Masroor Anwar

Masroor Anwar (6 January 1944 – 1 April 1996) was a Pakistani ghazal poet, film song lyricist and a film screenwriter. He wrote the lyrics for 'Ko Ko Korina', South Asia's first pop song, and working alongside Sohail Rana, film director Pervez Malik and film producer and actor Waheed Murad in the 1960s. He was part of the country's golden age of cinema, helping establish Karachi as a major hub for film production.

Early life and career He was born in 1944 in Shimla, Punjab, British India and following the partition, moved to Karachi, Pakistan. In Karachi, he grew up to be a chubby and baby-faced young man. After finishing his basic education from Government Islamia Science College, Karachi, he worked for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for a short period and later for Radio Pakistan as a staff artist because of his deep interest in poetry and literature. At Radio Pakistan, he was helped by the film actor Ibrahim Nafees who introduced him to the film producer Iqbal Shehzad. He was hired by Iqbal Shehzad to write his first film song for his film Banjaran (1962). Then he became part of a group of four people in Karachi – including Waheed Murad, Pervez Malik, and Sohail Rana – that made many big hit films together in the 1960s and 1970s.

Death and legacy He died in Lahore on 1 April 1996 at age 51 and was laid to rest at Karim Block graveyard, Iqbal town, Lahore.

In the history of Pakistani cinema, Masroor Anwar was considered one of the best film song writers. Besides film songs, he also wrote some touching popular patriotic songs.

Popular songs Song Singer Music director Film or Television notesMaster Jee Hamein Sabaq Parha DoNahid Niazi Deebo Bhattacharya Banjaran (1962 film) Mehdi Hassan A Radio Pakistan production (1965)Mujhe Ik Larki Se Pyaar Ho GayaSalim Shehzad and Shazia Sohail Rana Heera Aur Pathar (1964 film) Akelay Na Jaana Hamein Chhorr Kar Tum Mala and Ahmed Rushdi Sohail Rana ArmaanKo Ko Korina Ahmed Rushdi Sohail Rana Armaan (1966 film) Bare Be-Murrawwat Hein Yeh Husn Waalay, Kahin Dil Lagaanay Ki Koshish Na Karna Suraiya MultanikarDeebo Bhattacharya Badnaam (1966 film) This one was a huge 'mujra' song hitMujhe Tum Nazar Se Gira Tau Rahe HoMehdi Hassan Sohail Rana Doraha Ik Sitam Aur Meri Jann, Abhi Jaan Baqi Hai Mehdi Hassan Nisar Bazmi Saiqa (1968) Dil Dharke Mein Tum Se Yeh Kaise Kahoon, Kehti Hai Meri Nazar Shukriya Runa Laila Nisar Bazmi Anjuman Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay Qadam Qadam Aabad Tujhe (a patriotic song) Shahnaz Begum Sohail Rana A Pakistani television productionAe Dil Apna Dard Chhupaa Kar, Geet Khushi Ke Gaaey Ja Akhlaq AhmedNisar Bazmi Pehchan (1975 film) Pyar Ki Yaad Nigahon Mein Sajai RakhnaSalim Shehzad Nisar Bazmi Talash (1976 film)

Awards and recognition Nigar Award for Best Screenplay Writer for film Saiqa in 1968 Nigar Award for Best Screenplay Writer for film Sughaat in 1970 Nigar Award for Best Film Song Lyricist in 1970 for film Anjuman Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan (1997)