Sohail Rana: Maestro with the Midas touch

Sohail Rana: Maestro with the Midas touch
By Anis Shakur

Many of the great works of sublime beauty are the precious fruits of man’s mental agony, and we would be poor, indeed, if the willingness of man to suffer should disappear.

The above aphorism holds true to music great, Sohail Rana.

Mein bhee Pakistan hoon tu bhee Pakistan hai
Tu to meri jaan hai tu to meri Aan hai
Tu mera Emaan hai

Sohail Rana, who is the son of renowned Urdu poet, Rana Akbar Abadi, was born in his native city, Agra, Uttar Pardesh, India, to a highly literary, academic and respectable family.

They all migrated to Pakistan after partition. Years passed by and Sohail Rana successfully completed his primary and secondary school education in Hyderabad, Sind, Pakistan.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the university of Karachi through D.J. Science College initially. Later he received his final B.A. degree from National College, Karachi. Sohail Rana met Waheed Murad for the first time at a get together at Waheed Murad’s party in Karachi.

In due course of time, Sohail Rana and Waheed Murad became very close friends, because of their several common interests such as music, films and literature. Incidentally, Sohail Rana took admission in the University of Karachi for Masters degree in English literature when Waheed Murad was attending the convocation that year. Thus started a durable friendship between them, which lasted up until Veedu’s death on Wednesday, November 23, 1984.

Sohail Rana demonstrated an unusual aptitude for music as a teenager. He learned music from various ustads and familiarized himself with numerous musical instruments, which added to his experience.

The film ‘Insaan badalta hai’ was the production debut of Waheed Murad. Theatrical release was on May 5, 1961, starring, Darpan, Shamim Ara and Lehri.

The film ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’ was Waheed Murad’s second film as a producer and the musical debut of promising Sohail Rana. Theatrical release was on March 29, 1963, Cast included Darpan, Zeba, Lehri and Agha Jan.

Huge audiences were drawn to the two highly popular numbers of ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’:

‘Ye khushi ajab khushi hai’ (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain, dil ka ajab Aalam hai’ (singer: Saleem Raza)

Movie zealots agree that ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’ proved to be a stepping-stone in the fabulous movie career of talented Sohail Rana.

Readers, let us draw near and listen to his gift:

‘Ko-Ko-Korina,’ ‘Bay taab ho udhar tum’, ‘Jab pyar mein do dil miltay hain’, ‘Oont pay baitha mera munna’, ‘Meri Qismet bata, hai meri kya kheta.’

Sohail Rana composed the super hit songs for the golden jubilee film, ‘Heera Aur pathar.’ Theatrical release was on December 11, 1964. The film completed 68 houseful weeks. That is part of what sets the quality so far above its competition. Its music is so innately appealing, so fresh-spirited, that one has to admit that the standards were set for a much grander scale.

‘Heera Aur pathar’ became a musical phenomenon, and Sohail Rana became a necessity in the burgeoning music industry.

Moreover, he accepted every new challenge, which required a concerted effort and always came out with the appropriate stuff, what people wanted to hear.

By the mid-1960s, Sohail Rana had become such a success, where he was able to fathom the depths of emotions through his musical masterpieces.

At the end of every accomplishment, he raised his levels of aspiration and expectation. One could discern that every piece of music was torn straight from his soul.

Sohail Rana earned plaudits from his fans for the superb composition of ‘Mujhay tum say mohabbat hai’ (Film ‘Heera Aur pathar’, duet, Ahmed Rushdi – Najma Niazi), which figuratively added fresh elements to his stew.

The tragic score, ‘Ja ja ray chanda ja ray’ was recorded in Mala’s voice and the song was composed by the great Sohail Rana, for ‘Heera Aur Pathar.’

Pakistan’s first platinum jubilee film, ‘Armaan’ was released on March 18, 1966, which may be the finest and most gripping movie to date. It is an epic tale of broken hearts and broken dreams.

Sohail Rana’s excellent composition for the songs of ‘Armaan’ is, indeed, his greatest achievement as a music composer, which will stand as a musical high point as long as the Pakistani film industry exists.

