Iqbal Qureshi

Iqbal Qureshi (12 May 1930 – 21 March 1998) was an Indian music composer and director, credited with film scores for several Hindi films between 1958 and 1986, best known for his music to the song "Ek Chameli Ke Mandve Tale" in the film Cha Cha Cha, the first Indian film to feature Western dance.

His interest in music began as a child when he sang for private gatherings and for All India Radio. He became involved in the Indian People's Theatre Association when he moved to Mumbai as an adult and began to direct music for dramas.

His first credit was for composing music for the film Panchayat (1958), and subsequent films included Bindiya (1960), Love in Simla (1960), Banarsi Thug (1962) and then Yeh Dil Kisko Doon (1963). His compositions have included music for songs sung by Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor, and three Mangeshkar sisters; Lata, Asha and Usha. His music has provided the sound to lyrics by Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Neeraj and Kaifi Azmi. Actors including Helen, Joy Mukherjee, Sadhana, Manoj Kumar and Shashi Kapoor have performed to his tunes.

His later work included composing the music in Alam Ara (1973), the remake of the first Indian talkie film Alam Ara (1931).

Early life Iqbal Qureshi was born on 12 May 1930 in Aurangabad (now in Maharashtra), and later moved to Hyderabad. As a child he performed for All India Radio. Prior to entering the film industry, he sang at private gatherings and was friends with the poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin and actor/director Chandrashekhar. When he subsequently moved to Mumbai (then known as Bombay), he became involved in directing dramas for the Indian People's Theatre Association.

In 1960, he composed music for two films; Bindiya and Love in Simla, both with songs written by Rajendra Krishan and sung by Mohammed Rafi. which saw the debut of Shashi Kapoor. The film included the song "Subah Na Aayi Shaam Na Aayi", written by the then new songwriter Neeraj, and sung by Rafi. From that film, he became best known for composing the music to Makhdoom Mohiuddin's poem "Chara Gar", depicted in the song "Ek Chameli Ke Mandve Tale", which tells the story of two lovers who can never be together. The music was described by Indian film music historian Manek Premchand as Qureshi's "best efforts".

Death Qureshi died at home in Vile Parle, Mumbai, on 21 March 1998, weeks after giving a television interview.

Selected filmography Year Film/album Song/music Notes Reference1958 Panchayat "Tha thaiya karte aana" Sung by Lata and Geeta. "Aaye aaye bahar aaj re karke solah sringar" "Haal ye kah kar diya zalim, tere tadpane ne" 1960 Bindiya "Itna na sata ki koi jaane o deewaane" Sung by Lata "Main apne aap se ghabra gaya hoon" Sung by Rafi "Nasha sa chha gaya sanam tere pyaar ka"Sung by Lata 1960 Love in Simla "Dar pe aaye hain kasam le" "Love ka matlab hai pyaar" Sung by Asha/Rafi "Yoon zindagi ke raaste sanwaarte chale gaye" Sung by Rafi "Ae baby ae jee idhar aao, aa gaya "Kiya hai dilruba pyaar kabhi" "Gaal gulabi kiske hain" 1961 Umar Qaid "Dil ka fasana koi na jana" Sung by Mahendra Kapoor/Asha "Mujhe raat din ye khayaal hai, o nazar se mujhko gira na de" Sung by Mukesh "O piya jaana na" Asha 1962 Banarsi Thug "Ik baat poochhta hoon"Sung by Mukesh, Usha Mangeshkar "Yaad suhaani teri bani zindagaani meri" Sung by Lata "Aaj mausam ki masti mein gaaye pawan" Sung by Lata/Rafi "Ab mohabbat mein jo pehli thi wo taasir nahi" Sung by Rafi 1963 Yeh Dil Kisko Doon "Hamen dam dai ke" Sung by Mubarak Begum/Asha Bhosle "Kitni haseen ho tum" Sung by Asha/Rafi "Phir aane laga yaad wohi"Sung by Rafi/Usha Khanna "Jab tak duniya rahi rahega" Sung by Asha/Rafi 1964 Cha Cha Cha "Ek chameli ke mandve tale" Lyrics by Mohiuddin and sung by Asha/Rafi "Wo hum na the woh tum na the" Sung by Rafi "Subah na aayi sham na aayi" Sung by Rafi Cha Cha Cha dance competition Instrumental 1964 Qawwali Ki Raat "Jaate jaate ek nazar bhar dekh lo" "Husn wale husn ka anjaam dekh " Sung by Asha/Rafi 1967 Pyar Bana Afsaana "Mere jahan mein tum pyar leke aaye" 1973 Alam Ara "Parvardigara" "Suno fariyaad tum meri moinuddin Azmeri"