NEW: Last missing song found, thanks to Shri Girdharilal
Vishwakarma, see Number 6 below
Video clip from Neel Kamal (1947), he says, "tumhara koi
jan
pehchan wala hai" Please download and play with Media Player Classic,
VLC media player or Windows Media Player Clip from Neel Kamal 1947
Another photo
March 25, 2010: One More Song Found, Number 9 below
Brief biography
Late Mr.
Mohammed Farooqui was born on 17th August 1915 in the city of Jhunjhunu
in Rajasthan in a religious family of mohalla peerzadgan. He got his
basic education in the city under the guidance of his father Haji
Muniruddin. During his childhood he displayed talent in
singing.
In
his youth Farooqui Sahib actively participated the music; he
had been always attracted to the world of music. During his schooling
he performed as a singer in varied stage programmes in
Rajasthan. However, his religious Haji father was against such
activities. When Mohammed Farooqui completed his education, his father
had visions of his son becoming a teacher, but his destination
was a
film studio.
At
last in 1945 Farooqui Sahib came to Bombay to try his luck in the Hindi
Film
industry as a singer with a reference letter for the famous music
director
Khemchand Prakash. The only person who knew him in Bombay was Mr. Azad
Farooqui, with whom
Farooqui Sahib stayed for some time in old Khar. After he had struggled
for a year, Khemchand Prakash asked Mr. Farooqui to see him at his
house. When
Farooqui Sahib went there, the legendary singer K L Saigal was also
present.
Khemchand Prakash introduced him to Saigal who asked
Mr. Farooqui to sing a song. He sang the famous lori by Saigal, 'soja
raj
kumari soja'. After hearing this Saigal Sahib was very impressed and
remarked, ''There is something new in his voice''. This was enough for
Mr. Farooqui to get a contract with Ranjeet Movietone on a monthly
salary.
After
some time he got his first film as a
co-singer, but Farooqui Sahib met with real success in 1947. It was a
golden
year for his music career. In this year his films 'Chheen le azadi',
'Duniyan ek sarai', 'Lakhon mein ek' and 'Pehli pehchan' were released.
All of his songs were well-received. In particular, the song 'kamzoron
ki naheen hai duniyan' from the film 'Chheen le azadi' was popular
with the freedom fighters who soon achieved the goal of an independent
nation.
Another
song which endeared Farooqui Sahib to both the intellectuals and
working class was 'ek musafir aye baba ek musafir jaye' from the film
'duniyan ek sarai'. In 1948 bhajans of the film 'Jai hanuman' and 'is
khak ke putle ko' from the film 'Mitti ke khilone',
were appreciated by the public. His last two films
'Bhool
bhulaiyan 1949' and
'Alakh niranjan 1950' were also popular. Mr. Farooqui was among
one of the singers who became successful without any formal musical
training from a guru.
It was the end of the 1950. Farooqui's father became seriously ill and
sent a message to him to come home immediately. After all his
successful films, Farooqui Sahib had to leave Bombay and
thereafter never went back to sing another song.
Rest of his life was spent as a mission to help the poor section of the
society with the light of education.
On 8th February 1990 Mohammed Farooqui left for heavenly abode at the
age of 75 years, leaving behind family and friends to grieve for the
loss of a talented personalty.
After his passing away one of his friends paid tributes like this,
Khabar
kya thee mohammed aap hamein tanha chhorh jayenge,
Dil-e-rahber ko ghamgeen aur purnam banayenge,
Ab na subaha ayegee is shaam ke baad,
Bas hum to sirf aapke geet gungunayenge
The name of Mohammed Farooqui will figure on the list of many
underappreciated talents for their contribution to Hindi cinema.
Here is a photo of his
residence
Here is a photo of one of his most popular records.
Filmography
Chheen le azadi (1947)
Duniyan ek sarai (1947)
Lakhon mein ek (1947)
Pehli pehchan (1947)
Piya ghar aja (1947)
Acting only
Neel kamal (1947) Acting only
Bichhde balam (1948)
Jai hanuman (1948)
Mitti ke khilone (1948)
Pardesi mehman (1948)
Bhool bhulaiyan (1949)
Alakh niranjan (1950)
List of songs (Left click on the blue
link to listen, right click to save)
1. Chheen
Le Aazadi (1947)~Kamzoron Ki Naheen (1 & 2)~Pt.
Inder~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & M. Hussain Kamzoron_Ki_Lacharon_Ki_(Fast) 1a.
Kamzoron Ki Naheen
(Slow)
2. Duniya
Ek Sarai (1947)~Ek Musaafir Aaye Baba~Kedar Sharma~Hansraj
Behal~Mohd. Farooqui Ek
Musafir Aye
3. Duniya
Ek Sarai (1947)~O Aai Baisakhi~Kedar Sharma~Hansraj
Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & Saathi O
Ayi Baisakhi
4. Lakhon
Mein Ek (1947)~Jeewan Hai Anmol~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani
& Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & Hamida Bano
jiivana-hai-anamola-panchhii
5. Pehli
Pehchaan (1947)~Sahara Besaharon Ka~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani
& Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui & Saathi
Sahara_Besaharon_Ka_Tum_Ho
6. Pehli
Pehchaan (1947)~Unhen Hum Dhoond Nikaalenge~Pt.
Inder~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui, AR Ojha, Mantri & Saathi Unhen Hum Dhoondh
7. Bichhde
Balam (1948)~Suhagan Kaahe Ko Too~Pt. Inder~Bulo C.
Rani~Mohd. Farooqui
Suhagan_Kahe_Ko_Tu_Aansoo_Bahaye
8. Bichhde
Balam (1948)~Haseenon Ko Dil Mein~Pt. Inder~Bulo C.
Rani~Mohd. Farooqui, AR Ojha & Meena Kumari Haseenon
Ko Dil
9. Jai
Hanuman (1948)~Kahaan Site Kit Dhoondoon~Pt. Inder~Bulo C.
Rani~Mohd. Farooqui Kit
Dhoondhoon
10. Jai Hanuman
(1948)~Ab Ram Rajya Ki~Pt. Inder~Bulo C. Rani~Mohd.
Farooqui Ab_Raam_Rajya_Ki_Aage_Suni_Kahani
11. Mitti Ke
Khilaune (1948)~Iss Khaak Ke Putle Ko~BR Sharmar~Bulo C.
Rani & Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui
Is Khaq ke Putle
12. Pardesi
Mehman (1948)~Ajab Hindustan Take Ser Bhaaji~pT.
Inder~Hansraj Behal~Mohd. Farooqui
Ajab_Hindustan_Ajab_Hindustan
13. Pardesi
Mehman (1948)~Nigaahon Se TukRe Na Dil Keejiye
Gaa~Indra~Hansraj Behal~ Faruki, A R Ojha and Saroj Gharapade
Nigahon Se Tukde
14. Bhool
Bhulaiyan (1949)~Chaahe Dil Ki Khidki~BR Sharmar~Bulo C.
Rani~Mohd. Farooqui
Chahe Dil Ki
15. Alakh
Niranjan (1950)~Alakh Niranjan Jai Sat Guru~Manohar
Khanna~Premnath~Mohd. Farooqui
Alakh_Niranjan_Alakh_Niranjan
All
of the above info and photos have been supplied by his son, Tasleem
(email: tasleem.farooqui@yahoo.com)
Songs 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 have been supplied by
Tasleem and
songs 4, 11, 13 and 14 come from the secret vault of Dr. Manohar Lal
Kapur.
Songs 1a and 8 have been provided generously by M. Waheed Dehwar of
Quetta.
We are still looking for song 6. Please let me know if
you have it.