The Music of Pakistan includes diverse elements ranging from music from various parts of South Asia as well as Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and modern-day Western popular music influences. With these multiple influences, a distinctive Pakistani music has emerged.
Abida Parveen is a Pakistani singer, composer and musician of Sufi music. She is also a painter and entrepreneur. Parveen is one of the highest paid singers in Pakistan. Her singing and music has earned her many accolades, and she has been dubbed as the 'Queen of Sufi music'.
Filmi pop is a term first coined by Pakistani music journalist, Ali Tim in 1990 but made famous by the country's most influential pop critic, Nadeem F. Paracha. In 1966, a talented young playback singer Ahmed Rushdi sang the first South Asian pop song ‘Ko Ko Korina’" for the film Armaan. Composed by Sohail Rana, the song was a blend of 1960s bubblegum pop, rock and roll twist music and Pakistani film music. This genre would later be termed as filmi pop. Paired with Runa Laila, the singer is considered the pioneering father of pop music, mostly hip-hop and disco, in South Asia.
Nisar Bazmi was a composer and music director of Indian and Pakistan film industry.
Ahmed Rushdi was a versatile Pakistani playback singer and was "an important contributor to the golden age of Pakistani film music." Regarded as one of the greatest singers in South Asia who could sing high tenor notes with ease, he is best known for his versatility and distinctive voice, with complex and dark emotional expressions. Considered as the first pop singer of South Asia, he sang South Asia's first pop song, "Ko Ko Korina", in the 1966 film Armaan.
Pakistani popular music or shortly Pakistani pop music refers to popular music forms in Pakistan. Pakistani pop is a mixture of traditional Pakistani classical music and western influences of jazz, rock and roll, hip hop and disco sung in various languages of Pakistan, including Urdu. The popularity of music is based on the individual sales of a single, viewership of its music video or the singer's album chart positions. Apart from within Pakistan, Pakistani pop music has also achieved an influential following and popularity in neighboring countries and is listened by members of the Pakistani diaspora, especially in the Middle East, Europe and North America.
Raja Kaasheff or Raja Kashif is a United Kingdom-based Asian singer/music director equally known in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh Urdu/Hindi-speaking diaspora around the world. He learned music under the guidance of music director Ravi and the Sham-Churasi, Gharana. Ravi's films include Do Badan, Chaudhavin Ka Chand, Hamraaz, Gumrah, and Nikah.
Nashad was a film composer and music director of Indian and Pakistani film industry. He composed music for Hindi films in the 1940s and 1950s, credited on-screen under the names Nashad and then later migrated to Pakistan in 1964.
Anjuman is a Pakistani colour film released on 31 July 1970, starring Waheed Murad, Rani, Deeba, Santosh Kumar, Sabiha Khanam and Lehri. The film was released during the hey days of Murad and became a milestone in his career. The film was produced by Safdar Masud under the banner Ideal Movies and directed by Hassan Tariq, a well-known Pakistani film director.
Andaleeb is a 1969 Pakistani Urdu colour film starring Waheed Murad, Shabnam, Aliya, and Mustafa Qureshi, and Talish. It was a golden jubilee hit directed by Farid Ahmed, produced by Rashid Mukhtar, and music composed by Nisar Bazmi. Andaleeb received 4 Nigar Awards in different categories.
Rishta Hai Pyar Ka is a Pakistani Urdu black-and-white film directed by Qamar Zaidi and produced by Iqbal Butt & Fazal Kareem. The film cast Waheed Murad, Zeba, Iqbal Yousuf, Hanif, Farida and Adeeb.
Naseeb Apna Apna is a Pakistani Urdu black-and-white film directed by Qamar Zaidi and produced by Waheed Murad. The cast included Waheed Murad, Shabnam, Zamurrud, Tamanna, Nirala and Saqi. The movie became a musical blockbuster and was one of the biggest hits of Shabnam's early career.
Naheed Akhtar is a Pakistani playback singer. She is tagged as the "Nightingale of Pakistan". She was the top Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She won 3 Nigar Awards and a Pride of Performance in 2007.
Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer is the highest award for female film playback singers in Bangladesh.
Anjuman Ara Begum was a Bangladeshi vocalist. She was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2003 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Deebo Bhattacharya, also known as Debu Bhattacherjee, was a Pakistani-Bangladeshi musician, painter and singer who worked in Lollywood movies during the era of 1960s and 1970s.
Naheed Niazi is a former Pakistani playback singer who performed in the Lollywood movies during the era of 1960s. She is married to musician Muslehuddin; her sister is the singer Najma Niazi. She is known for her playback songs, "Chali Re Chali Re Main To Des Piya Ke Chali Re", "Raat Saloni Ayi", and others.
Ehsaas is a 1972 Pakistani Urdu film directed by Nazar-ul-Islam. The lead cast included Nadeem, Shabnam, Qavi, Lehri, and Rangeela. The film won 3 Nigar Awards in the best actor, director, and screenwriter categories.
Anmol is a 1973 Pakistani Urdu romantic drama film directed by Parvez Malik. The lead cast included Shabnam, Shahid, Afzaal Ahmad, Munawar Saeed, and Allauddin. Anmol is considered the third diamond jubilee hit in the history of Lollywood. Anmol won 2 Nigar Awards in the best actress/supporting actor categories. The film is also remembered for its popular music composed by Nisar Bazmi.
