Ahmed Rushdi

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Ahmed Rushdi


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Ahmed Rushdi
Alias =
Born = birth date|1938|4|24
Hyderabad Deccan, British India
Died = death date and age|1983|4|11|1938|4|24
Karachi, Pakistan
Instrument =
Genre = Indian classical music, hip-hop, rock and roll, disco, pop
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 1952–1983
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL =

Ahmed Rushdi ( _ur. احمد رشدی; April 24, 1938 – April 11, 1983) was a Pakistani musician who worked in film music. Born in Hyderabad Deccan, he migrated to Pakistan after Independence. His first major break was singing "Bunder Road se Keemari" on Radio Pakistan after which he became a widely known icon of Pakistani music. He is also considered to be the first regular pop singer of Asia, as he introduced hip-hop, disco, and other modern genres in the Asian Music.

During his time as a leading playback singer, he lent his vocal talent to many actors including Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali, Darpan, Nadeem, Shahid and Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din to name a few.

He suffered from poor health during later part of his life and died of a major heart attack at the age of 44. He will always be remembered as singing vocals for Waheed Murad in hit films like Doraha and Armaan along with other numerous hit songs.

In 2003, 20 years after his death, Government of Pakistan awarded him Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

Career

Although Ahmed Rushdi arrived in Pakistan to pursue a career as an actor, he was selected as a singer in the popular show of Radio Pakistan, 'Bachchon Ki Duniya', in which he scored his first all-time hit, 'Bunder Road Se Kemari' in 1954. [http://mazhar.dk/film/singers/ahmadrushdi/]

He was offered songs as a playback singer for films after this but, went unnoticed in the film industry. He got recognition for his singing ability in the superhit Raaz in 1959 by singing 'Chalak Rahi Hain Mastiyan' and 'Chal Na Sakey Gi 420'. He pretty much went unnoticed until 1961, when he sung the popular song,'Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan' in the film Saperan, for which he received his first Nigar Award for Best Male Playback Singer. What followed was a career of innumerable hits and superstar fame in Pakistan and amazing popularity with the youngsters.

His next film which further established him as the top male playback singer of Pakistan was the superhit Mehtaab, in 1962, starring 'Awami' actor Alauddin. Alauddin's acting performance coupled with Rushdi's amazing vocals produced the all-time hit 'Gol Gappay Wala Aaya'.

As the Pakistani Film Industry flourished in the 60s with the arrival of new actors such as Mohammed Ali, Waheed Murad and Nadeem, Rushdi also got his big break by singing playback for each one of these actors.

For Mohammed Ali he sang the poem of renowned poet Habib Jalib called 'Main Nahin Maanta' in the film Khamosh Raho in 1963.

Although he gave hits to almost every film hero in Pakistan, his lethal pair of actor-singer with Waheed Murad proved to be the most popular. Waheed Murad and Rushdi sky rocketed to fame with the first platinum jubilee film of Pakistan, Armaan in 1966. The film included songs which made both Rushdi and Murad immortal, such as 'Ko Ko Ko Reena', 'Betaab Ho Udher Tum', 'Jab Pyar Mein Do Dil' and 'Akele Na Jaana'.

This was followed by another hit, Doraha in 1967 which starred Waheed Murad and featured Ahmed Rushdi on vocals. This film included songs such as 'Tumhain Kaise Bata Doon' and 'Bhooli Hui Hoon Dastaan'. He also sang for Mohammad Ali in the film Aag which included the famous classical number 'Jaisey Jaantey Nahin'.

In the 1968 super hit film Behan Bhai which included a star cast of actors, Rushdi sang two popular numbers, 'Meri Samajh Mein Kucch Nahin Aata' on Nadeem and a duet with Irene Parveen, 'Hello Hello Mr. Abdul Ghani' on actor Kamal. In the same year he sang a popular number for Waheed Murad called 'Socha Tha Pyaar Na Kareinge' in the film Ladla which became yet another timeless hit.