A savant said years ago that, ‘Lyrics may come from ones mind. But music comes from the heart.’
There might not be a better example of the above statement than the evergreen song, ‘Akele na jana,’ superbly composed by Sohail Rana. In fact, marvelous Mala mesmerized millions through her greatest singing achievement, when ‘Akele na jana’ was recorded in her magnificent voice.

Most definitely, Sohail Rana’s music compositions in general and ‘Akele na jana’, with sixty five musicians then, the biggest orchestra ever, in Mala’s voice, in particular, came from the innermost recesses of his heart.

Further, Sohail Rana won the prestigious Nigar and graduate Awards for the best composer for the film ‘Armaan.’

Furthermore, movies like ‘Heera Aur pathar’ and ‘Armaan’ also show that the best of the human soul has not yet died.

According to the proponents of music, Sohail Rana’s contribution to the cause of music is immense and that it ranks him among the most acclaimed composers in Pakistani music history.

To listen to the musical genius, Sohail Rana, is an experience like no other.

Over and above, his music compositions seem to echo his sentiments.

By the end of 1966, music maestro, Sohail Rana, had reached his zenith with astonishing rapidity.

In the words of the film journalists of the 1960s, ‘Sohail Rana is growing by leaps and bounds.’

Parables of love, vividly caught by Sohail Rana, while composing the songs like ‘Akele na jana’, not only brought fresh laurels to him but also rekindled the old flames, which is much easier with Sohail Rana’s music than one may think.

The rhythm of sound is music and Sohail Rana can best be described as maestro of the music.

His is a music, which can lift people above particular circumstances and inspire them.

Sohail Rana, who is widely known as an extremely decent human being, worked diligently and came out with yet more superb compositions for the film ‘Ehsaan.’ Theatrical release was on June 30, 1967.

The idea, which keeps him motivated, is the glory of his remarkable achievement. His charm and musical virtuosity had won every heart.

The film ‘Ehsaan’ attained silver jubilee with such favorites as ‘Ik naye maur pay’, ‘Aye meri zindigi aye meray hum safar’, ‘Do akhian, ye do sakhian.’

Sohail Rana’s musical career is a success story with few parallels. Celebrated composer, Sohail Rana unleashed all his artistic talents, while composing songs for the film ‘Doraha.’ Sohail Rana is also the producer of ‘Doraha.’

‘Mujhay tum nazar say gira to rahay ho’, ‘bhooli huwee hoon dastaan’, ‘tumhain kaisay bata doon tum meri manzil ho.’

The songs he composed for ‘Doraha’ also evince that he is an extraordinary composer and an authority of the highly specialized realm of music compositions, where his competency and artistic skills are unmatched.

His adorers are surrounded by a lifetime of numerous memories of his immortal compositions.

Over the years, he worked his magic throughout Pakistan and across the borders. His magnificent compositions for the Nazm, ‘Qasm us waqt ki, jab zindigi karwat badalti hai.’ (Film: ‘Qasam us waqt ki.’, director, A.J. Kardar, lyricist, Josh Malih Abadi, singer, Mujeeb Alam) is a cornerstone of Pakistani entertainment that reflect reality.

Sohail Rana produced lilting music for Nigar Pictures ‘Meray hum safar’, directed by Pervez Malik in 1972, three of its popular numbers are:

‘Wada karo milo gey.’ (Singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
‘Hai bay qarar tamanna.’ (singer: Mujeeb Alam)
‘Tujh jaisa dagha baaz.’ (singer: Runa Laila)

The longing or the unfulfilled desire, which reflects in ‘Hai bay qarar tamanna’, is a testament to Sohail Rana’s musical prowess.

Similarly, the despondency and despair in ‘Tujhay apnay dil say mein kaisay bhula doon’ were vividly caught in the unparalleled music composition of Sohail Rana. ( Film: ‘Shehnai’, singer: Ahmed Rushdi)

I am pretty sure that if some one were to ask Sohail Rana what he thanks God for most, then presumably his answer would be that he would thank God, for giving him the gift of composing songs and the ability to listen to them.

In the early 1970s, from 1974 to 1976, Sohail Rana was appointed as the General Manager National Orchestra, for Pakistan Television Corporation, based at KTV center Karachi. Consequently, he redoubled his efforts to compose national songs.

