The Music of Alamgir: Albela Rahi

Posted on May 20, 2007
Filed Under >Bilal Zuberi, Music, People, TV, Movies & Theatre
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Bilal Zuberi

A young boy was born in 1954 in what is now Bangladesh. At the age of around 15, he moved to Karachi in search of a future in the music industry. He had brought nothing else with him but a guitar and a passion to sing. He settled in the PECHS area of Karachi and started singing in the evenings at a small cafe called “Cafe D Khan” on Tariq Road. He would not get paid for his gig, but did get a free meal each day. For an aspiring musician, just a free meal and an attentive audience was worth the effort.

And that is how a legend emerged. Who among us has not heard of Alamgir? From that small dimly lit cafe he got introduced to Khushbakhat Shujaat from the Karachi TV station and then to Sohail Rana, the music maestro who made careers for so many people. His guitar skills and rendition of a famous spanish song Guanatanamera, altered to beAlbela Rahi in Urdu landed him a spot on TV, and from there on he never looked back. In his own words he kept singing because it was his passion, and mesmerisingly watched himself become a superstar right before his own eyes.

Alamgir was the King of Pakistan Pop Music until mid 90’s, and then, he disappeared. Yes, nobody has known for the past decade or so where Alamgir went. The guy who was ubiquitous on TV, who sang popular songs on TV and film, and who had one super hit after another, from Dekha Na Thaa to Yeh Shaam Aur Tera Naam, “Neeley Neeley Amber per”, Cococorina“, “Mainey Tumharee Gagar Sey and Maaon Kee Dua just left his fans hanging and disappeared from the scene.

But this weekend I had a chance to meet Alamgir in person in Boston and listen to his songs again. Backstage I asked him about his story and it was intriguing. But before that, let me tell you how inspired I felt meeting someone so simple and down to earth. He has been on top of the world once, and yet he only speaks about his life long passion for music and singing. He has received numerous awards in absentia, but his biggest disappointment has been leaving his fans behind and not taking the time to tell them what he was going through.

Alamgir had become a star from the age of 15 and 25+ years of stardom took its toll on him. The hectic schedule, and pressure of moving from show to show, music studios to film recordings, and then to TV performances, simply sapped the energy out of him. He turned 40 and realized he had given so much to his fans, to his country, but had had not set aside any time for himself. That is when he moved to the USA and settled here, trying to find some space for his own life and family.

For the past 10-12 years he has been in the USA, shying away from public spotlight in Pakistan. But his passion for music continues. He has built a studio at home where sings and rehearses every day, he still performs on the weekends at small events around the US cities, and to his fans like myself, his voice still sounds the same as it did back in the 80’s and 90’s in Pakistan.

This weekend when he got on stage he did not have flashy clothes on, neither did his performance stage have glittering lights or a large band of musicians – but his energy was infectious. He danced around, making even people in their mid-60’s move their arms around to join his rhythm. As for me, I was probably singing louder than he was. It was fabulous singing the classics I grew up with.

Alamgir is known to have composed and sung over 400 songs in 20+ languages. Besides Urdu, his songs in Bengali are also well known to his fans in both Pakistan and Bangladesh. Since the 1970’s, and we are talking of the days before Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, Vital Signs, Junoon etc, he was the heart throb of the young generation. He brought Elvis like energy to his live and TV performances and brought the audience on its feet. I still remember an uncle trying to imitate him on “Dekha Na Thaa” at a family party, and I wonder how many of us have participated in, or at least witnessed, mehndi functions with Dandia dancing to the tune of “Mainey Tumharee Gagar Sey“.

Alamgir went back to Pakistan last year after more than 10 years. He was invited to TMA ceremony where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He sang, and he sang like never before. In his own words he was overwhelmed by emotions, by the love he saw his fans still had for him, and how much they wanted him back. Well, he told me he does plan to go back now for a few months, release 1 or 2 new videos, and give a proper good bye to his fans. Until then, he sends his hello from Atlanta, Georgia where he is now settled with his wife and son.

Below, I am attaching links to a few videos that show the versatility of his talent.

The following is a song from Pakistani movie Jageer. The song is “Hum Chalay to Hamarey“:

HUM CHALAY TU HAMARAY (JAGEER)
03:48

The next video is that of Alamgir performing “Maoon Ki Dua” on PTV:

Pakistan national song
05:50

And finally, watch one of Alamgir’s recent performances in the US singing Mehndi Hasan’s “Gulon mein rang bharey“:

Ghazal concert – Alamgir and Monir Live! in Atlanta, Georgia
08:41

37 responses to “The Music of Alamgir: Albela Rahi”

  1. Sajid says:

    i must say it is “well puted” text for the legend, he’s among my favorite musicans. i also grew up memorizing his songs it’s like they r subconcious attatchement of my memory and can pop out any time as like today on my way back home from isl i was singing under my tongue “shaam say pehlay anna” along with fadin sunlight…
    i sure and we for sure miss him.
    may GOD bless him where ever he’s.

    Sajid

  2. MOHAMMAD AYAZ SAGAR says:

    Thanks a lot for information about our legendry singer i like him very much and previous year’s are very hard for artists because we have not
    many T.v channels but now, i want to say about M.r Alamgir he have very
    good voice and his songs are very sweet and very simple i will remember my old memories and i know we are listin alamgir songs in P.T.V and today i am feel very glad read his history and tell me please where he is
    going and i really like his song ALBELA RAHI i wish you all the best thing do with our LEGENDRY SINGER
    ITS MY HEART VOICE

  3. Jawad Ali says:

    I am a Bengali, and from what I had seen Alamgir’s Voice is made for Urdu songs. It sounds the best more than Bengali or any other language he sang, in Urdu.

  4. I loved his songs like bang bang, albela rahi etc

    http://pakspectator.blogspot.com

  5. Kasim Mahmood says:

    I recall Alamgir being so popular among the boys and girls of the 70s and 80s, that in order to avoid being mobbed by them at the end of his show, he would pretend as if his walking the down the stage was part of the act but then suddenly, he’d rush out .. almost running to get into his car and speed away. That was late 70s and early 80s. But like anything else, times changed. I later saw Alamgir singing at parties and no one paying attention. Instead, most of the audience enjoyed the food and casual conversation while he was singing. It was a sad sight but that’s part of showbiz. I believe new pop singers were emerging and Alamgir, like many other legends, was unable to reinvent himself. He faded faster than most expected but I am glad he doesn’t hold a grudge any more and went back to Pakistan, the country that made him what he is today.

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