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Sohail
Rana, who is the son of renowned Urdu poet, Rana Akbar Abadi, was born
in his native city, Agra, Uttar Pardesh, India, to a highly literary,
academic and respectable family.
They all migrated to Pakistan after
partition. Years passed by and Sohail Rana successfully completed his
primary and secondary school education in Hyderabad, Sind, Pakistan.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree
from the University of Karachi through D.J. Science College initially.
Later he received his final B.A. degree from National College, Karachi.
Sohail Rana met Waheed Murad for the first time at a get together at
Waheed Murad’s party in Karachi.
In due course of time, Sohail Rana and
Waheed Murad became very close friends, because of their several common
interests such as music, films and literature. Incidentally, Sohail Rana
took admission in the University of Karachi for Masters Degree in
English literature when Waheed Murad was attending the convocation that
year. Thus started a durable friendship between them, which lasted up
until Veedu’s death on Wednesday, November 23, 1984.
Sohail Rana demonstrated an unusual
aptitude for music as a teenager. He learned music from various ustads
and familiarized himself with numerous musical instruments, which added
to his experience.
The film ‘Insaan badalta hai’ was the
production debut of Waheed Murad. Theatrical release was on May 5, 1961,
starring, Darpan, Shamim Ara and Lehri.
The film ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’
was Waheed Murad’s second film as a producer and the musical debut of
promising Sohail Rana. Theatrical release was on March 29, 1963, Cast
included Darpan, Zeba, Lehri and Agha Jan.
Huge audiences were drawn to the two
highly popular numbers of ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’:
‘Ye khushi ajab khushi hai’ (singer:
Ahmed Rushdi)
‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain, dil ka ajab Aalam hai’ (singer: Saleem
Raza)
Movie zealots agree that ‘Jab say
deikha hai tumhain’ proved to be a stepping-stone in the fabulous movie
career of talented Sohail Rana.
Readers, let us draw near and listen
to his gift:
‘Ko-Ko-Korina,’ ‘Bay taab ho udhar tum’,
‘Jab pyar mein do dil miltay hain’, ‘Oont pay baitha mera munna’, ‘Meri
Qismet bata, hai meri kya kheta.’
Sohail Rana composed the super hit
songs for the golden jubilee film, ‘Heera Aur pathar.’ Theatrical
release was on December 11, 1964. The film completed 68 houseful weeks.
That is part of what sets the quality so far above its competition. Its
music is so innately appealing, so fresh-spirited, that one has to admit
that the standards were set for a much grander scale.
‘Heera Aur pathar’ became a musical
phenomenon, and Sohail Rana became a necessity in the burgeoning music
industry.
Moreover, he accepted every new
challenge, which required a concerted effort and always came out with
the appropriate stuff, what people wanted to hear.
By the mid-1960s, Sohail Rana had
become such a success, where he was able to fathom the depths of
emotions through his musical masterpieces.
At the end of every accomplishment, he
raised his levels of aspiration and expectation. One could discern that
every piece of music was torn straight from his soul.
Sohail Rana earned plaudits from his
fans for the superb composition of ‘Mujhay tum say mohabbat hai’ (Film
‘Heera Aur pathar’, duet, Ahmed Rushdi – Najma Niazi), which
figuratively added fresh elements to his stew.
The tragic score, ‘Ja ja ray chanda ja
ray’ was recorded in Mala’s voice and the song was composed by the great
Sohail Rana, for ‘Heera Aur Pathar.’
Pakistan’s first platinum jubilee
film, ‘Armaan’ was released on March 18, 1966, which may be the finest
and most gripping movie to date. It is an epic tale of broken hearts and
broken dreams.
Sohail Rana’s excellent composition
for the songs of ‘Armaan’ is, indeed, his greatest achievement as a
music composer, which will stand as a musical high point as long as the
Pakistani film industry exists.
A savant said years ago that, ‘Lyrics
may come from ones mind. But music comes from the heart.’