His musical masterpieces, ‘Sohni dharti’ (singers: Shehnaz Begum, Mehdi Hassan, lyricist: Masroor Anwar) have become part and parcel of Pakistani culture.

Likewise, ‘Jeeway Pakistan’, and ‘Mein bhee Pakistan hoon’ achieved tremendous success.

Additionally, he devoted his time and energy to compose songs for children and immortalized each and every song.

Sohail Rana’s program for children were telecast from Pakistan television for 19 years from 1968 to 1987,
from ‘Kaliyoan Ki Mala’, to ‘Sung Sung Chalain.’ In those days, he wrote and composed more than two thousand songs for children.

Given here below are the names of some of Sohail Rana’s bright students who attained name and fame for themselves and for their mentor as well:

Mohammad Ali Sheyki, Amjad Hussain, Alamgir, Mona sisters, Benjamin sisters, Adnan Sami, Wasim Baig, Nazia Hasan, Zohaib Hasan, Afshan Ahmed, Nazneen, and Fatima Jaffrey. Among the above talented students, Anwar Ibrahim, the youngest student made a special name in naat khaani and hamd-o-sana. Sohail Rana released two cassettes of Naats by Anwar Ibrahim “Jaan-e-Madina” vol.1 and 2. Both of these cassettes contained the Naats and Humds by Sohail Rana’s father Janab Rana Akbar Abadi sahab.

Reverting to Sohail Rana’s musical accomplishments, the film ‘Badal Aur Bijli’ was also a huge success, essentially due to his effective music.

Below are ‘Badal Aur Bijli’s’ three all time favorites, which are still fresh in the minds of moviegoers:

‘Bansi bajanay walay.’ Noor Jehan.
‘Aaj janay ki zid na karo.’ (Singer: Habib Wali Mohammad and a little later a private recording by Farida Khanum) the Farida Khanum version has been used in an Indian film ‘Monsoon wedding’. Though without Sohail Rana’s permission.

‘Dheeray dheeray zara paoon utha.’ Duet: Masood Rana – Mala.

Apart from that, Sohail Rana also composed music for the films, ‘Phir chand niklay ga’, 1970, and ‘Usay deikha Usay chaaha,’ 1974.

Sohail Rana also served as Resident composer in PIA Arts Academy sponsored by Pakistan International Airlines from 1972 to 1974, where he conducted Ballet Heer Ranjha, composed and re-arranged music for folk dances and under the directorship of legendary personality Mr. Zia Moyeddin and with a team of eighty eight dancers, musicians, singers, etc, he toured the whole world performing in prestigious auditoriums and earned the appreciation of international audience.

He is hail and hearty and radiates from his eyes the exuberant musical dreams, beaming with pride, hope and enthusiasm.

Moosa Reza, a loyal fan of Sohail Rana and well versed on him as well, asserts: ‘A nation is, indeed, very poor, which does not value its artists and in case of Sohail Rana, the music lovers should be all the more indebted to this extraordinary music composer – cum song writer, because Sohail Rana not only impressed his contemporaries but he has proved resourceful, ingenious and pioneering all through these times.

Moving beyond songs, Sohail Rana had the rare touch and he used it well, perhaps, peerlessly so.

During his forty monumentally influential years as a music composer; lyricist and producer, Sohail Rana also composed the Summit Anthem ‘Allah- O – Akbar, for Pakistan television corporation, in the voice of Mehdi Zaheer and a group of hundred singers, for the first Islamic Summit conference held in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1974. Ptv awarded him as well as Mehdi Zaheer on the release of this anthem.

Pakistan’s most powerful purveyor of popular music, all his music compositions carry a sweet, open tone and a freshness that never sounds forced.

Sohail Rana also composed and conducted the background music for the documentary film, ‘Moenjodaro’, and also composed and conducted the entire musical score of ‘Beyond the last mountain’ (Musafir) by producer/director/ ex-senator Mr. Javed Jabbar.

Loved by audiences as well as a new generation of listeners, Sohail Rana has a knack for finding the best in music.

Consequently, he received the prestigious Presidential Award the “Pride of Performance”, Gold Discs from EMI for the vinyl album, ‘Khyber Mail’ and his musical works touching the highest sales figures of EMI ‘s records from 1954 to 1974 in their final sales figures. He was also given the United Nations Peace Messenger Award, conferred on him, at the United Nations in New York in 1987.

