“Where words leave off, music begins,” once said famous German poet Heinrich Heine. There is no doubt that music has a universal language and good music makes its own way like water.

The ‘70s was an era of literature and art; the whole world experienced a classy richness in creativity in that era. Pakistan was no exception. Celluloid business in Pakistan bolstered like anything during the ‘70s. A major chunk of this roaring success of movies at the box office was due to pleasing music and some magnificent playback singers.

When talking of singers, one cannot help but mention the superb and evergreen A. Nayyar.

In a recent chit chat, this great singer, who created ripples in tinsel town by lending his voice to screen gods of the ‘70s, went through chapters from the days of yore and shared many good memories as well as divulging information about a music academy he planned to launch.

A. Nayyar’s music journey started in a small town of Punjab, Arifwala, where he spent his childhood watching both Indian and Pakistani movies at a cinema named Rachna at a stone’s throw from his house.

“I was inspired to sing by listening to Muhammad Rafi, Talat Mehmood and Saleem Raza. The cinema was so close to my house that I could clearly listen to what point the film was at or which song was playing.”

A student of legendary musician Wajahat Atre, who also sought guidance from ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan, Nayyar studied in Arifwala till Class-V and later shifted to Lahore. There he got into St Francis School and completed his matriculation after which he got admission to the then-called Forman Christian College. He graduated with a BEd degree from Government Central Training College in 1975.

While sharing snippets from his college life, he clarified his date of birth mentioned on various websites -- Sept 17, 1950 – was incorrect; his correct date of birth was April 14, 1955 and that he was born in Ransonabad village, Sahiwal district.

Nayyar first appeared on the TV show Naye Fankar in 1974 however he started playback singing with the film Bahisht with the song ‘Yunhi Din Kat Jaye’. The singer said he was particularly happy about lending his voice to a song picturised on his favourite actor Munawar Zarif for the film Ayaash, ‘Billi Teri Akh’.

Nayyar attained popularity overnight from a duet with Naheed Akhtar for the film Kharidar, ‘Pyar To Ik Din Hona Tha’. He became a household name with a song from Jasoos, ‘Sathi Mujay Mil Gaya’; from Amber, ‘Milay Do Sathi Khili Do Kaliyan’; and from Khuda Aur Mohabbat, ‘Ik Baat Kahoon Dildara’.

Mentioning his favourite songs, the veteran singer said he personally liked ‘Mein To Jala Aisa Jeewan Bhar Kya Deep Jalay’ and ‘Tanhaiyon Mein Dhal Jayen Gay’.

He told Dawn he was setting up a music academy. “The problem we are facing is that the young generation wants a shortcut to success, but singing is something that cannot be learnt without putting one’s soul and mind to it.”

To him, it was important to teach the sensibilities of music so that the youth who want to learn singing could become quality singers. Why is he not singing for films now?

“I was offered a few songs by new filmmakers, but either the songs had vulgar verses or copied tunes. So I refused them straightaway. Singing and good singing has some mannerism and moralities. Director Altaf Hussain asked me to sing a song to the tune of popular Hindi song ‘Chandni O Meri Chandni’ that would be changed to ‘Nadra O Meri Nadra’. Iqbal Kashmiri asked me to sing a song sung by Kumar Sanu, ‘Barsat Kay Mausam Mein Ghar Say Nikal Aya’. I asked Kashmiri sahib to invite Sanu and ask him to sing the song because it had the same lyrics and tune. By the way, Kumar Sanu considers me his guru and has even recorded an album of my songs he has sung.”

Was he ever offered any project from India? “Yes, there were offers but I think my own country has given me a lot of respect so why take so much hassle? There was a film Doosra Kinara, a co-production between India and Pakistan that was never released. I was offered to sing for that film directed by Ghazanfar Ali, a former producer at PTV. Asha Bhosle’s son Hemant composed the music and I asked them to send the tracks to Pakistan. They sent the tracks and Mehnaz and I sang those songs. In India, Asha Bhosle and Amit Kumar sang some of the songs, but it never got released.”

Nayyar further told Dawn that according to the recording company EMI, he had sung 4,200 songs. Despite his extraordinary services to film music, he said he was never awarded the Pride of Performance. He was, however, conferred with a presidential award during the Ziaul Haq era that carried a cash prize of Rs25,000, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016