M. Ashraf

Manzoor Ashraf (February 1, 1938 - February 4, 2007) was a Pakistani film composer. He was one of the most famous music directors of Pakistan film industry. He had composed the highest number of film songs compared to any other music director in Pakistan. He composed approximately 2,800 songs in more than 400 films in his 45-year film career from 1956-2007.

Ashraf got music lessons from his 'Nana' ( maternal grandfather who also happened to be a 'Mamu' (uncle) of music director Master Inayat Hussain). He assisted his uncle (Mamu in Urdu language) music director Akhtar Hussain Akhian for five years. He started his film career with a team-mate 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 super- hit film song which gained singer Ahmed Rushdi his first Nigar Award. Thus 2 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). M Ashraf won the Nigar Award for the 'Best Music' in 4 different films- film Gharana (1973), film Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat (1975), film Shabana (1976) and film Qurbani (1981).

Manzoor Ashraf duo or team composed music together in 26 films in the 1960s. After separation from music director 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 films.

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 Yaden in 1971 with a super hit 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 hundreds of film songs) working with 4 major film playback singers of his time, namely with Noor Jehan, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana and Ahmed Rushdi.

• "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 Ahmed Rushdi, lyrics by Shabab Keranvi, film Saperan (1961)
• "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)
• "O' Mera Babu Chhaill Chhabeela Mein Tau Naachoon Gi" Sung by Runa Laila, lyrics by Taslim Fazli, film Munn Ki Jeet (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)
• "Tujhe Pyar Karte Karte Meri Umar Beet Jaaye" Sung by Mehdi Hassan, 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)
• "Jo Dard Mila Apnaun Se Mila", Sung by Mehdi Hassan, lyrics by Taslim Fazli, film Shabana (1976)

• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1207914/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd, film Aina (1966) soundtrack on IMDb website, Retrieved 6 Dec 2015
• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255911/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd, Soundtrack of M Ashraf on IMDb website, Retrieved 27 June 2016
• http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2369ph_mehdi-hasan-jo-dard-mila-apno-say-mila-shabana-1976-waheed-murad-pakistan-classic-song-urdu-song-lol_music, Soundtrack of M ashraf on dailymotion.com website, Retrieved 27 June 2016

M Ashraf died of a cardiac arrest on February 4, 2007 in Karachi, Pakistan at the age of 69.