she is best known for her 1979 film ''Noorie.'' Some of her well-known films include '' Red Rose'' (1980), '' Dard'' (1981), ...

) * "Yeh Pyar Tha Ya Kuch Aur Tha" (film: ''

Prem Rog ''Prem Rog'' () is a 1982 Hindi-language Musical film, musical Romance film, romantic Drama (film and television), drama directed and produced by Raj Kapoor, with screenplay written by Jainendra K. Jain (screenwriter), Jainendra Jain and Kamna C ...

'' (1982); starring

Rishi Kapoor Rishi Kapoor (4 September 1952 – 30 April 2020) was an Indian actor, film director, and producer who worked in Hindi films. In a career spanning 50 years, he is regarded as one of the most successful and accomplished actors in Hindi cinema. ...

; this particular song he sang with old times singer Sudha Malhotra, and was picturised on Anwar's sister Asha Sachdev.) * "Nazar Se Phool Chunti Hai" (film: '' Ahista Ahista'') * "Yun Zeher Zindagi Ka" (film: ''Salaam e Mohabbat'' (1983), starring Tabrez and

Farida Jalal Farida Jalal (born Farida Sami; 18 May 1950) is an Indian actress who primarily worked in Hindi films. In a film career spanning almost fifty years, Jalal appeared in over 200 films. Best known for her character-driven roles in independent cin ...

) * "Mohabbat Ab Tijarat Ban Gayi Hai" (film: '' Arpan'' (1983); starring

Jeetendra Jeetendra (born Ravi Kapoor ; 7 April 1942) is an Indian actor who is known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Hindi cinema. He is noted for his acting, style and dance. He has worked in more than Je ...

) * "Rab Ne Banaya Mujhe Tere Liye" (with

; film: ''

Heer Ranjha '' Ranjha'' () is a classical Punjabi folk tragedy with many historic poetic narrations; with the first one penned by Damodar Gulati in 1600s, on the preexisting oral legend; and the most famous one, ''Heer'', written by Waris Shah in 17 ...

'' (1992); starring

Anil Kapoor Anil Kapoor (born 24 December 1956) is an Indian actor and producer who works primarily in Hindi cinema, Hindi films, in addition to Indian television and international films. In a career spanning over 40 years as an actor and since 2005 as a ...

) * "Zindagi Imtihan Leti hai" (film: '' Naseeb'' (1981); starring

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...

) * "Haathon Ki Chand Lakeeron Ka" (film: '' Vidhaata'' (1982); starring

Dilip Kumar Dilip Kumar (born Muhammad Yusuf Khan; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021) was an Indian actor and film producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated Hindi cinema from the 1950s throughout t ...

) * "Shair Bana Diya" (film: '' Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan'' (1984); starring

) * "Mere Khayalon Ki Rehguzar Se" (film: '' Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan'' (1984); starring

) * "Aisa Bhi Dekho Waqt" (film: ''Saathi'', starring Aditya Pancholi) ;Other selected hit songs * "Chand Se Phool Talak" (film: '' Jaan-E-Wafa'') * "Yeh Husn Yeh Shabab" (film: '' Shiv Charan'') * "Mausam Mausam lovely Mausam" (film: '' Thodisi Bewafaii'') * "Ek Pal Hasna" (film: '' Bahar Aane Tak'') * "Huzoor Aap Yeh Tohfa" (film: '' Ghar Ka Sukh'' * "Kahan Jateho Ruk Jao" (film: '' Dulha Bikta Hai'') * "O Saathi Re" (film: ''

Cobra COBRA or Cobra, often stylized as CoBrA, was a European avant-garde art group active from 1948 to 1951. The name was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members' home countries' capital cities: Copenhagen (Co), Brussels ...

'') * "Maine Zameen Par Chand" (film: '' Parbat ke Us Paar'') * "Dil Toot Gaya Hai Apna" (film: '' Anokha Insaan'') * "Ruk Jaa Saathi" (film: '' Gehri Chot'' (1983); starring Shashi Kapoor) * "Uthao Jaam Masti Mein" (film: '' Beshak'') * "Kisi Soorat" (film: '' Awara Zindagi'') * "O Jaane Jaana Jaane Bahara" (film: '' Pratigyabadh'') * "Main Tere Paas Hoon" (film: '' Do Dishayen'') * "Lagi Re Mehndi" (film: '' Maqaar'') * "Jab Aaye Aise Pal Kabhi" (film: '' Yudhpath'') * "Yeh Safar Bhi Kitna Suhana Hai" (film: '' Sawaal'') * "Ek Taj Mahal Dil Mein" (film: '' Kasak'') * "Tumhen Jhamgata Aashiqon ka" (film: '' Padosi Ki Biwi'') * "Hum Unki Aarzoo Mein" (film: '' Noor E Illahi'') * "Dil Deewanon Ka Dola" (film: '' Tahalka'') * "Main Faqeer Ishq Mera" (film: '' Ishq Khuda Hai'') * "Aag Hawa Mitti Aur Paani" (film: ''

'') * "Jaa Meri Deeye Ladli" ( Punjabi film: '' Sarpanch'') * "Ek Gal Das Mainu Bottle" (Punjabi film: ''Sarpanch'') * "Koi Pardesi Aaya Pardes Mein" (film: '' Hum Hain Lajawab'') ;Selected classical ghazals * Bahar Aai Hai Bharde * Aap Ka Aitbar Kaun Kare * Tarkh-E-Mohabbat * Tu Hi Apne Hath Se * Phool Si Soorat ;Selected contemporary ghazals * Lab Pe Tere Iqraar E Mohabbat * Yeh Kafas Hi Mujhko Aziz Hai * Jabse Kareeb Hoke Chale * Ghadiyan Ginte Din Beete ;Contemporary ghazal albums * Nagma * Mehboob Mere * Tohfa

References

External links

Official site
*

Keeping his master's voice alive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anwar 1949 births Living people Bollywood playback singers Indian male playback singers Singers from Mumbai