Adil Najam
Was Waheed Murad was the very first ‘heart throb’ and ’super star’ of Pakistan?
Cricketers Fazal Mahmood and Merry Max (Maqsood Ahmad) certainly had their groupies well before Waheed Murad, but they were ‘niche stars’.
The phenomenon called Waheed Murad took the country by storm - across class and across locations - and I would venture to say that certainly no film-star in Pakistan has had the sway over the public imagination that he had at his peak; for many, the myth reigns still.
The one movie star who was greater-than-life in somewhat similar dimensions (and more literally) was Sultan Rahi, but he too was defined by a niche constrained by language (Punjabi in his case), and to a large extent class.
These, of course, are subjective judgements. Do you think there were other ‘heart throbs’ of this stature before him? After him?
To me, the image of Waheed Murad is forever linked to such classic songs as ‘ko-ko-korina’ and ‘aakailey na jaana’ … or just about anything from the magic team of Waheed Murad and Ahmad Rushdi. Here is a little taste of vintage Waheed Murad, from the movie Ladla. The print quality is not very good and this is certainly not the best of Waheed Murad. However, it is representative of the Waheed-Rushdi genre.
Plus, I like the song, and I find the quaint ‘twist’ dance routine amusing. Indeed, the whole ambiance of the song is worth thinking about in terms of what was. Enjoy, ’socha tha piyar na karain gay’.
As an added treat, here is another video clip of an old song. This is really much more about Madam (Noor Jahan, of course, see here) and about Shamim Ara (who, by the way, may be the most phenomenal of women in Pakistani film, having reigned the screen first as a top heroine and then as a top Producer and Director). Movie buffs, note also the ‘young’ Rangeela.. and his antics with Waheed Murad, who here is portraying his ‘chocolate’ mood: melow, sensitive, smooth, and silent. To me, at least, ‘abhi dhoond he rahi thi’ is a truly beautiful song; one from an era when Pakistani film music was at its best.
Waheed Murad was a great actor and it is unfortunate that he died in his forties. However,his name will live for ever in the film
industry of Pakistan. I have seen many of his
movies but Arman, Kaneez and Hera & Pathar wer
the best.
Waqas
meri pasand waheed murad shahid shabnum raani rozina
waheed murad is greatest actor
Undoubtedly, the legend of Pakistani films in 60’s and 70’s. I remember vividly when people used to flock cinema halls to see his movies. Traffic used to come to a halt in Saddar and on MA Jinnah road near all major cinema halls. Oh, good old days of migical moments!
I agree with some of the comments here about Santosh Kumar and Nadeem.
Roshan: Waheed Murad died of heart failure.
[...] For me, however, the birth of ‘popular pop’ came with Ahmad Rushdi; especially when he teamed up with Waheed Murad. We have argued here that Waheed Murad might have been the very first ‘heart throb’ hero of Pakistan. Let me now suggest that Ahmad Rushdie defined ‘kool’ as much as Waheed Murad and that Ahmad Rushdie was the first real Pop Superstar of Pakistan. [...]
Waheed Murad wrote, directed, produced and acted in super hit movies. Now how many stars can do that?
Salaam Waheed Murad!
Oh I just love these videos. I wish I was around in the Pakistan of the 60s.
The twist in teh first video is a killer and goes so well with the white pants and white shoes. And in the second video, it is so great that everyone in every film used to know how to play the piano :-)
‘Do you think there were other ‘heart throbs’ of this stature before him? After him?’
I think nobody beats the Imran Khan of the 80s as the biggest heart throb to have graced the country. Of course, since I wasn’t around during the Waheed Murad days I cannot be too sure about his fan following at that time, which judging from what older people say must certainly have been immense.
I love both these songs and seeing their video would have been a treat but I can’t see them here. Must be some UAE thing.