Along the way, Sohail Rana achieved legendary status by influencing and shaping the Pakistani culture. He participated and represented Pakistan in various international music festivals and conferences and undertook several cultural and commercial tours almost all over the world. From 1972 onwards, visiting and performing shows in Iran, Afghanistan, Australia, Fiji Islands, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Jordan, China, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, France, Spain, USA, Dominican Republic and Canada. The details of some of the tours are appended below:

Jashn-e-Kabul in 1977.

Carnival, Australia, in 1978.

Cultural Troupe, Australia and Fiji Islands with Mehdi Hassan, Moin Akhtar and Afshan Rana in 1981.

Cultural Troupe to Romania, in 1983.

Cultural Troupe to Russia, in 1983.

Pacific traditional music conference in China, in 1985.

Cultural troupe to USA in 1988.

Turkish Radio Television festival, Turkey, 1988-89-90.

Cultural troupes to UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 1989-1990.

Additionally, Sohail Rana composed and produced music for two Mass Gymnastic Displays held in Islamabad in 1975-76 under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Education. His last performance in Pakistan before he migrated to Canada happened to be the great ‘South Asian Federation Games’, which was held in Islamabad in 1989 and in which he participated with a group of ninety-five singers, twenty-five piece orchestra and 110-piece brass band.

Sohail Rana is a flame, which has been glowing brightly for over four decades. Masha Allah!

One of Sohail Rana’s innumerable accomplishments is that he also worked for the Pakistan’s ministry of culture as Director General from 1976 to 1978. He headed the project of National Orchestra and Choral Ensemble of Pakistan in Islamabad.

Sohail Rana has done, what I do not think anybody else has done before: be victorious in both Urdu and English films—his highly superb music composition for Javed Jabbar’s bilingual movie, ‘Musafir’, whose English version ‘Beyond the last mountain’ is the first Pakistani film produced in English language.

Moreover, ‘Beyond the last mountain’ won the critical acclaim by the renowned Indian actor, Raj Kapoor, at the Bombay film festival.

The film ‘Hesaab’ which was released in 1986 happened to be the last movie for which Sohail Rana composed music.

The choices he made, helped ignite a renaissance of quality that lives on today.

During his memorable show business career in Pakistan, Sohail Rana composed music for merely twenty-four movies. Three of those movies, ‘Guriya’ ‘Pagal’ and ‘Hulchul’ could not be released. However, popular numbers from the film ‘Guriya’ and ‘Hulchul’ are available on cassettes and vinyl Eps.

From ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’ to ‘Hesaab’, and from the children’s songs to the national songs, Sohail Rana came full circle.

Nowadays, Sohail Rana resides in Toronto, Canada. Essentially he operates two music schools and he is also working diligently to establish a multi media company in Toronto. He takes active participation in music compositions as well.

Best of all, the human spark, spirit, compassion, love and understanding which are the basic ingredients of his music and which have been imbibed in the hearts of a myriad of music lovers the world over, will never go away

Along with writing the music for numerous Pakistani film soundtracks, Sohail Rana has composed over 2,000 children's songs.

If Sohail Rana is known on the club scene today, it's likely due to his funky rare groove swinger Soul Sitar, which recently appeared on the second volume of the Sitar Beat compilation of badass Bollywood business.

Though Rana's funky fresh East-meets-West fusion sounds like it could've been cut last week, the innovative film soundtrack auteur actually recorded the track some 35 years ago as part of his groundbreaking Khyber Mail (EMI) album, which opened the doors to stereophonic recording in Pakistan. But that's really just a footnote to Rana's incredibly productive 40-year career as a composer, arranger, producer and teacher.

Although he created numerous memorable Pakistani film soundtracks during Bollywood's golden era in the 70s, Rana's probably best loved today for his children's music. In the 15 years between 1968 and 83, an entire generation of Pakistani children grew up singing along to the catchy tunes about birds, frogs, insects and farm animals on his popular morning television program.

"It used to be that children in Pakistan schools would only learn the English nursery rhymes," explains Rana over tea at his Lakeshore apartment, "but I wanted to give them something they could sing in their own language. It turned out to be a very popular idea, and during the time I was working on the TV show I composed over 2,000 songs.

"And that was while I was also doing film soundtracks and creating the in-flight music for Air Pakistan, too!"

Since bringing his family to Canada 10 years ago, Rana has kept a low local profile, focusing his energy on teaching aspiring singers and musicians at his school in Mississauga.

His rare public appearance this weekend – billed as an "interactive music and DVD performance" – as part of Harbourfront's Masala! Mehndi! Masti! festival is a long-overdue Toronto coming-out party and promises to be an entertaining intro to the man and his enormous body of music. He may even strap on his accordion for an impromptu singalong.

"I realize that many people in Canada aren't familiar with my work, and those who are may not be aware that I'm living here in Toronto and I'm still active. So I think this presentation – I hesitate to call it a performance – will serve as a good introduction that may lead to other things."

Rana, who's always thinking three steps ahead, already has plans for several musical projects. He's itching to get started.

"I'd like to stage a series of concerts in Toronto, perhaps one every three or four months, involving artists from Pakistan and India. And while I was doing the in-flight music, I started working on a ballet that I never got around to finishing. It would be great to do something collaboratively with a local dance company and maybe work with a large orchestra. That would be very exciting.

"I'd like to have that sort of challenge in my life again. I need it."

Old is Gold: Unforgettable Pakistani Movies

By Anis Ahmed Shakur

Insaan badalta hai

On the inauguration ceremony of filmarts 'Insaan badalta hai', a photograph was taken at the Eastern film studios, Karachi, in 1960.
Prominent among them were: Ilyas Rashdi, character actor Agha Jan, composer: Zafar Khursheed, sound engineer: Hashim Qureshi, director: Munawwar Rashid, Shamim Ara (lead actress) cameraman: Mehboob, Producer: Waheed Murad, his father: Nisar Murad, distributor: Dr. Akhtar, production manager: M.A.Sethi, comedian : Lehri.

Waheed Murad's first film as a producer was 'Insaan badalta hai'. Waheed Murad had selected a new film director, Munawwar Rasheed, for this movie. (Munawwar Rasheed's first movie as a director.)

This film was released on May 5, 1961, and it was a great success.
Darpan, Shamim Ara, Lehri, were cast in this movie.
Lehri had received the nigar award for his excellent performance as a comedian.

Ek Raat

Filmarts second production, 'Ek raat' was launched with the recording of a song at the gramophone company of Pakistan on August 4, 1960.
Producer Waheed Murad and director Shaikh Hasan were present on that occasion.

Shabab

A song in the voice of Ahmed Rushdi was recorded for filmarts 'Shabab' in 1961.
A photograph was taken on the occasion at the compound of H.M.V.

Following personalities were present on that occasion: Director: Shaikh Hasan, Producer: Waheed Murad, composer: Sohail Rana, singer: Ahmed Rushdi, production manager: M.A.Sethi.

Jabsay dekha hai tumhay

'Jab say dekha hai tumhay' was the second movie of Waheed Murad as a producer.
It was released on March 29,1962.
Munawwar Rasheed was the film director.
Waheed Murad had introduced composer Sohail Rana in this movie. (Sohail Rana's debut)
Stars: Darpan, Zeba Lehri, Agha Jan.
Zeba was given the lead role in this movie for the first time.

A picture was taken in 1962 on the inauguration of 'jab say dekha hai tumhay', at Karachi' Eastern studio.
Deeba and Saeed A. Haroon were also present in the picture.

Chiragh jalta raha Producer-director-poet Fazal Karim Fazli introduced actor Kamal Irani to Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah on the premiere of his first film, 'Chiragh jalta raha' on March 9, 1962, at the local Nishat cinema. Stars: Zeba, Mohammed Ali, Deeba, Kamal Irani. Aulad 'Aulad' was released in August, 1962 at Karachi's 'Rivoli' cinema. Status: Golden jubilee. It was Waheed Murad's first film as an actor. Stars: Habib, Nayyar Sultana, Waheed Murad. Super hit song: 'Naam lay lay kay tera hum tou jee ye ja-ain gay' (singer: Naseem Begum)