There might not be a better example of
the above statement than the evergreen song, ‘Akele na jana,’ superbly
composed by Sohail Rana. In fact, marvelous Mala mesmerized millions
through her greatest singing achievement, when ‘Akele na jana’ was
recorded in her magnificent voice.
Most definitely, Sohail Rana’s music
compositions in general and ‘Akele na jana’, with sixty five musicians
then, the biggest orchestra ever, in Mala’s voice, in particular, came
from the innermost recesses of his heart.
Further, Sohail Rana won the
prestigious Nigar and graduate Awards for the best composer for the film
‘Armaan.’
Furthermore, movies like ‘Heera Aur
pathar’ and ‘Armaan’ also show that the best of the human soul has not
yet died.
According to the proponents of music,
Sohail Rana’s contribution to the cause of music is immense and that it
ranks him among the most acclaimed composers in Pakistani music history.
To listen to the musical genius,
Sohail Rana, is an experience like no other.
Over and above, his music compositions
seem to echo his sentiments.
By the end of 1966, music maestro,
Sohail Rana, had reached his zenith with astonishing rapidity.
In the words of the film journalists
of the 1960s, ‘Sohail Rana is growing by leaps and bounds.’
Parables of love, vividly caught by
Sohail Rana, while composing the songs like ‘Akele na jana’, not only
brought fresh laurels to him but also rekindled the old flames, which is
much easier with Sohail Rana’s music than one may think.
The rhythm of sound is music and
Sohail Rana can best be described as maestro of the music.
His is a music, which can lift people
above particular circumstances and inspire them.
Sohail Rana, who is widely known as an
extremely decent human being, worked diligently and came out with yet
more superb compositions for the film ‘Ehsaan.’ Theatrical release was
on June 30, 1967.
The idea, which keeps him motivated,
is the glory of his remarkable achievement. His charm and musical
virtuosity had won every heart.
The film ‘Ehsaan’ attained silver
jubilee with such favorites as ‘Ik naye maur pay’, ‘Aye meri zindigi aye
meray hum safar’, ‘Do akhian, ye do sakhian.’
Sohail Rana’s musical career is a
success story with few parallels. Celebrated composer, Sohail Rana
unleashed all his artistic talents, while composing songs for the film ‘Doraha.’
Sohail Rana is also the producer of ‘Doraha.’
‘Mujhay tum nazar say gira to rahay
ho’, ‘bhooli huwee hoon dastaan’, ‘tumhain kaisay bata doon tum meri
manzil ho.’
The songs he composed for ‘Doraha’
also evince that he is an extraordinary composer and an authority of the
highly specialized realm of music compositions, where his competency and
artistic skills are unmatched.
His adorers are surrounded by a
lifetime of numerous memories of his immortal compositions.
Over the years, he worked his magic
throughout Pakistan and across the borders. His magnificent compositions
for the Nazm, ‘Qasm us waqt ki, jab zindigi karwat badalti hai.’ (Film:
‘Qasam us waqt ki.’, director, A.J. Kardar, lyricist, Josh Malih Abadi,
singer, Mujeeb Alam) is a cornerstone of Pakistani entertainment that
reflect reality.
Sohail Rana produced lilting music for
Nigar Pictures ‘Meray hum safar’, directed by Pervez Malik in 1972,
three of its popular numbers are:
‘Wada karo milo gey.’ (Singer: Ahmed
Rushdi)
‘Hai bay qarar tamanna.’ (singer: Mujeeb Alam)
‘Tujh jaisa dagha baaz.’ (singer: Runa Laila)
The longing or the unfulfilled desire,
which reflects in ‘Hai bay qarar tamanna’, is a testament to Sohail
Rana’s musical prowess.
Similarly, the despondency and despair
in ‘Tujhay apnay dil say mein kaisay bhula doon’ were vividly caught in
the unparalleled music composition of Sohail Rana. (Film: ‘Shehnai’,
singer: Ahmed Rushdi)
I am pretty sure that if some one were
to ask Sohail Rana what he thanks God for most, then presumably his
answer would be that he would thank God, for giving him the gift of
composing songs and the ability to listen to them.
