Musarrat Nazir
Nazir during her prime
Background information
Also known as	Musarrat (Music) Chandni (Films)
Origin	Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Genres	Pop - Punjabi
Occupations	Singer, Film director, Actress
Years active	1955 - Present
Labels	None

Musarrat Nazeer is a singer and actress who sang and acted in many Urdu and Punjabi films. She also sang solitary, mostly wedding and folk songs. She was born to a middle class family in 1937. Her parents were of Kashmiri origin from Lahore. Her father, Khwaja Nazeer Ahmed, worked for the municipal corporation as a registered contractor at the time of her birth.

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Commanding Respect 4 Filmography 5 Popular Songs 6 Best Actress Awards 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Personal life

Musarrat married cardiologist, Dr. Arshad Majeed and both of them settled in Canada in the mid 1970s. Dr. Arshad’s father, Sheikh Majeed, is an entrepreneur and owns Lala Zaar cinema, Sialkot.

Despite their meager resources, Musarrat’s parents wanted her to be a doctor. They provided her the best possible education they could afford. Musarrat passed the matriculation examination with distinction. Two years later, she passed the intermediate examination from Kinnaird College in Lahore.

Musarrat, who is 71 years of age, and in an excellent health without doubt, lives with her husband and daughter in Toronto Canada. Moreover, she in her real life is known to be very friendly and humorous, cracking jokes frequently. Musarrat sang for quite some time. She retired from the cinema years ago. However, she continued singing for the Pakistan television (PTV) up until recently.

[edit] Career

She had keen interest in music and began singing for radio Pakistan. However, insufficient money from the radio took her to the film director, Anwar Kamal Pasha. She explained to Pasha about her strong desire to sing for the movies. Instead, Pasha suggested her to become an actress. Musarrat needed her parent’s approval. Pasha himself met Musarrat’s father and convinced him to allow his daughter to work in movie industry as a singer and actress.

Pasha changed Musarrat’s name to Chandni and signed her for a side role in his movie. Hence, Chandni made her debut with Nayyar Sultana in Pasha’s film ‘Qatil’ in 1955. Her role was secondary but forceful.

Sheikh Lateef of capital films Lahore planned to make a Punjabi film. Lateef’s friend, poet and script writer, Baba Aalam sia poash, advised him to cast Chandni(Musarrat) in the film. Sheikh Lateef agreed. This was the debut of Musarrat in Punjabi films, with a nick name Chandni. And then Chandni appeared in the hit Punjabi film, ‘Patan’, with her real name, Musarrat Nazeer.

She played the lead role opposite Santosh Kumar also. The producer was Sheikh Lateef and the film was directed by Luqman.

The film ‘Patan’ opened the doors for Musarrat in the Punjabi film industry, which led her to the all time hit film ‘Paatay Khan’. She was the supporting actress. The film was Produced by Shami and Musarrat Nazeer acted along with Noor Jehan and Aslam Pervez.

[edit] Commanding Respect

In her entire movie career, she has always been respected and she herself believes in giving respect to others. She says ‘Give respect, get respect’.

[edit] Filmography

Musarrat also gave performances in Pakistan cinema’s greatest melodramas like the films ‘Maahi munda’ and ‘Yakkay wali’. It is said, the films ‘Yaar beli’, ‘Kartaar Singh’ and ‘Zeher-e-Ishq’ were so interesting and emotional that they left audience with tears in their eyes.

Following is the list of Musarrat's films:^[1]

Naukri, Aankh ka nasha, Baap ka gunah, Qismat, Naya zamana, Jatti, Watan, Raza, Sola Aanay, Street number 77, Gudda guddi, Lakan matti, Seestaan, Sahara, Rukhsana, Thandi sarak, Palkan, Sehti, Sunehray sapnay, Mirza sahebaan, Jaaedaad, Jhoomar, Gulbadan, Ishq per zoar nahi, Chotay sarkaar, Mungoal, Muft bur, Gulfaam, Bahadur, Baaghi, Jaan-e-bahar.

The song "Us bay wafa ka sheher hai" in the mega- hit film "Shaheed", is considered to be the most popular song till today.

[edit] Popular Songs

External videos
	Musarrat Nazir singing 'Mera Laung Gawacha' at the PTV Awards 1985-86

One of Musarrat's greatest achievements are the songs listed below:

• "Mera long gawaacha"
• "Chalay to cut he jaaye ga safar Aahista, Aahista"
• "Apnay haatoan ki lakiroan mein".
• "Lathe Di Chader, Utay Salehti"

[edit] Best Actress Awards

• Nigar Award for best actress in 1958, for the film ‘Zeher-e-Ishq’.
• Nigar Award for best actress in 1959, for the film ‘Jhoomar’.
• Nigar Award for best actress in 1961, for the film ‘Shaheed’.
• Awarded one of the most beautiful Pakistani actresses in cinema history.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Musarrat Nazir at the Internet Movie Database
• Musarrat Nazir's Profile
• Some songs of Musarrat Nazir
• Albums on Amazon.com, Accessed 2009-08-12
• Looking For Musarrat Nazir