Naheed Niazi (born 26 February 1941) is a former Pakistani
playback singer
A playback singer, also known as a ghost singer, is a singer whose singing is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras; the actual singer does not app ...
who performed in the
Lollywood
Lollywood ( ur, , translit=lâli vuḍ) refers to Pakistan's film industry based in Lahore, previously the base for both Punjabi and Urdu language film production.
Lahore has been the center of Pakistani cinema since the partition of ...
movies during the era of 1960s. She is married to musician Muslehuddin; her sister is the singer Najma Niazi. She is known for her playback songs, "Chali Re Chali Re Main To Des Piya Ke Chali Re", "Raat Saloni Ayi", and others.
Life and career
Naheed was born as Shahida Niazi on 26 February 1941. Her father Sajjad Sarwar Khan Niazi was a poet and musician, and was also a director at Radio Pakistan. He was also an uncle of the former cricketer and politician
Imran Khan
Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi ( ur}; born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former Cricket captain who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to until April 2022, when he was ousted through a no-confidenc ...
.
Naheed started her career in 1957 by singing a song for the movie ''Laila Majnu'' under the music direction of
Rashid Attre
Abdul Rasheed Attra (15 February 1919 – 18 December 1967), also known as Rasheed Attre, was a Pakistani film score composer.St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi
St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi is a Private school, private Catholic school, Catholic primary and secondary school for girls located in Saddar Town, Karachi, Pakistan.
History
In 1861, Monsignor Steins, Vicar Apostolic of Bombay passing thr ...
. Though the first song she recorded was "Mil Gaya Dil Ko Qarar" in ''Ayaz'' (1960) for
Khawaja Khurshid Anwar
Khwaja Khurshid Anwar (21 March 1912 − 30 October 1984) was a Pakistani filmmaker, writer, director and music composer who earned recognition in both India and Pakistan. He is credited as being one of the most original and inventive music di ...
though the film released later. One of her earlier songs was "Jaag Taqdeer Ko Jaga Loon Gee" was composed by Muslehuddin for the film ''Aadmi'' (1958). She became well-known in both entertainment and mainstream music because of that song. Then Nahid's rendition of her father Sajjad Sarwar Niazi's poem "Ik Baar Phir Kaho Zara" was also much appreciated. In 1961, she became a well-known playback singer because by vocalizing a duet with
, "Raat Saloni Aaye", again composed by Muslehuddin for the movie, ''Zamana Kia Kahe Ga''.
In 1962, the Urdu film ''Daal Mein Kala'' included a Naheed's song "Samajh Na Aaye Dilko Kahan Lay Jaa Oon Sanam" (Musician: Muslehuddin).
She sang another duet with Ahmed Rushdi, "Raat Ho Gaye Jawan" for the movie ''Dil Nay Tujhay Maan Liya''. The song "Husn Bhi Mauj Mein Hai" for the movie ''Mujhay Jeenay Do'' (1968) was recorded in the voice of Naheed and is one of her notable melodies.
When the song "Chum, Chum, Chum, Milay Hain Sanam, Lut Gaye Hum, Allah Qasam" was first played on Radio Pakistan, Naheed touched peak of her singing career. Later, she recorded several songs during the short time she was a singer. Aside from Moslehuddin, Naheed rendered her voice for nearly all the notable composers of
Lollywood
Lollywood ( ur, , translit=lâli vuḍ) refers to Pakistan's film industry based in Lahore, previously the base for both Punjabi and Urdu language film production.
Lahore has been the center of Pakistani cinema since the partition of ...
Robin Ghosh
Robin Ghosh ( bn, রবিন ঘোষ, ur, ; 13 September 1939 – 13 February 2016) was a Pakistani-Bangladeshi playback singer and film music composer, best known for singing and composing music for Lollywood films from 1961 to 1986. Pla ...
,
Sohail Rana
Sohail Rana (born 31 March 1938) is a Pakistani music composer for films and television. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi sang his compositions in such films as A ...
, and Saleem-Iqbal.
Personal life
Naheed married the music director Muslehuddin in January 1964, who had composed most of her songs. The couple left Pakistan for the UK after 1971.
Television
Both Naheed Niazi and her husband Muslehuddin hosted a television musical show for children on PTV in the late 1960s.
Songography
Naheed sang more than 300 songs in Urdu, Punjabi, and Bengali languages, including both film and non-film tracks:
* "Mohe Piya Milan Ko Jaane De" — Movie: '' Zehr-e-Ishq'' (1958), Music: Khwaja Khurshid Anwar
* "Chali Ray, Chali Ray, Chali Ray," picturized on Musarrat Nazir.
* "Sayyan Jee Ko Dhoond Nay Chali Jogun Bun Kay", picturized on
Neelo
Neelo Begum (born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes; ''née'' Abida Riaz; 30 June 1941 – 30 January 2021) was a Pakistani veteran film actress. She made her film debut in 1956 with Hollywood film ''Bhowani Junction''. She was known as ''The Qu ...
, music by Safdar Hussain, film '' Nagin'' (1959)
* "Mohay Piya Milan Ko Janay Day", picturized on Musarrat Nazir.
* "Kaisa Safar Hai Kahiye, Yoon He Qareeb Rahiye" (duet: Naheed Niazi-
).
* "Tujh Ko Maloom Naheen"
* "Na Koi Sayyan Mera, Na Koi Piya Ray"
* "Aa Tujh Ko Suna Oon Lori, Halaat Say Chori Chori".
* "Zamana Pyar Ka Itna He Kum Hai, Ye Na Jana Tha"
* "Akasher Oi Mitimiti Tarar Sathe"
* "Raqs Mein Hai Sara Jahan"