Saleem Shehzad (born March 1946) is a Pakistani film, television, and radio singer. He is known for his song, "Piyar Ki Yaad Nigahon Mein Sajaye Rakhna", playback vocalized for the Urdu movie Talaash in 1976.
Saleem Shehzad | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1946 Ajmer, British India |
| Origin | Lahore |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1959–1995 |
Shehzad was born in March 1945, in Ajmer, British India. His family migrated to Karachi, Pakistan after the partition in 1947. His father Azeem Prem Raagi was a poet who wanted his son to be a singer. Shehzad got his early music training from Ustaad Baray Ghulam Ali Khan who was residing in Lahore.[1][2]
Shehzad's career as a playback singer started with a song sung for the film, "Savera", released in 1959. In 1962, he won a film competition that was held to select singers for a movie, "Hum Ek Hein" in Lahore. His first song, "Onchay Onchay Mehalon Mein Dekho", was penned by Fayyaz Hashmi and composed by M. Ali Sharif. In 1964, he was offered a job at Radio Pakistan, Lahore, where he served for the next eighteen years and recorded over two thousand songs, ghazals, and Na'ats.[1][2]
In 1964, the composer Sohail Rana picked Shehzad as a playback vocalist for his film, "Heera Aur Pathar". In the film, Shehzad sang a duet, along with Talat Siddiqui, "Mujhay Ik Larky Se Piyar Ho Gaya", that became a hit of the time. His other hit song, "Mohabbat Ke Diye Jala Lo", came from the movie, "Aslam o Alaikum" in 1969. In 1976, he recorded a song, "Piyar Ki Yaad Nigahon Mein Sajaye Rakhna", for the film "Talash", that later became his identity. His last movie as a playback singer was Moeen Akhtar's "Mr. K2", which was released in 1995.[1][2]
Shehzad lives in Karachi and gives music lessons to young singers at his home.[1] In 2021, he almost lost his eye sight due to a mistreated ocular disease.[3][4]
Shehzad sang 23 songs for 19 Urdu film:[5]
| Song title | Lyrics by | Music by | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.A.T. Rat, Maani Chuha, C.A.T. Cat, Maani Billi.. | Nazim Panipati | Manzoor | Savera (1959) |
| Mujhay Ik Larki Se Piyar Ho Gaya (co-singer: Talat Siddiqui) | Masroor Anwar | Sohail Rana | Heera Aur Pathar (1964) |
| Rahay Himmat Jawan Apni Sathi Rahay Honto Peh Apnay Tarana | Masroor Anwar | Sohail Rana | Heera Aur Pathar (1964) |
| Mohabbat Kay Diye Jala Lo, Wafa Kay Geet Gungana Lo | Sohail Iqbal | Nazar-Sabir | Asslam-o-Elaikum (1969) |
| Zindagi To Aap Ki Raanaion Ka Naam Hay (co-singer: Runa Laila) | Masroor Anwar | Sohail Rana | Saughaat (1970) |
| Piyar Ki Yaad Nigahon Mein Sajaye Rakhna | Masroor Anwar | Nisar Bazmi | Talaash (1976) |