By Anis Ahmed Shakur

Musarrat Nazeer was born to a middle class family in 1937. Her parents were of Kashmiri origin from Lahore.

Her father, Khwaja Nazeer Ahmed, worked for the municipal corporation as a registered contractor at the time of her birth.

Despite their meager resources, Musarrat’s parents wanted her to be a doctor. They provided her the best possible education they could afford.

Musarrat  passed  the matriculation examination with distinction. Two years later, she passed the intermediate examination from Kinard college, Punjab, Pakistan.

At that point in time, she showed keen interest in music and began singing for radio Pakistan. However, insufficient money from the radio took her to the film director, Anwar Kamal Pasha. Pasha had the savvy to motivate the stars.

She explained to Pasha about her strong desire to sing for the movies. Instead, Pasha wanted to make her an actress.

Musarrat needed her parents approval. Pasha himself met Musarrat’s father and convinced him to allow his daughter to work in movie industry.

Pasha changed Musarrat’s name to Chandni and signed her for a side role in his movie.

Thus, film director Pasha took this contractor’s daughter to stardom on the silver screen.

Musarrat’s eyes gleamed. She wore the smile of a little girl. But she was grown up, born to sing and act.

Hence, Chandni made her debut with Nayyar Sultana in Pasha’s film ‘Qatil’ in 1955. Her role was secondary but forceful.

During those days, Sheikh Lateef of capital films planned to make a Punjabi film. Lateef’s friend, poet-cum-script writer, Baba Aalam sia poash, advised him to cast Chandni in the film. Sheikh Lateef agreed.

Chandni appeared in the hit Punjabi film, ‘Patan’, with her real name, Musarrat Nazeer.

She played the lead role opposite Santosh Kumar. Producer, Sheikh Lateef, director, Luqman.

The film ‘Patan’ opened the doors of success for Musarrat. Her true caliber was all the more evident in the Punjabi film, ‘Paatay Khan’. She was the supporting actress. Producer, Shami, starring, Noor Jehan- Aslam Pervez- Musarrat Nazeer.

Some of Pakistani cinema’s greatest melodrama’s like the films ‘Maahi munda’ and ‘Yakkay wali’ goes to Musarrat’s credit. Both of these films were directed by Bari Malik.

She was and still is full of life, energy and acting.

Musarrat was noticed and received reviews for her splendid acting in the film ‘Painga’, starring, Musarrat Nazeer and Aslam Pervez in the lead roles. Producer, M. Naseem, director, Ameen Malik.

A woman of many projects, Musarrat was also behind such movies as ‘Qismat’,  ‘Naya zamana’ and ‘Jatti’.

She used the vantage that came from experience. It is all the more important in movies like ‘Society’, directed by M.A. Khan junior, the films ‘Baaghi’ and ‘Jaan-e-bahar’.

In her entire movie career, she never allowed any one to take advantage on her. ‘Give respect, get respect’, so says Musarrat.

Movie- goers watched the films ‘Yaar beli’, ‘Kartaar Singh’ and ‘Zeher-e-Ishq’ with keen interest. Brushing tears of despair and deeper emotion from their eyes.

Musarrat shaped her own destiny. Her insatiable drive for success led her to more hard work. She could feel its energy and her spirits soar.

She was successful in the movies below:

‘Naukri’, the film ‘Aankh ka nasha’ had her cast in the role of Sabiha’s mother. The film ‘Baap ka gunah’.

The super hit song, rendered by Naseem Begum, ‘Us bay wafa ka sheher hai’ in the mega- hit film ‘Shaheed’, remains her signature song till today!

Acting was her greatest strength. Her ultimate excellence was a product of total commitment and hard work over the long term.

The films like ‘Watan’, ‘Raaz’ and ‘Sola Aanay’ will be remembered for the unifying power of the written word—the lyrics.

Moreover, Musarrat, in real life is very humorous  and frequently cracks jokes.

Films like ‘Street number 77’, ‘Gudda guddi’ and ‘Lakan matti’ speak for themselves.

The films of lasting interest like ‘Seestaan’ ‘Sahara’ and  ‘Rukhsana’ were the essence of the creative spirit, the vital force of the human heart.

She found her passion in life and pursued it. Musarrat, a remarkable actress, inspired some of our movies, like the ones below:

‘Thandi sarak’, ‘Palkan’ and ‘Sehti’.

She made a series of outstanding films in the late 1950s and the 1960s.By dint of her ability, she made the pictures leap to life, like the ones below:

‘Sunehray sapnay’, Mirza sahebaan’ and ‘Jaa’edaad’.

Musarrat hold a singular place in our hearts. She inscribed in viewers minds a sense of humanity that is exclusively its own. Below are movies which were at once poignant and admirable:

‘Jhoomar’, ‘Gulbadan’ and ‘Ishq per zoar nahi’.

Her emergence as a prominent actress was noticed by innumerable cine goers, as they watched the movies below:

‘Chotay sarkaar’, ‘Mungoal’ and ‘Muft bur’.

She continued to change, grow and fulfill  her life, as she worked in the films like ‘Gulfaam’ and ‘Bahadur’.

Her melodious voice made her a magnificent singer. One of her greatest achievement was to lend her eloquent voice to the following songs:

‘Mera long gawacha’, ‘Chalay to cut he jaaye ga safar Aahista, Aahista’, ‘Apnay haatoan ki lakiroan mein’.

She earned the Nigar Award for best actress in 1958, for the film ‘Zeher-e-Ishq’.

She earned the Nigar Award for best actress in 1959, for the film ‘Jhoomar’.

She earned the Nigar Award for best actress in 1961, for the film ‘Shaheed’.

She married  cardiologist, Dr. Arshad Majeed and both of them settled in Canada in the mid 1970s.

Dr. Arshad’s father, Sheikh Majeed, is an entrepreneur and owns Lala Zaar cinema, Sialkot.

Musarrat, who is 66 years of age, enjoys excellent health. Her positive attitude of life has ward off the ravages of aging for her.

She lives happily with her husband and daughter.

Every one notices Musarrat’s height. But it is her heart that makes her stand out.

Musarrat, as her name implies, delighted the spectators for quite some time. She retired from the cinema years ago. However, she continued singing for the Pakistan television up until recently.

Her sweet singing voice makes us happy. Her movies will keep her legacy alive.