Saleem Raza (singer)

Noel Dias (4 March 1932 – 25 November 1983), better known as Saleem Raza, was a Pakistani playback singer.

He converted to Islam and started his singing career from Lahore, Pakistan, quickly gaining popularity.

Raza was a classically- trained singer and was more famous for singing sad songs.

After the partition of India in 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore.

He first sang for Lahore Radio Station.

Raza also made friends with an artist of the time, Mohni Hameed.

Raza and Hameed were often seen attending events together.

Additionally, Raza learned music from the music composers of the day including Master Sadiq Ali, and Ustaad Aashiq Husain.

He was introduced to the Pakistani film industry by veteran film music director Ghulam Ahmed Chishti.

Raza's career suffered due to the rise of singer Ahmed Rushdi in the late 1950s.

Raza remained a dominating singer in the late 1950s due to his popularity in singing tragic songs.

Raza's first lucky break came in director Syed Ata Ullah Hashmi's 1955 film Naukar.

He lent his voice to the 'sad' musical composition, Taqdeer kay malik deikh zara kya zulm hai (Duet, Saleem Raza – Kausar Perveen).

He also sang as a playback singer in film producer Anwar Kamal Pasha's Qatil in 1955.

Although his big breakthrough came with the song Yaaro mujhe muaaf rakho, main nashey mein hoon, in Saifuddin Saif's film Saat Lakh (1957).

He went on to sing many other songs in films like Aas Paas (1957), Do Rastey, Hamsafar (1960), Seema (1963 film) and many more.

Saat Lakh (1957), Ishq-e-Laila (1957), Bedari (1957), Daata (1957), Saheli (1960), Rahguzar (1960), Salma (1960), Gulfam (1961), Saperan (1961), Azra (1962), Mousiqaar (1962), Aanchal (1962), Qaidi (1962), Seema (1963), Ik Tera Sahara (1963), Tauba (1964), Chingari (1964), Payal Ki Jhankar (1966), Noor-e-Islam (1957), Chann Mahi (1956), Kartar Singh (1959), Mouj Mela (1963).

1. Bedard zamanay walon nay kab dard kisi ka jaana hai, film Aas Paas (1957), music by Akhtar Hussain Akhhian

2. Shah-e-Madina (saw), Yasrib kay wali, film Noor-e-Islam (1957), lyrics by Naeem Hashmi, music by Hassan Latif

3. Ae Nazneen tujh sa koi haseen ham nay kabhi dekha nahin, film Shama (1959)

The two actors also lost their popularity in the mid-1960s.

These were the basic factors which affected his popularity.

Later, with the change in the recording devices, Raza found it difficult to adjust to the new equipment, resulting in a setback to his career.

4. Zindgi mein ek pal bhi chain aye na, iss jahan main kash koi dil lagaey na, poet Tanvir Naqvi, music director Muslehuddin, film Hamsafar (1960)

In 1961, the music director, Khalil Ahmed, recorded a sad song, Kisi chaman main raho tum bahaar bun kay raho, in Raza's voice for film Aanchal (1962) but he was not satisfied with his singing style.

Initially, he decided to re-record the same song in Mehdi Hassan's voice but changed his mind because Hassan was facing difficulty with high notes as the composition had a wide range and variations.

Khalil Ahmed finally invited the famous singer Ahmed Rushdi to sing the same song; Rushdi not only satisfied Khalil but the song was also a hit.

Apart from Ahmed Rushdi, Raza was in direct competition with highly talented singers like Munir Hussain, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Mujeeb Aalam and Bashir Ahmad.

Moreover, his voice was best suited for Syed Musa Raza (Santosh Kumar) and his brother Darpan.

5. Bana kay mera nasheman, film Do Rastay (1961)

6. Tujh ko maalum nahin, tujh ko bhala kya maalum, film Aanchal (1962)

He left playback singing in 1966 as he lost his popularity with the film composers and moved to Canada where he died in 1983.

Saleem Raza was born Noel Dias in a Christian family in Amritsar.

His last film was Payal Ki Jhankar (1966).

Raza migrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1975, and established a music school there.

For eight years, from 1975 to 1983, Raza taught music to numerous music students.

He also started performing in local South Asian musical concerts.

Raza suffered from kidney failure, which took his life on 25 November 1983.

He was fifty-one years of age.

Some notable Urdu and Punjabi films for which Raza sang songs include: