M. Ashraf

A dominating music director
M. Ashraf was the most dominating and the most productive music director in Pakistan. He had the highest number of super hit film songs compared to any other music director in Pakistan. He composed approximately 2.800 films songs in more than 400 films in his 45 years long film career - only Wajahat Attre had more films (or songs) than M. Ashraf, but he mostly was known as Punjabi film music director and M. Ashraf was popular in both Urdu and Punjabi films.

M. Ashraf started his film career with his mate Manzoor (film Svera song tu jo nahin hay to kuchh bhi nahin hay... by S.B.John fame) in film Speran (1961) and his first song Chand sa Mukhra gora badan... was not only his first super hit song but also the first hit song of Ahmad Rushdi who was struggling since his debut in 1956.

M. Ashraf composed music with Manzoor in 28 films in the 1960's. After separation from Manzoor his first film as M. Ashraf was Sajda in 1967. In the 1970's he reached the peak of his film career and composed music for many big films. He continued his success march in the 1980s despite the downfall of Urdu films and a dominance of Punjabi films. In the 1990's he was blamed for piracy of old Pakistani and Indian songs and his answer was that to survive, it was necessary because it was a demand of film producers.

M. Ashraf got music lessons from his Nana (grand father who was Mamu (uncle) of Master Inayat Hussain). He assisted his uncle Akhtar Hussain Akhian (film Patey Khan fame) in five years. His son M. Arshad is also a well known music director and he was instructor for late musician Nazir Ali who assisted him in few films in the 1960's before becoming a top music director.
M. Ashraf passed away on February 4, 2007.






Centaury partnerships

M. Ashraf was a very busy music director through out his film career and he definitely composed hundreds of songs for Madam Noor Jehan (perhaps also for Naheed Akhtar and Mehnaz) but he also created a unique record with "centaury partnerships" with Pakistan's three greatest male singers - Mehdi Hassan, Ahmad Rushdi and Masood Rana, read the detailed songographies here:

» M. Ashraf & Mehdi Hassan (124 film songs)
» M. Ashraf & Ahmad Rushdi (132 film songs)
» M. Ashraf & Masood Rana (114 film songs)

M. Ashraf introduced..

M. Ashraf introduced many famous singer in his long film career. Here are some details on some big names:

• Shoukat Ali
  Famous folk singer Shoukat Ali was introduced in director Haidar Chodhary's inaugural super hit musical film Tees Mar Khan in 1963. Shoukat Ali sang a theme song:
  Pagri sanbhal Chora, Pagri sanbhal oye...
  which was picturized on Allauddin who was solo hero in this film first time. Playboy and White Gold were some other films.
  
  
• Naheed Akhtar
  She was introduced by M. Ashraf in film Nanha Farisha in 1974 with the song:
  Janey kyun dil tarapta rehta hay...ao jee addi tappa gaen..
  which was filmed on Deeba. Naheed Akhtar sang many super hit songs in many films with M. Ashraf.
  
  
• Nayyara Noor
  A very sweet and melodious voice Nayyara Noor actually had her fist appearance in Punjabi film Ziddi but her first super hit song was:
  Tera saya jehan bhi ho Sajna, palken bichha dun...
  in film Gharana (1973). She sang many hit songs with M. Ashraf in films like Pardey mein rehne do, Rangeela aur Munawar...
  
  
• Rajab Ali
  He appeared in his film Yaden in 1971 with a super hit duet song with Madam Noor Jehan:
  Mujh sa tujh ko chahney wala, is Duniya mein koi aur ho...
  Playboy was another famous film with M. Ashraf.
  
  
• Asad Amanat Ali Khan
  Legendry Ghazal singer Ustad Amanat Ali Khan's son Asad Amanat Ali Khan was introduced by M. Ashraf in film Saheli (1978). His first ever film song was:
  Ankhen Ghazal hayn aap ki aur hont hayn Gulab...
  Abhi to main jawan hun was other film with M. Ashraf.
  
  
• Anwar Rafi
  His first song:
  O Salma, meri tum se ek guzarish hay...
  was a nice song in film Tere Ghar ke samne (1984)
  
  
• Saira Naseem
  She was also a big discovery by M. Ashraf in film Qatil (1988).
  

• Ja we dil de chhadia teinu we dildar jan ke...
  (film Kochwan 1969)
• Ham ko jeeney ke liye, sirf mili ek hi raat...
  (film Bazar 1972)
• Tu milen kaddi kaddi, sabab ki a, main tere baghair reh nain..
  (film Inteqam 1972)
• Zara bach ke chalna, sanbhalna sanbhalna ...
  (film Aina aur Surat 1972)
• Main pyar nibhaun gi, aaja mere Chann Mahi...
  (film Do Badan 1974)
• Shama hay bujhne wali, raat hay dhalney wali...
  (film Dilnasheen 1975)

With Runa Laila

• Zara thehar jao chori chori jan waleo..
  (singer Runa Laila, film Yamla Jatt 1969)

