Muzaffar Warsi

Summary

Muzaffar Warsi (23 December 1933 – 28 January 2011; Urdu: مظفر وارثی) was a Pakistani poet, essayist, lyricist, and a scholar of Urdu. He began writing more than five decades ago. He wrote a rich collection of na`ats, as well as several anthologies of ghazals and nazms, and his autobiography Gaye Dinon Ka Suraagh. He also wrote quatrains for Pakistan's daily newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt.[1]

Muzaffar Warsi
Muzaffar Warsi
Born
Muzaffar Siddiqui[1]

23 Dec 1933[1]
Meerut, United Provinces, British India
Died28 January 2011(2011-01-28) (aged 77)[1]
Occupation(s)Poet (Hamd and Na'at lyricist, film songs lyricist)[1]
Years active1961–2006
AwardsPride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1988[1]
Website[1]

Early life and career edit

Muzaffar Warsi was born as Muhammad Muzaffar ud Din Siddiqui into the family of Alhaaj Muhammad Sharf ud Din Ahmad known as Sufi Warsi (Urdu: صوفی وارثی). It was a family of landlords of Meerut (now in Uttar Pradesh, India).[1] Sufi Warsi was a scholar of Islam, a doctor and poet. He received two titles: 'Faseeh ul Hind' and 'Sharaf u Shu'ara'. Sufi Warsi was the friend of Sir Muhammad Iqbal (Allama Iqbal (علامہ اقبال), Akbar Warsi, Azeem Warsi, Hasrat Mohani, Josh Malihabadi, Ahsan Danish, Abul Kalam Azad and Mahindar Singh Bedi.[1] His family raised him with deep religious grounding. He has one brother and two sisters. Muzaffar Warsi has three daughters and one son. One of his nephews is Usman Warsi, a singer, music composer and poet. His grandson Amsal Qureshi is also a singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter and a poet.[1]

Muzaffar Warsi had worked at State Bank of Pakistan (the Central Bank of Pakistan) as deputy treasurer. He started writing his poetry by writing lyrics for songs for Pakistani movies but gradually changed direction and his style of poetry became more oriented towards praising Allah and Muhammad.[1] He later started writing Hamd and Na`ats. He also wrote, regularly, a stanza or two on current affairs in the newspaper Nawa-i-Waqt until just before he died. His most popular Na`at remains "Mera Payambar azeem tar hai" (My Prophet is the highest).

Death edit

 
Warsi's last resting place at Johar Town Graveyard Lahore

Warsi died on 28 January 2011 in Lahore, Pakistan.[1] and was buried at Johar Town Graveyard Lahore.

Literary work edit

  • Alhamd. (Hamdiya Kalaam)
  • Lashareek. (Hamdiya Kalaam)
  • Wohi Khuda Hai. (Hamdiya Kalaam)
  • Kaaba-e-ishq. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Noor-e-azal. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Baab-e-Haram. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Meray Achay Rasool. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Dil Sey Dar-e-Nabí Tak. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Sahib-ut-Taaj. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Ummi Laqabi. (Naatia Kalaam)
  • Gaye Dinon Ka Suraagh. (Khud-nawisht)- an autobiography
  • Barf Kí Nao. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Khulay Dareechay Band Hawa. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Lehja. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Raakh Kay Dhair Main Phool. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Tanha tanha guzri hai. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Dekha jo teer kha kay. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Hisaar. (Ghazliyaat)
  • Zulm na sehna.
  • Lahu ki haryali.
  • Sitaroon ki aabju.
  • Mera to sab kuch mera nabi hai ( naatia kalaam).

Awards edit

Famous poems edit

  • "Wohi Khuda hai" , written and Sung by Muzaffar Warsi, later Sung by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In modern days, it was even Sung by Atif Aslam*
  • ”Ya Rahmatallil Aalameen”, a naat written and sung by Muzaffar Warsi
  • "Kya bhala mujh ko parakhney ka natija nikla, Zakhm-e-dil aapki nazron se bhi gehra nikla"
  • Ghazal sung by Lata Mangeshkar & Jagjit Singh
  • Chitra Singh frequently used the Ghazals of Muzaffar Warsi

Pakistani film Hamrahi (1966) was a milestone film in renowned Pakistani playback singer Masood Rana's singing career. All songs of 'Hamrahi' are relegated as the 'Best of Masood Rana'.[2]

Film Hamrahi's seven songs are listed here below:

  • "Kiya kahoon aye duniya walo, kiya hoon mein" (film: Hamrahi: 1966, lyrics: Muzaffar Warsi, music: Tasadduq Hussain)
  • "Karam ki ik nazar hum per...ya Rasool Allah"
  • "Ho gaye zindigi mujhay pyari".
  • "Naqsha teri judaye ka ab tak nazar mein hai".
  • "Mujhay chore kar akela, kaheen dooor janay walay".
  • "Qadam, qadam pay naye dukh".
  • "yaad karta hai zamana unhi insano ko", sung by Masood Rana was a tribute song to Muhammad Ali Jinnah
  • One of his super-hit poems was his Hamd "Koi to hay jo nizam e hasti chala raha hay", this Hamd first became popular recited in his own voice, which was later sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan[3]
  • "Pukara hai madad ko, bay kason nay, haath khali hai...bachaa lo doobnay say ....ya Rasool Allah" was another popular Na'at written by him
  • "Aey Khuda, Aey Khuda, jis nay ki justuju, mil gaya uss ko tuu" Sung by Adnan Sami Khan, written by Muzaffar Warsi, film Sargam[4]
  • "Tu Kuja Man Kuja" was also written by him,[5] originally composed and sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.[6] The modern adaptation of the song was also performed in Coke Studio Pakistan (season 9) by Rafaqat Ali Khan and Shiraz Uppal.

Books on Muzaffar Warsi edit

  • Gaye dinon ka suraagh- Aapbeeti k tawana lehjey (Urdu), Qudratullah Shehzad, 2005.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Muzaffar Warsi passes away". Dawn newspaper. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Film 'Hamrahi' and its film songs". Pakistan Film Magazine website. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  3. ^ Muzaffar Warsi profile (Watch Hamd recited by Muzaffar Warsi on Pakistan television) Retrieved 3 December 2018
  4. ^ Soundtrack of film Sargam (1995) on IMDb website Retrieved 3 December 2018
  5. ^ Coke Studio (Pakistan) (23 September 2016), Tu Kuja Man Kuja, Shiraz Uppal & Rafaqat Ali Khan, Season Finale, Coke Studio Season 9, archived from the original on 12 December 2021, retrieved 19 March 2024
  6. ^ Sabeeh, Maheen. "Coke Studio 9 concludes on a poignant note". The News International newspaper. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2024.