KARACHI, July 25: Renowned music composer Buland Iqbal, the son of Ustad Bundu Khan, died here on Thursday morning. He was 83.

Buland Iqbal was part of the famous music composing duo Laal Mohammad-Iqbal that composed many a hit film song in the 1960s and ‘70s. Some of the films for which he composed music included Dhamaka, 12 Baje, Jaag Utha Insaan, Merey Laal, Doosri Maan and Naseeb Apna Apna (which had the hit song ‘Ay abr-e-karam’).

Funeral prayers for Buland Iqbal were offered at Liaqatabad Jama Masjid and he was laid to rest in the Liaquatabad C Area graveyard.

Speaking to Dawn about the late Mr Iqbal, music department head of Napa Ustad Nafees Ahmed said: “He was a very fine teacher of music. And everybody knows that he was the creator of countless famous film songs. The marked feature of his compositions was that he lent a folkish feel to them.”

Tahzeeb Foundation’s Sharif Awan said: “I was aware that he hadn’t been keeping well lately. It is sad that he’s no more. The background that he had, being the son of Ustad Bundu Khan, he was bound to play the sarangi, and he did, but not for long. Film music remained his main interest. He was a very good teacher and taught many music enthusiasts in Karachi. His services were of a tangible nature because teaching is a very demanding job.”

Writer and connoisseur of music Anwar Maqsood said: “He was an extremely cultured individual, and this particular trait reflected in his art as well. He had many pupils and admirers. He was a great son of a great father (Bundu Khan was a master sarangi player).

“As far as his film music is concerned, he always tried to instill some elements of classical music in his songs. You can easily detect hints of ragas and raginis in his compositions,” said Mr Maqsood Poet Sahar Ansari said: “He belonged to a traditional music family which is why he never lost sight of tradition in his compositions.”