M. Ashraf or Muhammad Ashraf (1 February 1942 – 4 February 2007) was a

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

film composer 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 ...

. In the early 1960s, he first started as one member of the music directors duo of ''Manzoor – Ashraf'' in the

Pakistan film industry The film industry of Pakistan, consisting of motion pictures, has had a large effect on Pakistani society and culture since the nation's independence. Pakistani cinema is made up of various sub-industries, including Lollywood, which mak ...

. By the end of his 45 years long career, he had composed more than 2,000 film songs for over 400 films compared to many other music directors in Pakistan.

Early life and career

Muhammad Ashraf was born in

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

inside the

Bhati Gate Bhati Gate (; ) is one of the historic thirteen gates of the Walled City of Lahore in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Bhati Gate also serves as a union council located in the Ravi Zone. The gate is located near Data Darbar and is similar in desig ...

area in 1942. M. Ashraf got music lessons from his 'Nana' ( maternal grandfather who also happened to be a 'Mamu' (uncle) of veteran Pakistani music director

Master Inayat Hussain Master Inayat Hussain (Punjabi language, Punjabi, ; 1916 – 26 March 1993) was a Pakistani film music composer. Early life and career Inayat Hussain was born in the Bhati Gate area of Lahore in 1916. He also lived in the Lohari Gate, Laho ...

(1916 – 26 March 1993). M. Ashraf first assisted his uncle (Mamu in

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

language) music director ''Akhtar Hussain Akhian'' for five years. He belonged to a known family of musicians in Pakistan with Ustad Tafu also being his cousin. He started his film career with a teammate ''Master Manzoor'' with (1959 film ''Savera'' hit song "Tu jo nahin hay tau kuchh bhi nahin hay") sung by playback singer S. B. John. Film ''Saperan'' (1961) was another hit film and the song ''Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan'' was another popular film song which gained singer

Ahmed Rushdi Ahmed Rushdi (; 24 April 1934 – 11 April 1983) was a versatile Pakistani playback singer and was "an important contributor to the Cinema of Pakistan#The Golden Era (1959–1977), golden age of Pakistani film music". Regarded as one of the gr ...

his first

Nigar Award The Nigar Awards () were presented in an annual award show to recognize outstanding achievement in Pakistani cinema, after having been revived in 2017 following a 15-year absence. The honors are awarded by Nigar Magazine founded in 1948. The ...

. This way two-music-directors-team was created that went by the name ''Manzoor – Ashraf''. Both musicians worked with each other from 1956 to 1967 and then ''M. Ashraf'' decided to go solo in 1967 with film ''Sajda (1967)''. ''Manzoor Ashraf'' duo or team had musicians ''Master Manzoor'' and ''Muhammad Ashraf'' in it. Together, they composed music in 26 films in the 1960s. After separation from music director Master Manzoor, his first film as M Ashraf alone was

Sajda ''Sajda'' is a Ghazal album released by His Master's Voice and jointly collaborated by Jagjit Singh and Lata Mangeshkar. This album was released in 1991 shortly after the demise of Jagjit Singh's son Vivek. This album was released as a double albu ...

in 1967. In the 1970s, he reached the peak of his film career and composed music for many big hit films. He continued his successful march in the 1980s despite the downfall of

films and a dominance of

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

films. "M. Ashraf's musical journey ended with ''Tere Bin Jiya Na Jaye'' (2005).

Playback singers introduced by him

Famous folk singer

Shaukat Ali Shaukat Ali, also known as Shaukat Ali Khan, (3 May 1944 – 2 April 2021) was a Pakistani folk singer. Early life and career Born on 3 May 1944, into a family of artists in Malakwal, a town in District Gujrat (now falls in new District Mand ...

was introduced in film director Haidar Chodhary's inaugural super-hit musical film ''Tees Mar Khan'' in 1963.

Naheed Akhtar Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born 26 September 1956) is a Pakistani playback singer. She is tagged as the "''Nightingale of Pakistan''". She was the top Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She i ...

was introduced by him in film ''Nanha Farisha'' in 1974 with the song: "Janey kyun dil tarapta rehta hay, Aao jee addi tappa gaen".