In the early 1970s, from 1974 to 1976,
Sohail Rana was appointed as the General Manager National Orchestra, for
Pakistan Television Corporation, based at KTV center Karachi.
Consequently, he redoubled his efforts to compose national songs.
His musical masterpieces, ‘Sohni
dharti’ (singers: Shehnaz Begum, Mehdi Hassan, lyricist: Masroor Anwar)
have become part and parcel of Pakistani culture.
Likewise, ‘Jeeway Pakistan’, and ‘Mein
bhee Pakistan hoon’ achieved tremendous success.
Additionally, he devoted his time and
energy to compose songs for children and immortalized each and every
song.
Sohail Rana’s program for children
were telecast from Pakistan television for 19 years from 1968 to 1987,
from ‘Kaliyoan Ki Mala’, to ‘Sung Sung Chalain.’ In those days, he wrote
and composed more than two thousand songs for children.
Given here below are the names of some
of Sohail Rana’s bright students who attained name and fame for
themselves and for their mentor as well:
Mohammad Ali Sheyki, Amjad Hussain,
Alamgir, Mona sisters, Benjamin sisters, Adnan Sami, Wasim Baig, Nazia
Hasan, Zohaib Hasan, Afshan Ahmed, Nazneen, and Fatima Jaffrey. Among
the above talented students, Anwar Ibrahim, the youngest student made a
special name in naat khaani and hamd-o-sana. Sohail Rana released two
cassettes of Naats by Anwar Ibrahim “Jaan-e-Madina” vol.1 and 2. Both of
these cassettes contained the Naats and Humds by Sohail Rana’s father
Janab Rana Akbar Abadi sahab.
Reverting to Sohail Rana’s musical
accomplishments, the film ‘Badal Aur Bijli’ was also a huge success,
essentially due to his effective music.
Below are ‘Badal Aur Bijli’s’ three
all time favorites, which are still fresh in the minds of moviegoers:
‘Bansi bajanay walay.’ Noor Jehan.
‘Aaj janay ki zid na karo.’ (Singer:
Habib Wali Mohammad and a little later a private recording by Farida
Khanum) the Farida Khanum version has been used in an Indian film
‘Monsoon wedding’. Though without Sohail Rana’s permission.
‘Dheeray dheeray zara paoon utha.’
Duet: Masood Rana – Mala.
Apart from that, Sohail Rana also
composed music for the films, ‘Phir chand niklay ga’, 1970, and ‘Usay
deikha Usay chaaha,’ 1974.
Sohail Rana also served as Resident
composer in PIA Arts Academy sponsored by Pakistan International
Airlines from 1972 to 1974, where he conducted Ballet Heer Ranjha,
composed and re-arranged music for folk dances and under the
directorship of legendary personality Mr. Zia Moyeddin and with a team
of eighty eight dancers, musicians, singers, etc, he toured the whole
world performing in prestigious auditoriums and earned the appreciation
of international audience.
He is hail and hearty and radiates
from his eyes the exuberant musical dreams, beaming with pride, hope and
enthusiasm.
Moosa Reza, a loyal fan of Sohail Rana
and well versed on him as well, asserts: ‘A nation is, indeed, very
poor, which does not value its artists and in case of Sohail Rana, the
music lovers should be all the more indebted to this extraordinary music
composer – cum song writer, because Sohail Rana not only impressed his
contemporaries but he has proved resourceful, ingenious and pioneering
all through these times.
Moving beyond songs, Sohail Rana had
the rare touch and he used it well, perhaps, peerlessly so.
During his forty monumentally
influential years as a music composer; lyricist and producer, Sohail
Rana also composed the Summit Anthem ‘Allah- O - Akbar, for Pakistan
Television Corporation, in the voice of Mehdi Zaheer and a group of
hundred singers, for the first Islamic Summit conference held in Lahore,
Pakistan, in 1974. TV awarded him as well as Mehdi Zaheer on the release
of this anthem.
Pakistan’s most powerful purveyor of
popular music, all his music compositions carry a sweet, open tone and a
freshness that never sounds forced.
