Musarrat Nazir Khawaja (; born 13 October 1940) is a Pakistani singer and film actress. She was one of the leading actresses of Pakistani cinema, acting in both Urdu and Punjabi films during the 1950s and 1960s. She is known as The Silver Screen's Sparkling Star. Many years later, she returned to the industry, focusing on singing, particularly wedding and folk songs. Her accolades include three Nigar Awards and a Pride of Performance.
Nazir made her acting debut with Anwar Kamal Pasha's Qaatil (1955) in a supporting role. Her portrayals in the commercially successful Punjabi romance-dramas Pattan (1955), Mahi Munda (1956), Yakke Wali (1957), and the partition-themed Kartar Singh (1959) cemented her career as a leading actress. For her performances in Zehr-e-Ishq (1958), Jhoomer (1959), and Shaheed (1962), she won three Nigar Awards for Best Actress. Nazir then took retirement from acting and shifted to Canada with her husband, returning to Pakistan in the 1970s. During that period, she pursued a career in singing, focusing on folk wedding songs and ghazals, among other genres.
Early life Nazir was born on October 13, 1940. Hailing from a middle-class Kashmiri Punjabi family in Lahore, her father, Khwaja Nazir Ahmed, worked as a registered contractor in the Lahore Municipal Corporation. Early in her life, her parents wanted her to be a doctor, and provided her with the best possible education they could afford. Nazir passed the matriculation examination with distinction and passed the intermediate examination from Kinnaird College in Lahore.
Career She had keen interest in music and began singing for Radio Pakistan in the early 1950s. However, insufficient money from the radio took her to the film director Anwar Kamal Pasha in 1955. She explained to Pasha her strong desire to sing for his movies. Instead, Pasha suggested that she should become an actress. Musarrat needed her parents' approval. Pasha himself met Musarrat's father and convinced him to allow his daughter to work in the movie industry as a singer and actress.
Pasha changed Musarrat's name to her professional name Chandani and signed her up for a side role in his movie. Hence, Chandani made her debut with Sabiha Khanum and Nayyar Sultana in Pasha's film Qatil in 1955. Her role was secondary but effective.
On the advice of his friend, poet and script writer, Baba Aalam Siah Posh, Sheikh Lateef of Capital Films, Lahore cast Chandani (Musarrat Nazir) in the Punjabi Pattan (1955). This was her debut in Punjabi films under her real name, Musarrat Nazir, as she played the lead role opposite Santosh Kumar. The producer was Sheikh Lateef and the film was directed by Luqman. The film Pattan opened the doors for Musarrat in the Punjabi film industry, which led her to the hit film Patay Khan (1955). She was the supporting actress. The film was produced by film actress Shammi and Musarrat Nazir acted in a supporting role along with Noor Jehan and Aslam Pervaiz. Her main competitor actresses, in those days, were Sabiha Khanum, Asha Posley, Bahar Begum, Nayyar Sultana, Jamila Razzaq, Yasmin, Neelo and Noor Jehan.
Musarrat also gave performances in Pakistan cinema's greatest melodramas like the films Mahi Munda (1956) and Yakke Wali (1957).
The film song Us bay wafa ka sheher hai in the film Shaheed (1962), is considered to be one of the popular songs in 2022. Even after she retired from her film career in 1988, she had continued to sing for Pakistan Television until recently.
Personal life Nazir married physician Arshad Majeed and relocated to Canada in 1965. The couple has three children, including son Omar Majeed, a film director. Nazir chose to abandon her thriving film career to accompany her husband, prioritizing her personal life.
In late 1970s, the couple planned to return to Pakistan and settle in Lahore. Majeed intended to set up a hospital in Lahore and they purchased a home for this purpose. However, after investing significant time and resources, the project was abandoned.
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNetwork1983 Tariq Aziz Show Herself PTV1984 20 Golden Years Of PTV Herself PTV1986 Mehmil Herself PTV
Film Year Film Language1955 Qatil Urdu Pattan Punjabi Paatay Khan 1956 Mahi Munda Kismet Urdu Peegan Punjabi Mirza Sahiban Urdu Baghi Guddi Gudda Punjabi 1957 Seestan Urdu Yakke Wali Punjabi Palkaan Thandi Sarak Urdu Aankh Ka Nasha Sethi Punjabi Baap Ka Gunah Urdu1958 Naya Zamana Jaan-E-Bahar Zehr-e-Ishq Jatti Punjabi Rukhsana Urdu1959 Society Sahara 16 Aanay Yaar Beli Punjabi Kartar Singh Raaz Urdu Lukkan Meeti Punjabi Jaidad Jhoomer Urdu1960 Clerk Street 77 Gul Badan Noukari Watan Dil-e-Nadan Daku Ki Larki1961 Chotay Sarkaar Sunehray Sapnay Mangol Muftbar Punjabi Gulfam Urdu 1962 Shaheed Ek Manzil 2 Rahen 1963 Ishq Par Zor Nahin 1967 Bahadur 1970 Shanakhat Parade Punjabi 1988 Da Bhabhi Bangri Pashto
Discography Musarrat Nazir made an appearance on Pakistani television's Tariq Aziz Show in 1983. Songs from that show became highly popular in Pakistan.
Her popular songs are listed below: Gulshan Ki Baharon Mein Mera Laung Gawacha (1983), song lyrics by Khawaja Pervez was a runaway hit song Chalay To Kat Hi Jaaye Ga Safar Aahistah, Aahistah Apnay Haathoan Ki Lakiroan Mein Lathe Di Chader Uttay Saleti Rung Mahiya, a traditional folk song of Punjab Chitta Kukkar Banairey Tay Mehndi Ni Mehndi Jogi Uttar Paharon Aaya (1985) Mein Kamli Da Dhola
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1958 Nigar Awards Best Actress Zehr-e-Ishq 1959 Jhoomer 1962 Shaheed 1989 Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan Contribution to Cinema Industry
In popular culture Bushra Ansari parodied her singing style and songs several times. In 2021, Atif Aslam paid tribute to her recreating her song "Chale To Kat Hi Jayega Safar". In 2022, Syra Yousuf recreates Nazir's look from her famous song "Mera Long Gawacha" for a brand campaign.
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