Khawaja Khurshid Anwar

Khurshid Khurshid Anwar was born on 21st March 1912 in Minawali, Pujab in Pakistan. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the Indian and Pakistani film industry. He worked as a filmmaker, producer, director and composer. Khurshid’s father was a very well-known barrister working in Lahore. Khurshid was born in a well-off family.

Khurshid’s father had a huge collection of gramophone records of classical Indian music and many other artistic antiquities. So as a result, Khurshid had all the access to these records where he could listen to the songs and thus developed his taste for music and Khurshid started singing himself, he would practice for hours in his home.

Due to Khurshid’s father being a prominent name at the time, they used to host musical nights at their home where many renowned musicians would come and showcase their talents. Some of the best local and regional names in music, would all come and perform in Khurshid’s home. Also at this time, Khurshid himself was practising music. In 1934, seeing the interest Khurshid had in music, Khansahib Tawakkal Hussain agreed to further teach him music, Khansahib took Khurshid under his wing and would take him to many other concerts that he would perform, and gradually Khurshid started performing with him.

At college, Khurshid was one of the brightest students. Due to his various anti-British activities, Khurshid once had to spend some time in jail, where he was not even allowed to give his exams. He would then go on to write his exams from jail, and not only that he went to become the topper of his college. After finally receiving his master’s degree in philosophy from Punjab University, Khurshid joined the All India Radio in 1939. It was from the radio that he would go on to become one of the most important figures in film industry.

In 1943, Khurshid made his debut as a music director in the movie Ishara. Khurshid would go on to have a legendary career in Bollywood as a music director after he made 9 other movies, and in 1952 Khurshid moved to Pakistan. Khurshid’s work didn’t stop there as he would go on to compose for some of the most popular Pakistani movies like Intezar, Jhoomer and many others. Khurshid passed away on 30th October 1984 in Lahore. His legacy remains untouchable and he will always be regarded as one of the greatest ever to do it.