With Ahmad Rushdi

• Muft hi samjha raha hun, baat matlib ki janab...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Doosri Shadi 1968)
• Agar tum pyar se dekho, main apni jan fida dar dun...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi/Mala, film Fasana-e-Dil 1969)
• Khoobsurat ho tum, ham bhi kuchh kam nahin...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi/Mala, film Ayo pyar karen 1971)
• Nain reesa, nain reesa Pakistan dian...
  (singer Ahmad rushdi, film Japani Guddi 1972)
• Pyar hota hay, jab dil dil se miltey hayn...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Khalish 1972)
• Dada jee, apne Potey ko samjhaen...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, Robina Badar, film Parda na uthao 1974)
• Pak watan ki dharti pyari, ham ko apni jan se pyari ...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Aina aur Surat 1974)
• Log yehan ke bhool geyo re apne des ki boli...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Aina aur Surat 1974)
• Husn wale agar, muskara ke milen, zindgani ki koi...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, Naheed Akhtar, film Be-misaal 1975)
• Waada pyar ka, o sohney yaar ka... ho...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, Mala, film Dilnasheen 1975)
• Pappu yaar, tang na kar, mehfil ko be-rang na kar...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Insaan aur Farishta 1976)
• Ik main hi bura hun baqi, sab log achhey hayn...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Apne hue paraye 1977)
• Sunaun kya tumhen apni main dastaan logo...
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Dard 1977)
• Ban ke misra Ghazal ka chali ayo na ..
  (singer Ahmad Rushdi, film Hero 1985)

With Mehdi Hassan

• Jab shaam hoti hay, mujhe tum yaad aatey ho...
  (film Bano Rani 1973)
• Raat bhi le rahi hay angrai, mere Mehboob ayo so jayen...
  (film Bano Rani 1973)
• Yeh din bachpan, sathi jeevan ke, yaad ayen ge ...
  (film Pyar hi pyar 1974)
• Bheegi hui ankhon ka kajal, zulfon ka lehrata Badal..
  (film Be-misaal 1975)
• Banda to gunahgar hay, Rehman hay Moula ...
  (film Surat aur Seerat 1975)
• Achhi baat kaho, achhi baat suno...
  (film Phool aur Sholay 1976)
• Kabhi aap hansey, kabhi Nain hansey...
  (film Beti 1977)
• Tere sang rehne ki, khai hay main na qasm ...
  (film Ik Chehra do roop 1977)
• Husn walo se dil na lagaye koi, be-wafa hain yeh...
  (film Tarana 1979)
• Roz kehta hun bhool jaun tujhe, roz yeh baat..
  (film Raja ki aye gi Barat 1979)
• Tujh se jo ik parl door rahun, teri qasm zinda na rahun...
  (film Raja ki aye gi Barat 1979)
• Jhukke jhukke nainon wale chain mera le geye...
  (film Bandhan 1980)

With Masood Rana

• Jhootian iztan labhda jehra, ashiq nain sodai a...
  (film Doli 1965)
• De ga na koi sahara, in be-dard fazaon mein...
  (with Naseem Begum, film Kon kisi ka 1966)
• Koi haal mast, koi chaal mast, sanu kar de Rabba ...
  (film Mr. Allah Ditta 1966)
• Kar de Qoum zinda, mazi ki daastanen...
  (film Watan ka Sipahi 1966)
• Ajeeb hay yeh zindgi, kabhi hay gham, kabhi khushi...
  (film Shola aur Shabnam 1967)
• Fasan-e-dil hay mukhtasir sa keh aag dil mein bharak...
  (film Tumhi ho Mehboob mere 1969)
• Yeh Duniya nahin dil walo ki, milta hi nahin hay pyar yehan.
  (film Be-qasoor 1970)
• Rahe naam Allah da, Allah hi Allah...
  (film Hashu Khan 1973)
• Chahe Budh ho chahe ho Jumerat, tere ghar le ke...
  (film Goonj uthi Shehnai 1976)
• Jagg da Mela weikhi ja, dukh sukh di agg seiki ja...
  (film Mafroor 1988)
• Teinu mere leyi Rabb ne banaya, jee kar wekhda rahwan...
  (film Laat Sahib 1994)

With Naheed Akhtar

• Aisay mousam mein chup kyun ho..
  (film Shama 1974)

With Mehnaz

• Main hoti ik Morni aur tu hota ik Mor...
  (film Barat 1978)

With Akhlaq Ahmad

• Yeh tootey Kholoney, yeh Mitti ke Putley...
  (film Mitti ki Putley 1974)
• Apni Duniya aap basayen ge ham dil waley...
  (film Anmol Mohabbat 1978)
• Har tamanna Kanwal ban geyi hay...
  (width Mala film Bandhan1980)

With A. Nayyar

• Yaad rakhne ko kuchh na raha, bhool jane ko..
  (film Barat 1978)
• O hamdam o Sathi, mujhe teri dosti peh naz hay...
  (film Sathi 1980)

With Ghulam Abbas

• ...
  (film ....)

With other singers

• Zindgi tum se mili, tum se mila pyar mujhe ...
  (singers Mala & Munir Hussain, film Dil ke tukrey 1965)
• Tu Chanda hay mera, main tera ujiyara...
  (singers Mujeeb Alam &, Runa Laila, film Be-qasoor1970)

(to be continued...)