Nayyara Noor Nayyara Noor (, ; 3 November 1950 – 20 August 2022) was a Pakistani playback singer, considered one of Pakistan's most popular singers. She was known for performing in live ghazal singing concerts in Pakistani TV shows and in concert halls ar ...

actually had her first appearance in Punjabi film

Ziddi (1973 film) ''Ziddi'' (1973) is a Pakistani () Punjabi language film released on January 16, 1973. The cast included Yousuf Khan, Nabeela and Firdous. It is considered a hit movie of 1973 that won 6 Nigar Awards. Cast * Yousuf Khan * Firdous * Ejaz *Z ...

but her first super-hit song was composed by M. Ashraf. ''Rajab Ali'' appeared in his film ''Yadein'' in 1971 with a popular duet song with

Noor Jehan Noor Jehan (21 September 192623 December 2000) was a Pakistani playback singer and actress who worked in both British India and later in Pakistan's cinema of Pakistan, cinema. Her career lasted over six decades, during which she recorded 10,00 ...

Asad Amanat Ali Khan Asad Amanat Ali Khan (; ; 25 September 1955 – 8 April 2007) was a Pakistani classical vocalist and ''ghazal'' singer belonging to the Patiala Gharana tradition of music. In a career spanning 32 years, Khan sang over 1,000 songs for Pakista ...

was introduced into the

Pakistani film industry The film industry of Pakistan, consisting of motion pictures, has had a large effect on Pakistani society and culture since the nation's independence. Pakistani cinema is made up of various sub-industries, including Lollywood, which mak ...

by M. Ashraf in film ''Saheli'' (1978). M Ashraf set new records in Pakistan (recorded thousands of film songs) working mainly with 5 major film playback singers of his time, namely with

Mehdi Hassan Mehdi Hassan Khan (; 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012), known as Mehdi Hassan, was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer of great renown. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of ghazal singing, ...

Masood Rana Masood Rana (), (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 Urdu and Punjabi films for more than three decade ...

, and

while also introducing new talent such as Ghulam Abbas, A. Nayyar, Alamgir,

Mohammed Ali Shehki Mohammed Ali Shehki (born 9 July 1957) is a Persian Pakistani pop singer. Shehki entered the music scene in the 1970s with his originally composed and written songs, with a touch of Persian music. He later earned a name for himself in Pakistani p ...

, Rajab Ali, Anwar Rafi and many other upcoming new artists of that era to the broader audience of movies and pop radio airplays.

Some of his popular songs

* "Tu Jo Nahin Hai, Tau Kuchh Bhi Nahin Hai" Sung by S. B. John, lyrics by

Fayyaz Hashmi Fayyaz Hashmi (; 1920 2011) was a Pakistani poet and screenwriter who worked both in the Indian and Pakistani film industry. He penned some memorable songs such as the famous nazm Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo and ''Tasveer teri dil mera behel ...

, film ''Savera (1959)'' * "Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan, Jal Mein Lagaey Meethi Aggan" Sung by

, lyrics by

Shabab Kiranwi Shabab Kairanwi (born Nazir Ahmed; 1926 5 November 1982) was a Pakistani film director, producer, and occasional screenwriter, lyricist and a novelist. He debuted in the Pakistani film industry as a producer and lyricist with ''Jalwa'' (1955) ...

, film ''Saperan (1961)''
Playback singer Ahmed Rushdi won his first

for this film song * "Gole Gappay Wala Aaya, Gole Gappay Laaya" Sung by

, lyrics by ''Hazeen Qadri'', film ''Mehtab (1962)'' * "Tum Hi Ho Mahboob Meray, Mein Kyuun Na Tumhein Pyaar Karoon" Sung by

, lyrics by

Khawaja Pervez Khawaja Pervez (; 28 December 1930 – 20 June 2011) was a prominent Pakistani film composer- lyricist and film songwriter for both Urdu and Punjabi language, Punjabi language films. His birth name was Khawaja Ghulam Mohiuddin. His professional ...

