Nayyara Noor

By Anis Ahmed Shakur

Nayyara became a singer by chance. What happened was that in the early seventies, she was doing a course with a diploma granted at completion in textile designing from the national college of arts. At that time colleges and universities regularly held all Pakistan contests in various subjects, in which she often participated and won prizes, as well. A little later, she introduced herself to the relevant people in the Pakistan television. In those days, Rafiq Waraij had been affiliated with an entertainment program. He had heard about Nayyara's talents and decided to give her an opportunity to sing. Besides, in the mid-seventies, Nayyara had recorded a lot of geeth and ghazals for Arshad Mehmud for Pakistan television's 'such gup' and 'taal matol'. Moreover, during those days, she was fond of listening to Begum Akhtar's (Nayyara is inspired by Begum Akhtar) ghazals in old fashioned r m p gramophone record players (audio cassette players were not common then) which further enhanced her aptitude in music. Further, in college days, she was accustomed to singing ghazals, which had been originally recorded in Begum Akhtar's voice and Nayyara gained a lot of popularity. In Nayyara's own words: 'Ghazal leaves a profound impact on the listener. The effect is rapid and lasting'.

Following are some ghazals in Nayyara's voice, which were recorded for Pakistan television and which have virtually immortalized the television's image to the general public. Aye jazba-e-dil gar mein chahoon' (poet: Behzad Lakhnavi, PTV's music program: 'sukhanwar') 'Jazba-e-dil' was an instant hit.  'Kabhi hum khoobsoorat thay': (poet: Ahmed Shamim, PTV's drama serial: 'Teesra kinara') 'Chalo uskoh' (Nazm, lyrics: Zehra Nigah, music: Mian Sheheryaar, PTV's drama'83: 'Daur-e-junoon')  'Ghata ghanghor, ghor': (geeth: Karachi television's 'Silver Jubilee', originally recorded in Khursheed Begum's voice)  While sharing her views with the audience, Nayyara had said: 'It is a matter of tremendous pleasure and honor for a singer to be praised by a luminary (poet, musician etc.) In her case, she added, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi was all praise for the blank verse.

Let us look at some all time great ghazals recorded in her voice: 

'Rang barsaat nay bharay kuchh tou' (poet: Nasir Kazmi: Nayyara's favorite poet) 
'Phir sawan ruth ki pawan chali' (poet: Nasir kazmi) 
'Aye ishq hamay barbaad na kar':(Nazm, poet: Akhtar Shirani, composer: Khalil Ahmed) 

Furthermore, Nayyara believes that Ibn-e-Insha's ghazals carry a unique pathos: 

'Jal tou jalao gori' (poet: Ibn-e-Insha) 

National songs in Nayyara's voice: 

'Watan ki mitti gawah rehna' is widely listened from Karachi to Khyber. 

During her long singing career, she has sung ghazals, geeth, nazm and national songs. Sober and shy, she has always maintained her high singing standards from the beginning. She has also recorded hundreds of songs for the Pakistani films. 

From romantic scores like: 

'Tera saya jahan bhi ho sajna (film: 'Gharana', lyrics: Kaleem Usmani) 
'Too he bata,pagli pawan (film: 'Phool meray gulshan ka') 
'Itna bhi na chaho mujhay' (film: 'Parda na uthao') 
'Roothay ho tum, tum ko kaisay mana oon piya' (film: 'Aa'ena', lyrics: Kaleem Usmani, music: Robin Ghosh) 

to tragic numbers like: 

'Aaj gham hai tou kiya'(film:'Mastana') 
'Toot gaya sapna'(film:'Subha ka tara')

Nayyara's versatile voice touches the hearts of her myriad of fans in Pakistan and across the borders alike. For her, fame is the word. Some of her super hit songs are listed here below: 

'Boal ri gurya boal' (film: 'Aas', lyrics: Masroor Anwar) 
'Ik ajnabi chehray'(film:'Baghi haseena') 
'Mera pyar tumhe ho'(film: 'Farz aur mamta) 
'Mausum tou diwana hai'(film: 'Dou saathi') 
'Tera pyar bun kay Aaye' (film: 'Bhool') 
Zara meri nabz deikh kar'(film: 'Ajnabi') 
'Phool bun ja-oon gee' (film: 'Qismath') 
'Kuchh loag mohabbat ka sila' (film: 'Gumrah')

Nayyara's innumerable admirers look forward to listening to her mellifluous voice for many years. 

Nayyara: Keep on smiling!