Heera aur pathar

'Heera aur pathar' was the first film of Waheed Murad as a hero.
Waheed Murad received the nigar award for best actor.
It was released at Naz cinema,Karachi, on December 11,1964, and completed 68 successful weeks (golden jubilee)
Waheed Murad had introduced director Pervez Malik for the first time in this movie.
Moreover, he had also introduced script writer, M. Aqeel Khan.
M. Aqeel Khan was fortunate to receive the nigar award in his first movie.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Zeba.
Super hit song: 'Mujhay tum say mohabbat hai': (singers: Ahmed Rushdi, Najma Niazi)

Rishta hai pyar ka

Waheed Murad's picture was taken at P.I.A. counter prior to his departure for London, in 1965, where he took part in location shooting of director Qamar Zaidi's film, 'Rishta hai pyar ka'
Zeba had played romantic lead in the film.
Super hit song: 'Masoom sa chehra hai': (singers: Ahmed Rushdi, Runa laila)

Armaan

'Armaan' is the first platinum jubilee film of Pakistan and one of the greatest movie of all times.
It was released on March 18, 1966.
'Armaan' had received six nigar awards.
All songs were super hit: 'Akele na jana', 'Jab pyar mein dou dil ', 'Bay taab ho', 'Ko-ko-korina', 'Oont pay baitha'.

Ehsaan

Waheed Murad was the producer, script writer and hero of 'Ehsaan'
'Ehsaan' was released on June 30, 1967.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Zeba, Rozina, Nirala.
Film director: Pervez Malik.
Music director: Sohail Rana.
Super hit songs:'Ik nai maur pay': (singer: Mehdi Hasan.)
'Dou akhian, ye dou sakhian': (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
'Aye meri zindagi': (singer: Ahmed Rushdi, Mala)

Samandar

'Samandar' was released on March 8, 1968.
It was Shabnam's first film in west Pakistan.
Film director: Rafiq Rizvi.
Music director: Deebu.
Super hit songs: 'Saathi tera mera saathi hai' (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
'Yoon root na gori' (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
Stars: Waheed Murad, Shabnum.

Andaleeb

'Andaleeb' was released on August 29, 1969.
Film director: Fareed Ahmed.
Music director: Nisar Bazmi.
Status: Golden jubilee.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Shabnam.
Waheed Murad and Shabnam had received nigar awards for best actor, actress respectively.
Super hit songs: 'Kuchh loag root kar bhi' (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
'Gaysoo-on kay Aanchal mein' (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)

Ishara

'Ishara' was released in 1969.
Waheed Murad was the producer, director, script writer, hero and singer in 'Ishara'.
Further, 'Ishara' was the first and the last film of Waheed Murad as a director and singer. (he had recorded songs for 'Ishara' and 'Samandar')
Stars: Waheed Murad, Deeba, Rozina.
Rozina had received the nigar award for best supporting actress.

Naseeb apna apna

'Naseeb apna apna' was released on April 3, 1970.
Film director: Qamar Zaidi.
Composer: Lal Mohammad Iqbal.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Shabnam,Saaqi, Zamarrud,
Super hit songs: 'Aye abar-e-karam' (singer: Ahmed Rushdi : Nigar award)
'Mili gul ko khushboo' (singer: Runa laila)

Mastana mahi

'Mastana mahi' was Waheed Murad's first Punjabi film.
It was released on September 24, 1971.
Film director: Iftikhar Khan.
Composer: Nazeer Ali.
Waheed Murad had played double role in this movie.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Aaliya, Naghma.
'Mastana mahi' had received three nigar awards.
Waheed Murad and Aaliya had received best actor, actress awards respectively.
Nazir Ali had received best music director's award.
Super hit song: 'Sayoni mera mahi' (singer: Noor jehan)

Jaal

'Jaal' was released on August 31, 1973.
Film director: Iftikhar Khan.
Composer: Nazeer Ali.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Nisho, Husna, Nazim, Shaista Qaiser.
This was Waheed Murad's first color film as a producer.

Hero

The hero of 'Hero' died leaving the film incomplete.
It was later completed by director Iqbal Yusuf.
Stars: Waheed Murad, Babra Sharif, Mumtaz.
Song: 'Bun kay misra ghazal ka' (singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
'Hero' was released on Friday,January 11, 1985, at lyric cinema, Karachi and firdous cinema, Hyderabad.