Khawaja Khurshid Anwar

Khawaja Khurshid Anwar was a Pakistani filmmaker, writer, director and music composer who earned recognition in both India and Pakistan. He was born on 21 March 1912 in Mianwali, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan). He was the son of a well-known barrister and had a keen interest in music from a young age. He learned music from his father and from Khansahib Tawakkal Hussain, a renowned classical singer. He was also a brilliant student and topped in the master's degree in Philosophy from Government College, Lahore in 1935. He joined All India Radio, Delhi as Programme Producer (Music) in 1939 and later moved to Bombay film industry as a music director. He made his debut as a music director in Kardar's Punjabi film Kurmai (1941) and his first Hindi film was Ishara (1943). He composed music for several famous films, such as Intezar (1956), Jhoomar (1959), Koel (1959), Ghoonghat (1962), Chingari (1964), Heer Ranjha (1970), and Hamraaz (1976). He also produced and directed some of his own films, such as Intezar, Jhoomar, and Heer Ranjha. He was known for his original and inventive music style and his mastery of various genres, such as classical, folk, ghazal, and filmi. He sang and composed many hit songs, such as Chand Hanse Duniya Base, Aa Gaye Ghar Aa Gaye, O Jane Wale Re, Aa Bhi Ja Aa Bhi Ja, Aankh Se Aankh Mila Le, Sawan Ki Ghanghor Ghata, and Chun Chun Naachuni. He also sang two songs for the 1960 film Mughal-e-Azam, for which he received a very high remuneration. He performed in various countries, including India, UK, Canada, Norway, US and Germany, where he entertained the South Asian diaspora. He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan in 1962 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship by the Government of India in 1967. He died of a heart attack in Lahore on 30 October 1984. He is regarded as one of the finest filmmakers and music composers of his generation.