Sohail Rana also composed and
conducted the background music for the documentary film, ‘Moenjodaro’,
and also composed and conducted the entire musical score of ‘Beyond the
last mountain’ (Musafir) by producer/director/ ex-senator Mr. Javed
Jabbar.
Loved by audiences as well as a new
generation of listeners, Sohail Rana has a knack for finding the best in
music.
Consequently, he received the
prestigious Presidential Award the “Pride of Performance”, Gold Discs
from EMI for the vinyl album, ‘Khyber Mail’ and his musical works
touching the highest sales figures of EMI’s records from 1954 to 1974 in
their final sales figures. He was also given the United Nations Peace
Messenger Award, conferred on him, at the United Nations in New York in
1987.
Along the way, Sohail Rana achieved
legendary status by influencing and shaping the Pakistani culture. He
participated and represented Pakistan in various international music
festivals and conferences and undertook several cultural and commercial
tours almost all over the world. From 1972 onwards, visiting and
performing shows in Iran, Afghanistan, Australia, Fiji Islands, Russia,
Romania, Turkey, Jordan, China, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, France, Spain, USA,
Dominican Republic and Canada. The details of some of the tours are
appended below:
Jashn-e-Kabul in 1977.
Carnival, Australia, in 1978.
Cultural Troupe, Australia and Fiji
Islands with Mehdi Hassan, Moin Akhtar and Afshan Rana in 1981.
Cultural Troupe to Romania, in 1983.
Cultural Troupe to Russia, in 1983.
Children’s Festival in Jordan, in
1987.
Pacific traditional music conference
in China, in 1985.
Cultural troupe to USA in 1988.
Turkish Radio Television festival,
Turkey, 1988-89-90.
Cultural troupes to UAE, Dubai and Abu
Dhabi in 1989-1990.
Additionally, Sohail Rana composed and
produced music for two Mass Gymnastic Displays held in Islamabad in
1975-76 under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Education. His
last performance in Pakistan before he migrated to Canada happened to be
the great ‘South Asian Federation Games’, which was held in Islamabad in
1989 and in which he participated with a group of ninety-five singers,
twenty-five piece orchestra and 110-piece brass band.
Sohail Rana is a flame, which has been
glowing brightly for over four decades. Masha Allah!
One of Sohail Rana’s innumerable
accomplishments is that he also worked for the Pakistan’s ministry of
culture as Director General from 1976 to 1978. He headed the project of
National Orchestra and Choral Ensemble of Pakistan in Islamabad.
Sohail Rana has done, what I do not
think anybody else has done before: be victorious in both Urdu and
English films—his highly superb music composition for Javed Jabbar’s
bilingual movie, ‘Musafir’, whose English version ‘Beyond the last
mountain’ is the first Pakistani film produced in English language.
Moreover, ‘Beyond the last mountain’
won the critical acclaim by the renowned Indian actor, Raj Kapoor, at
the Bombay film festival.
The film ‘Hesaab’ which was released
in 1986 happened to be the last movie for which Sohail Rana composed
music.
The choices he made, helped ignite a
renaissance of quality that lives on today.
During his memorable show business
career in Pakistan, Sohail Rana composed music for merely twenty-four
movies. Three of those movies, ‘Guriya’ ‘Pagal’ and ‘Hulchul’ could not
be released. However, popular numbers from the film ‘Guriya’ and
‘Hulchul’ are available on cassettes and vinyl Eps.
From ‘Jab say deikha hai tumhain’ to ‘Hesaab’,
and from the children’s songs to the national songs, Sohail Rana came
full circle.
Nowadays, Sohail Rana resides in
Toronto, Canada. Essentially he operates two music schools and he is
also working diligently to establish a multi media company in Toronto.
He takes active participation in music compositions as well.
Lately, he has focused on several
projects of course in the realm of music, which he plans to complete in
2005. His passion and enthusiasm to create music has been remarkable and
praiseworthy all through these times.
Best of all, the human spark, spirit,
compassion, love and understanding which are the basic ingredients of
his music and which have been imbibed in the hearts of a myriad of music
lovers the world over, will never go away.
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