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

Playback singers introduced by him

Famous folk singer Shaukat Ali was introduced in film director Haidar Chodhary's inaugural super-hit musical film ''Tees Mar Khan'' in 1963. Naheed Akhtar 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 actually had her first appearance in Punjabi film Ziddi (1973 film) 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. Asad Amanat Ali Khan was introduced into the Pakistani film industry 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 Noor Jehan, Mehdi Hassan, Naheed Akhtar, Masood Rana, and

while also introducing new talent such as Ghulam Abbas, A. Nayyar, Alamgir (pop singer), Alamgir, Mohammed Ali Shehki, 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, film ''Savera (1959)'' * "Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan, Jal Mein Lagaey Meethi Aggan" Sung by

, lyrics by Shabab Kiranwi, film ''Saperan (1961)''
Playback singer Ahmed Rushdi won his first Nigar Award 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 Masood Rana, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, film ''Aina (1966)'' * "Saamne Aake Tujh Ko Pukara Nahin, Teri Ruswai Mujhko Gawara Nahin" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, 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, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film ''Munn Ki Jeet (1972)'' * "Do Pattar Anaran De" Sung by Noor Jehan, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, film ''Do Pattar Anaran De'' (1972) * "Tera Saaya Jahan Bhi Ho Sajana Palkain Bichhaoon" Sung by Nayyara Noor, lyrics by Kaleem Usmani, film ''Gharana (1973)'' * "Hamaray Dil Se Mat Khailo Khilona Toot Jaaye Ga" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film ''Daman Aur Chingari'' (1973) * "Meray Shauq Da Nahin Aetbar Teinun" Sung by Ghulam Ali (singer), Ghulam Ali, lyrics by Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, film ''Eik Thi Larki'' (1973) * "Tujhe Pyar Karte Karte Meri Umar Beet Jaaye" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat (1975 film), Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat (1975) * "Iss Parcham Kay Saaey Talay Hum Eik Hain" Sung by Nayyara Noor, lyrics by Kaleem Usmani, film ''Farz Aur Mamta'' (1975) * "Socha Tha Mein Ne Dil Nahin Doon Gi, Hai Rabba O' Dil Dena Paya" Sung by Nahid Akhtar, lyrics by Taslim Fazli, film ''Anari'' (1975) *"Be Iman Chahoon Tujhe Subah O Shaam" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by Masroor Anwar, 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 Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film Shabana (film), Shabana (1976) * "Mera Laung Gawacha" Sung by Musarrat Nazir, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, film ''Allah Rakha'' (1987) *"Dopatta Mera Lal rang Da" (a bhangra (music), bhangra song), Sung by Humaira Channa and Shazia Manzoor, lyrics by Saeed Gillani, film ''Munda Bigra Jaye'' (1995)

Awards and recognition

*Won 6 Nigar Award for 'Best Music' in 6 different films - film Gharana (1973), film Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat (1975 film), Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat (1975), film Shabana (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, Pakistan 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, Shamim Ara, 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), Jeeva (1995 film), Dopatta Jal Raha Hai (1998 film), Jungle Queen (2000 film), Salakhain (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