Awards

Winner
* 1961-Best Male Playback Singer Award in the film Saperan for the song 'Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan'
* 1962-Best Male Playback Singer Award in the film Mehtaab for the song 'Gol Gappay Wala'
* 1966-Best Male Playback Singer Award for the film Armaan for the song 'Akele Na Jaana'
* 1970-Best Male Playback Singer Award for the film Naseeb Apna Apna for the song 'Aey Abre Karam'

Memorable hits of Ahmed Rushdi

* "Raat Saloni Aayi Baat Anokhi Lai", Movie : Zamana Kya Kahega
* "Aaj Is Shahar Mein Kal Us Shahar Mein", Movie : Joker
* "Raat Chali Hai Jhoom Ke", Movie : Josh
* "Chalak Rahi Hain Mastiyan", Movie : Raaz
* "Chal Na Sake Gi 420", Movie : Raaz
* "Chand Sa Mukhra Gora Badan", Movie : Saperan
* "Haal-e-Dil Humne Sunadiya To Bura Manoge", Movie : Aurat Ka Pyaar
* "Chotti Si Yeh Titli", Movie : Anjan
* "Gol Gappay Wala Aaya Gol Gappay Laya", Movie : Mehtaab
* "Kisi Chaman Mein Raho Tum Bahar Banke Raho", Movie : Aanchal
* "Wallah! Sar Se Paon Talak Mooj-e-Noor Ho", Movie : Daman
* "Jab Raat Dhali Tum Yaad Aaye", Movie : Kaneez
* "Akele Na Jana Humain Chodh Kar Tum", Movie : Armaan
* "Betab Ho Tum Udhar Bechain Hain Hum Idhar", Movie : Armaan
* "Jab Pyaar Mein Do Dil Milte Hain", Movie : Armaan
* "Ko Ko Ko Reena", Movie : Armaan
* "Meri Samajh Mein Kucch Nahin Aata", Movie : Behan Bhai
* "Hello Hello Mr. Abdul Ghani", Movie : Behan Bhai
* "Allah Bakhshe Waalidein ko", Movie : Tere Sheher Mein
* "Bhooli Hui Hoon Dastaan Guzra Huwa Khayal Hoon", Movie : Doraha
* "Haan Is Moor Par Is Jaga Baith Kar", Movie : Doraha
* "Tumhain Kaise Bata Doon Tum Meri Manzil Ho", Movie : Doraha
* "Aaye Meri Zindagi Aaye Mere Humsafar", Movie : Ahsan
* "Madine Wale Se Mera Salam Keh Dena", Movie : Baazi
* "Kabhi To Tumko Yaad Aaingi", Movie:Chakori
* "Jane Mujhe Keya Hogaya", Movie : Bhaiya
* "Husn Dekha Jo Tumhara To Khuda Yaad Aaya", Movie : Jahan Tum Wahan Hum
* "Mujhe Talash Thi Jiski Woh Humsafar Tum Ho", Movie : Jahan Tum Wahan Hum
* "Usay Dekha, Usay Chaha, Usay Bhool Gaye", Movie : Jahan Tum Wahan Hum
* "Three Cheers For Bhabhi Hip Hip Hurray", Movie : Devar Bhabhi
* "Kiya Hai Jo Pyaar To Paday Ga Nibhana", Movie : Dil Mera Dadhkan Teri

Ahmed Rushdi's Bengali songs

Ahmed Rushdi's Bengali song "Ke tumi ele go", from the film "Notun Name Dako" (1968) earned immense popularityFact|date=December 2007 in the then East Pakistan in late 1960s.

References

External links

*
* [http://mazhar.dk/film/singers/ahmadrushdi/ Ahmed Rushdi - Mazhar.dk]
* [http://www.getpakistan.com/entertainment/Profiles/Ahmed_Rushdi.htm Ahmed Rushdi Profile - Get Pakistan.com]
* [http://anisshakur.tripod.com/id11.html Tribute to Ahmed Rushdi]
* [http://mazhar.dk/film/singers/ahmadrushdi/songography/1956-62.htmAhmad Rushdi's film songs - Mazhar.dk]