![](https://pplstatic.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/people/thumbs/G/ghulam-haider-1.jpg)
Quick Facts
Biography
Ghulam Haider (Urdu: , Sindhi: ماسٽر غلام حيدر) was a well-known music composer who worked both in India and in Pakistan after independence. He changed the face of film songs by combining the popular Raags with the verve and rhythm of Punjabi music, and also raised the status of music directors. He is also known for giving a break to the well-known playback singer, Lata Mangeshkar. In an interview, Lata Mangeshkar herself disclosed on her 84th birthday in 2013, "Ghulam Haider is truly my Godfather. It was his confidence in me that he fought for me to tuck me into the Hindi Film Industry which otherwise had rejected me". Remembering her early rejection, Lata once said, "Ghulam Haider was the first music director who showed complete faith in my talent. He introduced me to many producers including S. Mukerji, a big name in film production, but when he too declined me, Ghulam Haider was very furious. Hence, finally he convinced Bombay Talkies, a banner bigger than S. Mukerji and introduced me through their movie Majboor (1948 film)".
Early life
According to one account, Ghulam Haider was born in 1908 in Narowal, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistani Punjab). After passing his intermediate examination, he was admitted to a college of dentistry and completed his education as dentist. Being curious about music he started learning music from Babu Ganesh Lal. His love for music made him leave his career as a dentist, facing the wrath of his family, he still found a job with Alfred Theatrical Company and Alexander Theatrical Company as a piano player in Calcutta, and worked with Jenaphone (Genophone) Recording Company as a music composer as well. He composed music for the then famous singer, Umrao Zia Begum, who was working for Pancholi Studios, Lahore. He later married her.
Career
Haider broke into films with the father-son duo Roshan Lal Shorey and Roop Kumar Shorey, and then A.R. Kardar gave him the opportunity to compose music for the 1935 film, Swarg Ki Seerhi. But he got his first break with D.M. Pancholi's Punjabi film, Gul-E-Bakavali (1939) starring Noor Jehan. This was followed by film Yamla Jat (1940). His first big hit song came with Khazanchi in 1941, which caused a revolution in the music industry.The music of the film Khazanchi (1941), in particular, the song Sawan Ke Nazare Hain sung by Shamshad Begum and himself caused a revolution in music composing.By then Music Directors of the 1930s, who had composed film songs set in classical ragas, were beginning to sound commonplace.Khazanchi's refreshingly free wheeling music not only took the audiences by storm but also made other film music directors sit up and take notice.With this film, Ghulam Haider ensured that the Indian film song would never be the same again. Khandan (1942), the first film of Noor Jehan as lead actress, was also a big hit and established him as a top film composer. Poonji (1943) was also successful. Then Haider moved to Bombay and composed music for many films including Humayun (1945) and Majboor (1948 film), the first major break for Lata Mangeshkar in Hindi films. Shaheed (1948) and Kaneez (1949 film) are his other big hits.
After independence, he returned to Lahore and his first Pakistani film was Shahida (film) (1949). He composed music for many other Pakistani films like Beqarar (1950), Akeli (1951) and Bheegi Palken (1952) but the films flopped. He died just a few days after the release of film Gulnar (1953).
Filmography
His major films are:
- Gulnar (1953)
- Aabshar (1953)
- Beqarar (1950)
- Do Saudagar (1950)
- Putli (1950)
- Shahida (film) (1949)
- Kaneez (1949 film)
- Majboor (1948)
- Shaheed (1948)
- Shama (1948)
- Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1948)
- Patjhad (1948)
- Jag Beeti (1947)
- Manjhdhar (1947)
- But Tarash (1947)
- Mehndi (1947)
- Jag Beeti (1946)
- Bairam Khan (1946)
- Humayun (1945)
- Phool (1945)
- Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944)
- Bhai (1944)
- Poonji (1943)
- Khandan (1942 film)
- Zamindar (1942)
- Chaudhry 1941
- Khazanchi (1941)
- Yamla Jat (1940)
- Gul-E-Bakawali (1939)
- Majnu (1935)
- Swarg Ki Seerhi (1935)
- Thief of Iraq (1934)
Popular compositions
- Yasrib ko janey waley, mara salaam le ja (singer: Umra-o-Zia Begum)
- Aashiyaane Ko Mere Jab (film: Thief of Iraq 1934)
- Shala jawania maney, aakha na morin, pee lai (singer: Baby Noor Jehan, film: Gul-E-Bakawali 1939)
- Pinjare De Vich Kaid Jawanee Mastanee (singer: Baby Noor Jehan, film: Gul-E-Bakawali 1939)
- Kankan dian pakkian faslaan ne (singer: Noor Jehan, film: Yamla Jat 1940)
- Bas bas we dholna, tere naal ki bolna (singer: Noor Jehan, film: Yamla Jat 1940)
- Sawan ke nazarey hain, ha ha ha (singer: Shamshad Begum, film: Khazanchi 1941)
- Ek Kalee Naazon Ki Palee (film: Khazanchi 1941)
- Tu koun si Badli mein, mere Chand hay aa ja (singer: Noor Jehan, film: Khandan (1942)
- Mere liye jehan mein chain hay na qarar hay (singer: Noor Jehan, film: Khandan (1942)
- Sajan Aa Ja, Rajan Aa Ja (film: Bhai 1944)
- Chamko Chamko Bijaliya, Han Bijaliya (film: Chal Chal Re Naujawan 1944)
- Mujhe Madhur Lagata Hai Unsey (film: Chal Chal Re Naujawan 1944)
- Ai Chand Tu Bata De (film: Humayun 1945)
- Data Toree Daya Se Abb Des Hamara (film: Humayun 1945)
- Ho Chand Chamaka Andhere Me Aaj Hai: (film: Humayun 1945)
- Ashkon Pe Huwa Khatam Mere Gham Kaa Fasana: film: Bairam Khan (1946)
- Gulshan Pe Hai Bahar, Koyal Kee Hai Pukar (film: Jag Beeti (1947)
- Ham Hain Dukhiya Iss Duneeya Me (film: Jag Beeti (1947)
- Aaj Mohe Sajan Ghar Jana (film: Majhdhaar 1947)
- Aa Jao Beedeshi Baalama (film: Padmini (1948)
- Aajaa Bedardi Baalama (film: Shaheed 1948)
- Aana Hai Toh Aa Jao Gar (film: Shaheed 1948)
- Ab JiKe Koyi Kyaa Kare (film: Majboor (1948)
- Watan ki rah mein, watan ke no-jawan shaheed ho (singer: Mohammed Rafi, film: Shaheed 1948)
- Lo, chal diye woh ham ko tasalli diye baghair (singer: Noor Jehan, film: Gulnar 1953)
- Bachapan Ki Yadgaro, Mai Tumko Dhundhatee Huun (film: Gulnar 1953)