Written by: Mahnoor Fatima
Posted on: July 16, 2020 | 
Musarrat Nazir in a Recording Studio
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During the heydays of Pakistani cinema in the 1960s, and Pakistani television in the 1980s, an instantly recognizable face was that of Mussarat Nazir. Her signature nasal timbre, her bright jewelry, and her gentle swaying to the music captivated audiences of all ages. Mussarat Nazir was both an actress of the early days of the Pakistani film industry in the 1950’s and a singer who brought Punjabi folk songs into the mainstream. Her breadth of work, and her charismatic beauty catapulted her to becoming one of Pakistan’s most popular and appealing stars.
Born in October 1940 to a family of Kashmiri Punjabis settled in Peshawar, Nazir dreamt of becoming a singer while her parents wanted her to pursue medicine. In the early 1950s, she sang for Radio Pakistan in Lahore but that was not financially viable for her. She approached the famous director Anwar Kamal Pasha in 1955 to sing in his films. It is said that Pasha suggested she act, and she convinced her parents to let her act in a supporting role in his film ‘Qatil’ (Killer). She was to have a supporting role with the likes of Sabiha Khanum and Nayyar Sultana, under the name Chandni.
Musarrat Nazir in a PTV Production
However, while ‘Qatil’ was met with lukewarm reviews, she signed up for the film ‘Pattan’ with Santosh Kumar as the lead in the same year, but under her own name. This was a bigger hit, and began Nazir’s foray into Punjabi cinema and the film studios of Lahore. At the time, she rivaled the likes of Sabiha Khanum and Madam Noor Jehan with her curvy figure, dark hair, and kohl-filled eyes. However, it was not just her physical beauty that drew audiences to the cinema, but her ability to convey a range of emotions as both a femme fatale, and an innocent tomboy with equal conviction.
One of her most popular films was the critically acclaimed ‘Shaheed’, written by Riaz Shahid (Shaan Shahid’s father). It was considered a blockbuster for its unique storyline, acting and memorable songs which were penned by the likes of Munir Niazi, Tanvir Naqvi, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The film had an anti-imperialist theme, and was inspired by the story of Lawrence of Arabia. The film’s hit song ‘Uss Bewafa ke Sheher Mein (In the City of the Unfaithful)’, is still remembered as one of the classic songs of Pakistani cinema, with its acoustic introduction and Hawaiian strings.
Musarrat Nazir with Ejaz in Shaheed
Similarly, the film ‘Jhoomar’ in 1962 allowed Nazir to shoot in a mountainous landscape as an innocent girl, singing about the simple joys of village life. Nazir was applauded for her refreshing realism and restraint, especially after the psychological drama ‘Zeher-e-Ishq (Poison of Love)’. While ‘Zeher-e-Ishq’ was regarded as Nazir’s best work in terms of complexity and nuanced performance, the film was not met with much acclaim due to its unusual storyline and mature themes.
Musarrat Nazir in Jhoomar
Nazir went on to star in multiple films, both in Urdu and Punjabi. As well as receiving multiple Nigar Awards for Best Actress in the 1950s and 1960s, she was awarded the Pride of Performance Award in 1989 by the Government of Pakistan for her contribution to the arts.
But it was perhaps her appearances on the Tariq Aziz Show in 1983 that made her even more popular with her audience. Throughout the mid-1980’s, her show ‘Shaadi/Bayah and Dholak Geets (Wedding Songs)’, produced by famed PTV producer Khawaja Najam-ul-Hassan, was a hit with audiences. Some of her popular songs include her renditions of folk songs like, ‘Lathay di Chaadar (Cotton Shawl)’, and Chitta Kukar (White Rooster)’, which became essential songs at Pakistani weddings. And of course, one cannot forget her hit ‘Mera Lawng Guwacha’ (I Lost my Nose Ring), made more appealing by her coquettish smiles as she speaks of meeting her lover. She released a slew of albums till the early 1990s, after which she disappeared from the culture scene.
Musarrat Nazir with Khawaja Najam-ul-Hassan
After marrying Dr. Arshad Majeed, she moved to Canada in 1965 at the peak of her film career. Although they came to Lahore in the 1970s to build a hospital, undisclosed obstacles prevented them from completing their goal, and they returned to Canada raise their family. While it is unlikely that she would make an appearance to electrify the audience on television again, Nazir remains in the hearts of those who loved her films, and made her songs a part of their wedding memories. She will be remembered for her glittering persona on PTV, or even as the young girl roaming the fields of Punjab, looking for her lost nose ring.
Uss Bewafa Ka Sheher
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