Saleem Raza (7 July 1932 – 23 November 1983) was a Pakistani playback singer. He started his singing career from Lahore, Pakistan and quickly gained popularity. Saleem Raza was a classically- trained singer and was more famous for singing sad songs. Saleem Raza's career suffered due to the rise of singer Ahmed Rushdi in the late 1950s. He left playback singing in 1966 as he lost his popularity with the film composers and shifted to Canada where he died in 1983.
Career
Saleem Raza was born Noel Dias in a Christian family. After independence of Pakistan in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore. He first sang for Lahore Radio Station. Raza also had made friends with an artist of the time, Mohni Hameed. Saleem Raza and Mohni Hameed were often seen attending events together.
Additionally, Saleem Raza learned music from music composers of those days including Master Sadiq Ali, and Ustaad Aashiq Husain. He was introduced to Pakistani film industry by veteran film music director Ghulam Ahmed Chishti. Saleem Raza’s first lucky break came in director Syed Ata Ullah Hashmi’s 1955 film Naukar (1955 film). He lent his voice to the 'sad' musical composition, Taqdeer kay malik deikh zara kya zulm hai (Duet, Saleem Raza – Kausar Perveen). He also sang as a playback singer in film producer Anwar Kamal Pasha's Qatil in 1955. Although his big breakthrough came with the song Yaaro mujhe muaaf rakho, main nashey mein hoon, in Saifuddin Saif's film Saat Laakh (1957). He went on to sing many other songs in films like Aas Paas (1957), Do Rastey, Haboo, Hamsafar (1960), Seema (1963 film) and many more. His last film was Payal Ki Jhankar (1966).
Career decline
Saleem Raza remained a dominating singer in the late 1950s due to his popularity in singing tragic songs. In 1961, the music director, Khalil Ahmed, recorded a sad song, Kisi chaman main raho tum bahaar bun kay raho, in Raza's voice for film Aanchal (1962) but he was not satisfied with his singing style. Initially, he decided to re-record the same song in Mehdi Hassan's voice but changed his mind because Mehdi Hassan was facing difficulty with high notes as the composition had wide range and variations. Khalil Ahmed finally invited the famous singer Ahmed Rushdi to sing the same song and Rushdi not only satisfied Khalil but also the song was a super hit. Apart from Ahmed Rushdi, Saleem Raza was in direct competition with highly talented singers like Munir Hussain, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Mujeeb Aalam and Bashir Ahmad. Moreover, his voice was best suited on Syed Musa Raza (Santosh Kumar) and his brother Darpan. These 2 actors also lost their popularity in the mid 1960s. These were the basic factors which affected his popularity. Later, with the change in the recording devices, Saleem Raza found it difficult to adjust to the new equipment, resulting in a setback to his career.
Death
Saleem Raza migrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1975, and established a Music school there. For eight years, from 1975 to 1983, Saleem Raza taught music to numerous music students. He also started performing in local South Asian musical concerts. Saleem Raza suffered from Kidney failure, which took his life on 23 November 1983. He was fifty-one years of age.
Urdu and Punjabi musical movies
Here are the names of some Urdu and Punjabi famous films for which Salim Raza sang songs which even today make a large number of fans nostalgic.
Saat laakh (1957), Ishq-e-Laila (1957), Bedari (1957), Daata (1957), Saheli (1960), Rehguzar (1960), Salma (1960), Gulfaam (1961), Saperan (1961), Azra (1962), Mousiqaar (1962), Aanchal (1962), Qaidi (1962), Ik tera sahara (1963), Tauba (1964), Chingari (1964), Payal Ki jhankar (1966), Noor- E- Islam (1957), Chann Mahi (1956), Kartar Singh (1959), Mouj Mela (1963).
Some popular songs
1. Bedard zamanay walon nay kab dard kisi ka jaana hai, film Aas paas (1957), music by Akhtar Hussain Akhhian
2. Shah-e-Madina (saw), Yasrib kay wali, film Noor-e-Islam (1957), lyrics by Naeem Hashmi, music by Hassan Latif Lilak
3. Ae nazneen tujh sa koi haseen ham nay kabhi, film Shama (1959)
4. Zindgi mein ek pal bhi chain aye na, iss jahan main kash koi dil lagaey na, poet Tanvir Naqvi, music director Muslehuddin, film Hamsafar (1960)
5. Bana kay mera nasheman, film Do Rastay (1961)
6. Tujh ko maalum nahin, tujh ko bhala kya maalum, film Aanchal (1962)
7. Jan-e-baharan, rashke-e-chaman, ghuncha dahan, shireen badan, film Azra (1962), music by Master Inayat Hussain
8. Tum jug jug geo maharaj ray, hum teri nagarya main aaey, film Mousiqar (1962)
9. Ae dil kisi ki yaad mein hota hay beqarar kyun, jiss nay bhula dia tujhay us ka hai intezar kyun, film Ik tera sahara (1963), lyrics by Qateel Shifai, music by Master Inayat Hussain
10. Na milta gar yeh tauba ka sahara hum kahan jatay, film Tauba (1964)- A Qawwali song, music by A. Hameed
11. Jo kisi kay qareeb hotay hain, woh baray khush naseeb hotay hain, film Shabnam (1965), music by A. Hameed
12. Ek hamein awara kehna, koi bara ilzam nahin, film Insaan (1966)
13. Husn ko chand jawani ko kanwal kehtay hain, tairee surat nazar aaey to ghazal kehtay hain, Payal Ki Jhankar (1966)
14. Yaro mujhay muaf rakho main nashay main hoon, ab jaam do to khali do main nashay main hoon Saat laakh (1957), music by Rasheed Attre
15. Meray dil ki anjuman main teray ghum say roshni hai, na bhula sakoon ga tujh ko tera pyar zindagi hai
Awards and recognition
Nigar Award Best Singer for film Hamsafar (1960)
Nigar Award Best Singer for film Seema (1963)
Gold Medal Award in 1966 by the Pakistan Arts Council
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https://dailytimes.com.pk/76228/salim-raza-a-melodious-voice/
Side by side, he kept on performing in music concerts. Singer Salim Raza suffered from kidney failure, which took his life on November 25, 1983.
He was 51 years of age. He died young leaving scores of beautiful melodies behind him.
Some of the major films for which Salim Raza lent his voice are mentioned. Before giving the list, I must mention that I often play his duet with singer Zubeda Khanum for ‘Chan Maahi’ in my radio shows on “Melody Makers”. The song was “Sade Ang Ang Vich Pyar Ne Peengan Paiyan Nei” with music by composer Rasheed Attre, picturised on Bahar and actor Aslam Parvez.
Raza’s radio recordings are available in its library including “Kalam-e-Iqbal”. As a specimen, do listen to “Musalman Ke Lahu Main Hai Saliqa Dilnawazi Ka”.
Raza was a Pakistani playback singer. He started his singing career from Lahore film industry and quickly gained popularity. Raza was a classically-trained singer and was more famous for singing sad songs. Raza’s career suffered due to the rise of the singer Ahmed Rushdi in the late 1950s. He left playback singing in 1966 as he lost his popularity with the film composers and shifted to Canada where he died a few years later.
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