Remembering singer Mohammed Farooqui 1915-90

http://films.hindi-movies-songs.com/farooqui.htmlBrief biographyLate Mr. Mohammed Farooqui was born on 17th August 1915 in the city of Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan in a religious family of mohalla peerzadgan. He got his basic education in the city under the guidance of his father Haji Muniruddin. During his childhood he displayed talent in singing.
In his youth Farooqui Sahib actively participated the music; he had been always attracted to the world of music. During his schooling he performed as a singer in varied stage programmes in Rajasthan. However, his religious Haji father was against such activities. When Mohammed Farooqui completed his education, his father had visions of his son becoming a teacher, but his destination was a film studio. 
At last in 1945 Farooqui Sahib came to Bombay to try his luck in the Hindi Film industry as a singer with a reference letter for the famous music director Khemchand Prakash. The only person who knew him in Bombay was Mr. Azad Farooqui, with whom Farooqui Sahib stayed for some time in old Khar. After he had struggled for a year, Khemchand Prakash asked Mr. Farooqui to see him at his house. When Farooqui Sahib went there, the legendary singer K L Saigal was also present. Khemchand Prakash introduced him to Saigal who asked Mr. Farooqui to sing a song. He sang the famous lori by Saigal, 'soja raj kumari soja'. After hearing this Saigal Sahib was very impressed and remarked, ''There is something new in his voice''. This was enough for Mr. Farooqui to get a contract with Ranjeet Movietone on a monthly salary. 

After some time he got his first film as a co-singer, but Farooqui Sahib met with real success in 1947. It was a golden year for his music career. In this year his films 'Chheen le azadi', 'Duniyan ek sarai', 'Lakhon mein ek' and 'Pehli pehchan' were released. All of his songs were well-received. In particular, the song 'kamzoron ki naheen hai duniyan' from the film 'Chheen le azadi' was popular with the freedom fighters who soon achieved the goal of an independent nation. Another song which endeared Farooqui Sahib to both the intellectuals and working class was 'ek musafir aye baba ek musafir jaye' from the film 'duniyan ek sarai'. In 1948 bhajans of the film 'Jai hanuman' and 'is khak ke putle ko' from the film 'Mitti ke khilone', were appreciated by the public. His last two films 'Bhool bhulaiyan 1949' and 'Alakh niranjan 1950' were also popular. Mr. Farooqui was among one of the singers who became successful without any formal musical training from a guru.
It was the end of the 1950. Farooqui's father became seriously ill and sent a message to him to come home immediately. After all his successful films, Farooqui Sahib had to leave Bombay and thereafter never went back to sing another song. 
Rest of his life was spent as a mission to help the poor section of the society with the light of education. 
On 8th February 1990 Mohammed Farooqui left for heavenly abode at the age of 75 years, leaving behind family and friends to grieve for the loss of a talented personalty.
After his passing away one of his friends paid tributes like this, 
Khabar kya thee mohammed aap hamein tanha chhorh jayenge, Dil-e-rahber ko ghamgeen aur purnam banayenge, Ab na subaha ayegee is shaam ke baad, Bas hum to sirf aapke geet gungunayenge
The name of Mohammed Farooqui will figure on the list of many underappreciated talents for their contribution to Hindi cinema.
Here is a photo of his residence

Here is a photo of one of his most popular records.
FilmographyChheen le azadi (1947) Duniyan ek sarai (1947) Lakhon mein ek (1947) Pehli pehchan (1947) Piya ghar aja (1947) Acting onlyNeel kamal (1947) Acting only Bichhde balam (1948) Jai hanuman (1948) Mitti ke khilone (1948) Pardesi mehman (1948) Bhool bhulaiyan (1949) Alakh niranjan (1950) 
List of songs (Left click on the blue link to listen, right click to save)1.  Chheen Le Aazadi (1947)~Kamzoron Ki Naheen (1 & 2)~Pt. Inder~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & M. Hussain Kamzoron_Ki_Lacharon_Ki_(Fast)1a.                                            Kamzoron Ki Naheen (Slow)2.  Duniya Ek Sarai (1947)~Ek Musaafir Aaye Baba~Kedar Sharma~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui Ek Musafir Aye3.  Duniya Ek Sarai (1947)~O Aai Baisakhi~Kedar Sharma~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & Saathi O Ayi Baisakhi4.  Lakhon Mein Ek (1947)~Jeewan Hai Anmol~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani & Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & Hamida Bano jiivana-hai-anamola-panchhii
5.  Pehli Pehchaan (1947)~Sahara Besaharon Ka~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani & Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & Saathi Sahara_Besaharon_Ka_Tum_Ho6.  Pehli Pehchaan (1947)~Unhen Hum Dhoond Nikaalenge~Pt. Inder~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui, AR Ojha, Mantri & Saathi
                                            Unhen Hum Dhoondh7.  Bichhde Balam (1948)~Suhagan Kaahe Ko Too~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani~Mohd. Farooqui Suhagan_Kahe_Ko_Tu_Aansoo_Bahaye
8.  Bichhde Balam (1948)~Haseenon Ko Dil Mein~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani~Mohd. Farooqui, AR Ojha & Meena Kumari
                                            Haseenon Ko Dil9.  Jai Hanuman (1948)~Kahaan Site Kit Dhoondoon~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani~Mohd. Farooqui Kit Dhoondhoon 10. Jai Hanuman (1948)~Ab Ram Rajya Ki~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani~Mohd. Farooqui Ab_Raam_Rajya_Ki_Aage_Suni_Kahani11. Mitti Ke Khilaune (1948)~Iss Khaak Ke Putle Ko~BR Sharmar~Bulo C. Rani & Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui Is Khaq ke Putle12. Pardesi Mehman (1948)~Ajab Hindustan Take Ser Bhaaji~pT. Inder~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui Ajab_Hindustan_Ajab_Hindustan13. Pardesi Mehman (1948)~Nigaahon Se TukRe Na Dil Keejiye Gaa~Indra~Hansraj Behal~ Faruki, A R Ojha and Saroj Gharapade Nigahon Se Tukde14. Bhool Bhulaiyan (1949)~Chaahe Dil Ki Khidki~BR Sharmar~Bulo C. Rani~Mohd. Farooqui Chahe Dil Ki15. Alakh Niranjan (1950)~Alakh Niranjan Jai Sat Guru~Manohar Khanna~Premnath~Mohd. Farooqui Alakh_Niranjan_Alakh_NiranjanAll of the above info and photos have been supplied by his son, Tasleem (email: tasleem.farooqui@yahoo.com)