Khalil Ahmed (3 March 1936 – 22 July 1997) was a Pakistani
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
for radio, television, and
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
s. He started his career with film ''Aanchal (1962)'' and remained one of the leading music directors in Pakistan in the 1960s.
He composed several memorable songs for Radio Pakistan and
Pakistan Television
Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore.
Background
Historical co ...
in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Early life
Khalil Ahmed was born on 3 March 1936, in Agra, British India. He migrated to Pakistan in 1952.
Career
Film
Khalil Ahmed made his music debut with director ''Al-Hamid's'' film ''Aanchal (1962)'', which was released on 7 December 1962. Starring: Shamim Ara, Darpan, Saba and Talish. The song "kisi chaman mein raho, bahar ban ke raho" (singer Ahmed Rushdi) became a smash hit in Pakistan and established Khalil's name as a film composer. He quickly became one of the stalwarts of
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.
...
.
Khalil Ahmed always had his finger on the pulse of what the listeners wanted to hear on radio, television and in his
films
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
. He composed music for film ''Khamosh Raho (1964)'' and recorded a Nazm in Ahmed Rushdi's voice ''Mein nahi manta'' (lyrics
Habib Jalib
Habib Jalib (24 March 1928 - 12 March 1993; Urdu, Punjabi: ) was a Pakistani revolutionary poet, left-wing activist who opposed martial law, authoritarianism and state oppression. Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz said that he was the poet of ...
) which became famous all over Pakistan.
He also gave hit music of film ''Khilona'' (1967). The songs "Chand se chandni" and "Gul kahoon khushboo kahoon" both recorded in Ahmed Rushdi's voice were very popular. An accomplished composer for television and films, Khalil's many contributions to music had made him a popular Pakistani film music composer. For example:"Uss kay gham ko kya kahayye" (singer:
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 ...
, film ''Guriya'', producer-director: '' Himayat Ali Shair''. This film could not be released. Khalil Ahmed was a specialist in sad compositions and he became one of the top composers of the 1960s after composing the songs of film
Kaneez (1965 film)
''Kaneez'' is a 1965 Pakistani Urdu black-and-white film directed by Hassan Tariq and produced by Hassan Tariq and Ali Sufiyan Afaqi. Its cast had Waheed Murad, Zeba, Mohammad Ali, Sabiha Khanum, Lehri, Saqi, Adeeb and Talish. The film revo ...
. Song "Jab rat dhali tum yaad aye" (singer Mala and Ahmed Rushdi) became a popular song. His last movie, "''Anokha Piyar''", was released in 1994. Khalil Ahmed was one of Pakistan film industry's prominent musicians in the 1960s and 1970s, composing film music in over 40 films.19th death anniversary of famed musician Khalil Ahmed observed The Free Library website, Published 22 July 2016, Retrieved 13 January 2022
Television
In 1978, Khalil began hosting a music program for children, which was telecast from the
Pakistan Television
Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore.
Background
Historical co ...
, Lahore station. It was called "''Hum Kaliyan Hum Taare''" with co- host Nayyara Noor, Tahira Syed and the young Niazi Brothers (known as folk singers Babar and Javed Niazi in 2024). After joining PTV, he composed some memorable songs using voices of most prominent singers of the time; Nayyara Noor, Nahid Akhtar, Farida Khanum, Amanat Ali Khan, Masood Rana, Musarrat Nazir, to name a few. His melody, "''Insha Jee Uthho Ab Kooch Karo''", penned by
Ibn-e-Insha
Sher Muhammad Khan ( ur, ), ( Punjabi, ), better known by his pen name Ibn-e-Insha, ( ur, ), ( Punjabi, ) (15 June 1927 – 11 January 1978)Amanat Ali Khan, became an all-time-classic.
According to the veteran Pakistan Television Corporation producer/director Khawaja Najmul Hassan, "I was doing a program 'Andaz Apna Apna' at the time (in the 1980s). Khalil Ahmed composed the tune and we asked Farida Khanumm to sing it. The song was ''Mein nay pairon main payal tou bandhey nahin''". It was poet Taslim Fazli's last wish that she sing this song.
Popular television songs
Super-hit film songs
Death
Khalil Ahmed died on 22 July 1997, in Lahore, Pakistan at age 61.