M. Ashraf or Muhammad Ashraf (1 February 1942 – 4 February 2007) was a Pakistani film composer. In the early 1960s, he first started as one member of the ''music directors duo'' of ''Manzoor - Ashraf'' in the Pakistan film industry. 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.Profile of M Ashraf on Pakistan Film Magazine website
Retrieved 6 June 2021

Early life and career

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 (1916 – 26 March 1993). M. Ashraf first assisted his uncle (Mamu in Urdu language) music director ''Akhtar Hussain Akhian'' for five years. 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 Sunny Benjamin John ( ur, ; 1934 – June 5, 2021), popularly known as S. B. John ( ur, ), was a singer from Karachi, Pakistan. Personal life He was educated at St Paul's English High School, Karachi. He was married in 1957. He has four sons a ...

. Film ''Saperan'' (1961) was another hit film and the song ''Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan'' was another super-hit film song which gained singer Ahmed Rushdi 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)''.Eminent music director M Ashraf remembered on his 13th death anniversary
Daily Times (newspaper), Published 5 February 2020, Retrieved 6 June 2021 ''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 Urdu 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 * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

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 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 Mehdi Hassan Khan ( ur, مہدی حسن خاں , translit=) 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012) was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer for Lollywood. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of gh ...

, Naheed Akhtar, Masood Rana, and Ahmed Rushdi while also introducing new talent such as Ghulam Abbas,

A. Nayyar Arthur Nayyar (14 April 1950 – 11 November 2016), commonly known as A. Nayyar, was a Pakistani film playback singer. He started his career in 1974 with a duet song. Nayyar always claimed famous singer Ahmed Rushdi as an important contributor t ...

, 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 hit songs

* "Tu Jo Nahin Hai,Tau Kuchh Bhi Nahin Hai" Sung by

, lyrics by Fayyaz Hashmi, film ''Savera (1959)'' * "Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan, Jal Mein Lagaey Meethi Aggan" Sung by Ahmed Rushdi, lyrics by Shabab Kiranwi, film ''Saperan (1961)''Filmography of M. Ashraf on Pakistan Film Magazine website
Retrieved 22 December 2021 * "Gole Gappay Wala Aaya, Gole Gappay Laaya" Sung by Ahmed Rushdi, 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) * "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

, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', film ''Daman Aur Chingari'' (1973) * "Meray Shauq Da Nahin Aetbar Teinun" Sung by Ghulam Ali, lyrics by Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, film ''Eik Thi Larki'' (1973) * "Tujhe Pyar Karte Karte Meri Umar Beet Jaaye" Sung by

, lyrics by ''Taslim Fazli'', 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 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 ...

, 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, lyrics by Khawaja Pervez, film ''Allah Rakha'' (1987) *"Dopatta Mera Lal rang Da" (a 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 Shabana (1976), film Qurbani (1981), Punjabi-language films ''Dhee Rani'' (1985) and Qismet (1986). *M. Ashraf also won 14 ''Graduate Awards'' of the Pakistan film industry.

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 Pervez Malik (1937 in Karachi – 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 e ...

, 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) ''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 (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