Sardul Singh Kwatra was an Indian film director and music composer.[1] He composed music for Hindi and Punjabi films.[1]

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Early life

Kwatra was born in 1928 to a Sikh family in Lahore in British Punjab. He was very fond of music since his childhood. During his school days he got his initial training in classical music from Sardar Avtar Singh of Lahore.[1] Later joined popular music director Hansraj Behl as an assistant.[1]

Career

After partition, Kwatra's family moved to Amritsar and then to Bombay. The first film of Kwatra Production was a Punjabi film, Posti (1950).[2] The entire cast were refugees from Lahore. Kwatra picked Shyama for the female lead. The music of the film was a hit and critically acclaimed.[1] Kwatra modified the folk tunes of Punjab and introduced Asha Bhosle and Jagjit Kaur, who was married to Mohammed Zahur Khayyam, as playback singers for Punjabi films, with Asha Bhosle making her debut.[2] In 1953, another Kwatra Production, Kaude Shah with Shyama as heroine, became a success at the box office.[1] Kwatra also composed the music of another Punjabi film Vanjara, in which Lata Mangeshkar sang majority of songs. He also introduced Shaminder as a playback singer. He later composed music for some Hindi films[2] from which, Goonj and Mirza Sahiban 1953 are both successful.[1]

In the mid 1970s Kwatra moved to Chandigarh and established the Chandigarh Film Institute in sector 5.[2] His last assignment was a Punjabi film, Unkhilli Muttiar in 1983. He lived in Bombay from 1975 with his eldest son.^{[citation needed]} He was great friends with actor Pradeep Kumar.

Kwatra left for U.S. where he died on 06.07.2005.[1][2]

Personal life

Kwatra was in love with a Muslim woman[1] and composed some tunes celebrating her femininity and charm. He left Lahore in 1947 but his partner's appearance was constantly on his mind and once admitted that he "can't create good music without being in love."[1]

Movies

This section does not cite any sources. (March 2022)

Kwatra's song, "Tu Aaye Na Aaye” sang by Talat Mahmood, was used in the 1952 movie Bewafa

• Ek Teri Nishani (1949)
• Jalte Deep (1950)
• Man ka Meet (1950)
• Shagan (1951) combine with Husnlal - Bhagatram
• Posti (1951) Punjabi movie
• Goonj (1952) Home production movie banner under [ Kwatra Art Production's Ltd ]
• Mirza Sahiban (1953)
• Koday Shah (1953) Punjabi movie
• Pilpili Saheb (1954) Home production movie banner under [ Kwatra Films ]
• Vanjara (1954) Punjabi movie
• Tees Maar Khan (1955)
• Son of Ali Baba (1955)
• Kala Chor (1956)
• Char Minar (1956)
• Adalat (1958 film) Act only
• Lady Robinhood (1959)
• Heer Sayal (1960) Punjabi Movie Directed by he's brother H.S Kwatra Home production movie banner under [Kwatra Pictures]
• Air Mail (1960)
• Dekha Jayega (1960)
• Gypsy Girl (1961)
• Khilari (1961)
• Billo (1961) Punjabi movie
• Deccan Queen (1962)
• Kala Chashma (1962)
• Chandrashekhar Azad (1963)
• Satluj De Kande (1964) Punjabi movie
• Accident (1965)
• Daku Mansingh (1971)
• Yamla Jatt (1977) Punjabi movie
• Lambardarni (1980) Punjabi movie
• Do Posti (1981) Punjabi movie
• Bagga Daku (1983) Punjabi Movie
• Patwari (1983) Punjabi movie
• Unkhilli Muttiar (1983) Punjabi movie

References