, film ''Aina (1966)'' * "Saamne Aake Tujh Ko Pukara Nahin, Teri Ruswai Mujhko Gawara Nahin" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by

, film ''Dard'' (1968) * ''Jab Koi Pyaar Se Bulaeye Ga, Tum Ko Eik Shaksh Yaad Aaye Ga'' Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, film ''Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai'' (1969) * "O' Mera Babu Chhaill Chhabeela Mein Tau Naachoon Gi" Sung by

Runa Laila Runa Laila (born 17 November 1952) is a Bangladeshi playback singer and composer. She started her career in the Pakistani film industry in the late 1960s. Her style of singing is inspired by Pakistani playback singer Ahmed Rushdi and also f ...

, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film ''Munn Ki Jeet (1972)'' * "Do Pattar Anaran De" Sung by

, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, film ''Do Pattar Anaran De'' (1972) * "Tera Saaya Jahan Bhi Ho Sajana Palkain Bichhaoon" Sung by

, lyrics by

Kaleem Usmani Kaleem Usmani (born Ehtisham Ilahi; 28 February 1928 28 August 2000) was a Pakistani Urdu poet who wrote ghazals, naats, patriotic songs and more than one hundred songs for thirty-seven Urdu films. He earned recognition as a lyricist by winn ...

, film ''Gharana (1973)'' * "Hamaray Dil Se Mat Khailo Khilona Toot Jaaye Ga" Sung by

, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film ''

Daman Aur Chingari ''Daman Aur Chingari'' is a 1973 Pakistani Urdu romantic drama film directed by Shabab Kiranvi. The film included a heavy superstar cast including Zeba, Muhammad Ali, and Nadeem to depict a triangle love story. Other notable actors were Al ...

'' (1973) * "Meray Shauq Da Nahin Aetbar Teinun" Sung by Ghulam Ali, lyrics by

Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum (, ), (4 August 1899 – 7 February 1978) was a 20th-century poet. His pen name was Tabassum (). He is best known for his many poems written for children, as the creator of the ''Tot Batot'' character, and as the ...

, film ''Eik Thi Larki'' (1973) * "Tujhe Pyar Karte Karte Meri Umar Beet Jaaye" Sung by

, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film

Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat ''Mere Naam Hai Mohabaat'' () is a 1975 Pakistani romantic drama film. The film's story is inspired by ''Love Story'' (1970), which in turn was based on the novel of the same name by Eric Segal. It won the Nigar Award in 1975 for Best Film of ...

(1975) * "Iss Parcham Kay Saaey Talay Hum Eik Hain" Sung by

, lyrics by

, film ''Farz Aur Mamta'' (1975) * "Socha Tha Mein Ne Dil Nahin Doon Gi, Hai Rabba O' Dil Dena Paya" Sung by

Nahid Akhtar Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born 26 September 1956) is a Pakistani playback singer. She is tagged as the "''Nightingale of Pakistan''". She was the top Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She is ...

, lyrics by Taslim Fazli, film ''Anari'' (1975) *"Be Iman Chahoon Tujhe Subah O Shaam" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by

Masroor Anwar Masroor Anwar (6 January 1944 – 1 April 1996) was a ghazal poet, film song lyricist and a film screenwriter. He wrote the lyrics for 'Ko Ko Korina', South Asia's first pop song, and working alongside Sohail Rana, film director Pervez Mal ...

, film ''Jab Jab Phool Khilay'' (1975) * "Kitne din ke baad mile ho" sung by Ghulam Bass, film ''Apnay Huey Paraey'' (1976). * "Babul Tau Duaen Deta Hai" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by Taslim Fazli, film ''Baraat'' (1978) *"Jo Dard Mila Apnaun Se Mila", Sung by

, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film Shabana (1976) * "Mera Laung Gawacha" Sung by

Musarrat Nazir Musarrat Nazir Khawaja (; born 13 October 1940) is a Pakistani singer and film actress, who acted in many Urdu and Punjabi language, Punjabi films. She is also known as ''The Silver Screen's Sparkling Star'' and is recognized for her role in Ci ...

