Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: October 07, 2021 | 
| 中文
Zia Mohyeddin and Waheed Murad
It was almost after a decade of the once golden boy of Pakistan film industry, Waheed Murad’s death, that the famous song from Shabab Kairanvi's film Saheli (1978), ‘Awaaz wo jaadu sa jagati hui awaaz’ was being aired on TV. Classical singer Asad Amanat Ali Khan was singing it for People’s Television Network’s (also known as Shalimar Television Network) show Jhankaar, and I managed to watch Waheed Murad performing brilliantly on the stage. The chocolate hero had lip synced over a couple of film songs in front of a mic, (Tum wohi ho lo tumhe from the film DEVER BHAI, Zara hum yaad kar lain from RIM JHIM, Har aadmi alag sahi from ZINDAGI EK SAFAR HAI and Woh jo roothay from KAALA DHANDA GORAY LOG), but this song was different. It had a glimpse of the theatre legend Zia Mohyeddin, who was famous for his TV show called Zia Mohyeddin Show, and for his appearances in English films, such as the 1962 blockbuster ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. The way Waheed Murad moved to the lyrics on the stage, handling the wire of the microphone, and the single breast Mandarin suit he wore, brought back memories of the Zia Mohiuddin Show, where Waheed himself had been a guest more than once.
Dressed in a three piece, Waheed Murad writing something on piece of paper
During the recording of a show for Geo TV a few weeks back, I took the liberty of asking Zia Mohyeddin about Waheed Murad, and Mohyeddin responded animatedly. “It was Karachi in 1957, when I had returned to Pakistan from the UK. I was directing a play, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Karachi’s Theosophical Hall. Some university students were part of the stage show. A very young Waheed Murad was given the role of Ben Volio after I had auditioned him. I worked a bit on his voice throw, and selected him for the part. Whenever we met over the next few years, he would touch my knees in respect and used to say that he wanted to be like me”, recalled the 90-year-old Zia Muhyeddin during tea break.
If tall, dark and handsome had a face, it was Waheed Murad, who remained active with movies from 1959-1983. He got famous as a ‘chocolate hero’ during the 1966-75 era, and had a style of his own. The emotions and delivery of his songs and dialogue was unmatchable and is part of the folklore.
Zia Mohyeddin in 'Lawrence of Arabia'
Enthralled at establishing the Waheed-Zia connection, I managed to locate Waheed’s life-long friend, Mr. Javid Ali Khan, nephew of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. I asked him if he could recall the play. “We were teenagers at that time and I happened to be one of the extras in the crowd, while Waheed had a role in the play. An Englishman, a teacher in Karachi Grammar School, played the role of Romeo, and Sherbano, Zia's sister-in-law played Juliet”, Javid Ali Khan recalled the experience as if it was fresh and recent.
Javid Ali Khan with Waheed Murad
However, he contradicted the statement that Waheed wanted to emulate Zia. “In the late 50s, Zia Mohyeddin was a big draw at the theatre. For Waheed and I, he was an inspiring figure. Being the son of a film distributor, Waheed had plans to join the film industry; he also performed on the stage, because film industry was on the decline at the time. The success Waheed achieved later in the 60s is unmatched, and by the time Zia entered Pakistani films by appearing as a lead in ‘Mujrim kaun’ (1970), it looked as if the ‘big man’ was emulating Waheed”, said Javid Ali Khan.
Gladys Cooper, Zia Mohyeddin, Eric Portman, and Anne Meacham in 'A Passage to India' (1961)
An extremely talented Zia introduced a new style of talk shows on television. A master of theatre, a superb voice over artist, and an authority on diction and eloquence, Zia Mohyeddin has been entertaining audiences with his work for over sixty years now. The 90-year-old maestro still reads prose and poems in his inimitable style. As for Waheed Murad, he died at the age of 45 in 1983, yet his work continues to be a guiding light for generations.
Waheed Murad singing a song in a film
There is little chance that Waheed emulated Zia for the Saheli song, but you never know, maybe the stage performance in 1957 was an important learning experience for him.
While playing guiter, Waheed Murad immersed in thoughts
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