ABOUT Ghulam Haider

Ghulam Haider (1908 – 9 November 1953), also known by the honorary title Master Ghulam Haider, was a music composer who worked both in India and later Pakistan after it’s independence in 1947. He changed the face of film songs by combining the popular raags with the verve and rhythm of Punjabi music and fought hard to raise the status of music directors by demanding higher wages.

Ghulam Haider was born in Sindh (now Pakistan). As a teenager he always had a love for music. He studied and was admitted to a college of dentistry and completed his education as a dentist and went on to work as a dentist when his passion for music would see him leave the world of dentistry behind forever.

  • Ghulam Haider was born in Hyderabad, Sindh, current day Pakistan, in 1908. This is the oldest photo on record of Ghulam haider.

  • Early years - Ghulam Haider was the son of Sheikh Bilas Ali.

  • Eduation - Ghulam Haider studied and would eventually become a dentist. He would later leave the life of a dentist behind to follow his passion for music and taking a job as a musician at Pancholi Art Studios.

  • First FILM Composition - "Thief of Iraq" a 1934 black and white Hindi action film by Jawahar Movies company

  • Air Lahore - A live broadcast of "Mohabbat", a Hindustani Opera, Lahore Feb 1944.

  • Shaheed, released 1948, was the highest grossing film that year. Music composed by MGH.

  • MGH Died on November 1953 due to throat cancer only a few months after the release of his last film, 'Gulnar'. He was 45 years old.

“Master Ghulam Haider saab ke liye main kehna chahthi hoon: haqeeqat kee toh yeh baat hai, ki main film line main jab se aayi hoon, unhi ki shagird hoon. Unhone hee mujhe mike pe khade hona bataya hai, alfaaz kehne, gaate hue bol ginna, bataya hai; Mere film line ke wahi Ustad hain.”

“I would like to say this about Sir Master Ghulam Haider; this is part of history, that since I started in the film industry, I’ve been his student. He’s the one who taught me how to stand at the mic, how to pronounce words, during singing, I’m telling you; he’s my teacher in film.”

— Noor Jehan (1926 - 2000)

Master Ghulam Haider and Noor Jehan at a rehearsal at Shahnoor Studios in 1952.

“Main kabhi nahi bhoolungi, Master Ghulam Haider saab ne mere liye kya kiya. Maine ‘Majboor’ picture mein pehli baar heroine ke liye gaaya.”

“I will never forget, what Master Ghulam Haider did for me. I sung for the heroine for the first time in the film ‘Majboor’.”

— Lata Mangeshkar (1929 - 2022)

It was in the 1948 film Majboor that Master Ghulam Haider introduced Lata to the film world. Master Ghulam Haider had Mukesh and Lata perform a duet in “Ab Darne Kai Koi Baat Nahin.”

“Master Sahab was a great man. He took personal interest in ensuring that we were able to absorb the nuances of singing and music. He had his own unique style of training where, while making us sing various kinds of songs, he was able to chisel our voices to be able to sing any kind of song. His method of training was hundred times more effective than formal method of training and was akin to polishing of a diamond. I can never forget all that he has done. Mera Ustaad jannat mein jhoole. He used to call me his Chaumukhiya (versatile) artist who could do justice to any song.”

— Shamshad Begum (1919 - 2013)

“No one so revolutionized my outlook on music as Master Ghulam Haider did.”

— Anil Biswas (1914 - 2003)

“He completely changed the complexion of the Indian film music. His asthais and antaras had a peculiar charm because of the perfect blending and exactitude of the compositions. He was also responsible for the introduction of the ‘dholak’. Another novel feature was the importance he attached to the lyrics which were stretched and broken to enhance the beauty and weight of the rhythm.”

— Naushad (1919 - 2006)

FIlMOGRAPHY

Below are Master Ghulam Haider’s major films.

  • Thief of Iraq (1934)

  • Swarg Ki Siidhi (1935)

  • Majnu (1935)

  • Gul-E-Bakawali (1939)

  • Yamla Jat (1940)

  • Khazanchi (1941)

  • Chaudhry (1941)

  • Zamindar (1942)

  • Khandan (1942)

  • Poonji (1943)

  • Bhai (1944)

  • Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944)

  • Phool (1945)

  • Humayun (1945)

  • Bairam Khan (1946)

  • Jag Beeti (1946)

  • Shama (1946)

  • Mehndi (1947)

  • But Tarash (1947)

  • Manjhdhar (1947)

  • Pat-jhad (1948)

  • Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1948)

  • Shaheed (1948)

  • Majboor (1948)

  • Kaneez (1949)

  • Shahida (1949)

  • Putli (1950)

  • Do Saudagar (1950)

  • Beqarar (1950)

  • Aabshar (1953)

  • Gulnar (1953)

AWARDS

In 2011, Master Ghulam Haider was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Distinction) posthumously by the Presideent of Pakistan. Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, is a state-organised honor of Pakistan bestowed on any civilian for their achievements and have performed a great service to Pakistan.

The Government of Pakistan awarded Master Ghulam Haider with the Pride of Performance medal in 2018, the highest national literary award of Pakistan. The Pride of Performance, officially known as Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Government of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sports, and nursing".

Tamga-I-Imtiaz