Karachi
Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi organized a grand event to mark the 100th birthday of the legendary musician Nisar Bazmi at the Haseena Moin Hall.
The event saw the participation of prominent figures from the film and entertainment industry, including President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah, veteran actors Mustafa Qureshi, Mutaz Begum, Hassan Jahangir, and Ustad Nafees Khan.
The celebration commenced with the cutting of Nisar Bazmi’s birthday cake, followed by the launch of Tanveer Ahmed Afridi’s book titled “Kon Yaadon Ko Zanjeer Pahnaayega”, which offers an insightful narrative of Nisar Bazmi’s illustrious life and career.
During the event, President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah spoke about the honor of celebrating Nisar Bazmi’s life.
He noted that Nisar Bazmi was a prominent figure in the Pakistani film industry, a longtime member of the Arts Council, and a distinguished music director in South Asia.
Bazmi, who started his musical journey at the age of 10 or 11, at the height of his success, he left India out of his deep love for Pakistan and returned to his homeland.
Shah expressed that the occasion was a tribute to one of the greatest musical talents of this century.
Senior actor Mustafa Qureshi shared his admiration for Bazmi, stating that artists who have passed away continue to live in the hearts of people due to the efforts of individuals like Ahmed Shah.
Senior actor Mustafa Qureshi stated that the artists who have passed away remain alive in the hearts of people because of figures like Ahmed Shah. He urged that just as we are remembering Nisar Bazmi today, we should also recognize all the music composers of our time.
He expressed that Nisar Bazmi played a significant role in his own career, saying that if Bazmi’s music had not been a part of his first film, it would never have become a blockbuster. When the film became a hit, he too became a hit. Mustafa Qureshi emphasized that Nisar Bazmi had a monumental influence on our music industry and was one of the greatest composers in the subcontinent.
Tanveer Ahmed Afridi, the author of the book, remarked that legends never die; they live forever. He mentioned that the book, which spans over 400 pages, and the organization of the event were both made possible through the efforts of Muhammad Ahmed Shah, reflecting his deep love for Nisar Bazmi. Amjad Shah praised Tanveer Ahmed Afridi for demonstrating that he was truly a disciple of Nisar Bazmi, highlighting that Bazmi was one of the few composers whose every song was a hit.
He shared that Bazmi’s approach to ragas was always devoid of stubbornness, something that he personally learned from the maestro. Mumtaz Begum, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, expressed her admiration for Nisar Bazmi, calling him a legend of the industry. She said that although Bazmi is no longer with them, it felt as though he was still watching and listening to the celebration.
The event was further enriched by musical tributes, with performances of Bazmi’s timeless songs by Ikhlaq Bashir, Mumtaz Begum, Nauman Khan, Hassan Jahangir, Tanveer Ahmed Afridi, Roz Mary, Ayat Shaikh, Waheed Khayal, Uroosa Ali, Ayesha, Faisal Latif, Shabana Kausar, Sadaf Muneer, Zubair Yousafi, Salman Alvi, and Arif Ansari. The attendees were also entertained by a stunning performance from the Mehboob Ashraf Band, which added to the celebratory atmosphere