, lyrics by

, film ''Allah Rakha'' (1987) *"Dopatta Mera Lal rang Da" (a

bhangra Bhangra may refer to: * Bhangra (music), a genre of Punjabi music * Bhangra (dance), a folk dance of Punjab region * ''Bhangra'' (film), a 1959 Indian Punjabi-language film See also * Bhangara, Nepal Bhangara, Nepal is a village development c ...

song), Sung by

Humaira Channa Humaira Channa, also known as Humera Channa (born on 22 Jun 1966 at Hyderabad), is a 6 Nigar Award winning film playback singer from Pakistan. She has won 3rd most Nigar Awards in history, ranked only after Noor Jehan and Mehnaz. Early life ...

and

Shazia Manzoor Shazia Manzoor ( Punjabi, ) is a Pakistani playback and folk singer. She is known for her song, "''Chann Meray Makhna''". Early life and career Shazia Manzoor was born in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. She first started singing by performing a ...

, lyrics by Saeed Gillani, film ''Munda Bigra Jaye'' (1995)

Awards and recognition

*Won 6

for 'Best Music' in 6 different films - film Gharana (1973), film

(1975), film Shabana (1976), film Qurbani (1981), Punjabi-language films ''Dhee Rani'' (1985) and Qismet (1986). *M. Ashraf also won 14 ''Graduate Awards'' of the

Death and legacy

M. Ashraf died of a cardiac arrest on 4 February 2007 in

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

at the age of 65. "He had the distinction of working with film directors such as S. Suleman, Nazrul Islam, M. Javed Fazil,

Pervez Malik Pervez Malik (1937 – 18 November 2008) was a Pakistani film director. He was the director of Pakistan's first platinum jubilee film, " Armaan" (1966). He directed more than 20 films, mostly in Urdu language, and received excellent review ...

Shamim Ara Shamim Ara (, 22 March 1938 – 5 August 2016) was a Pakistani film actress, director, and producer. She was known as ''The Tragic Beauty'' because of the tragic heroine roles she often portrayed in films. She was one of the most popular actr ...

, Iqbal Akhtar, Jan Mohammad and Hasan Askari. And banking on his music, they all tasted success." Even during M. Ashraf's lifetime and after his death, his son, ''M. Arshad'' has "emerged as a formidable musician" with hit films to his credit such as

Bulandi (1990 film) ''Bulandi'' () is a 1990 Pakistani Urdu feature film, directed by Javed Fazil. Its producer is Aslam Butt, a Lollywood film starring Nadeem, Samina Peerzada, Reema Khan, Shaan. Introducing new actors Reema and Shaan in this film. Plot Th ...

Jeeva (1995 film) ''Jeeva'' (Urdu: ) is a 1995 Urdu Pakistani film directed by Syed Noor. The film introduced Babar Ali and Resham into Lollywood. Nadeem played the title role alongside Resham and Babar Ali. Playback singer Anwar Rafi is in this film. Folk s ...

, Dopatta Jal Raha Hai (1998 film),

Jungle Queen (2000 film) ''Jungle Queen'' is a 2000 Pakistani film directed by Syed Noor and written by his then-wife, Rukhsana Noor. The film stars Saima (aka Saima Noor after marrying director Syed Noor in 2005) as the title character. Actress Saima plays a double r ...

Salakhain Salakhain () is a Pakistani Lollywood film which was released in 2004. Stars included Ahmed Butt, Zara Sheikh and Meera (Pakistani actress), Meera. The music was composed by M Arshad. Sajid Hassan and Saud (actor), Saud were cast as villains w ...

(2004 film). His two other sons are Nadeem Ashraf and Salman Ashraf.

References

External links

Filmography of M. Ashraf on IMDb website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashraf, M 1942 births 2007 deaths Pakistani film score composers Nigar Award winners Pakistani composers Pakistani musicians