Sohail Rana facts for kids

Sohail Rana (born March 31, 1938) is a famous Pakistani music composer. A composer is someone who writes music. He created music for many popular films and television shows. He became well-known after actor Waheed Murad introduced him to the film industry. Many of his hit songs were sung by the famous singer Ahmed Rushdi. Today, Sohail Rana lives in Canada.

A Musical Beginning

Sohail Rana was born in Agra, British India, to a family of Urdu poets. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, his family moved to Pakistan. He studied at the University of Karachi and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Rana learned music from several teachers, known as ustads. He studied both Eastern classical music and Western music. This mix of styles helped him create a unique sound. He was also inspired by the Indian film composer Naushad Ali. They wrote letters to each other for 25 years, and Naushad gave him advice on creating music for movies.

Creating Music for Movies and TV

Sohail Rana's career took off when he began composing music for films. He worked with many talented artists and created songs that are still loved today.

Famous Film Music

Sohail Rana's first big break in movies was with the film Jab Se Dekha Hai Tumhain. He quickly became known for his catchy tunes. He composed the famous song Ko Ko Korina, which was a huge hit sung by Ahmed Rushdi.

His music for the movie Heera Aur Pathar (1964) made him a star in the Pakistani film industry. The movie was a great success and played in theaters for 68 weeks.

One of his biggest achievements was the music for the film Armaan (1966). It was Pakistan's first movie to reach "platinum jubilee" status, meaning it was extremely successful. The song Akele na jaana from this film used a large orchestra of 65 musicians, which was a big deal at the time. For his work on Armaan, Rana won the prestigious Nigar Award.

He also composed memorable songs for films like Ehsaan and Doraha. Some of his other famous songs include Aaj janay ki zid na karo and Mujhay tum nazar say gira to rahay ho. Over his career, he composed music for about 24 movies.

Music for Television and Children

Sohail Rana also created a lot of music for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). He was the general manager of the National Orchestra for PTV from 1974 to 1976. During this time, he composed some of Pakistan's most beloved national songs.

These songs, like Sohni Dharti and Jeevay Pakistan, have become an important part of Pakistani culture. He also composed music for large events, like the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in 1989, which featured 100 singers and a huge orchestra.

For 19 years, from 1968 to 1987, Rana dedicated a lot of his time to making music for children. He composed over 2,000 songs for kids' TV shows. Many famous Pakistani singers, such as Adnan Sami, Nazia Hasan, and Zohaib Hassan, got their start as children on his programs.

Famous National Songs

Sohail Rana is well-known for composing patriotic songs that celebrate Pakistan. Many of these were produced for PTV and are still popular today.

• Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay - This song, which means "May God keep our beautiful land safe," is one of the most famous national songs in Pakistan.
• Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan - Another very popular song that means "Long Live Pakistan."
• Main bhi Pakistan hoon, Tu bhi Pakistan hai - This song means "I am Pakistan, you are Pakistan too," and promotes a message of unity.
• Tera Pakistan hai yeh mera Pakistan Hai - A song that expresses love for the country.

Life in Canada

In the early 1990s, Sohail Rana moved to Mississauga, Ontario, in Canada. There, he opened a music school to teach new singers and musicians. He continues to be involved in music and has performed in concerts in Toronto.

In 2009, he appeared on a special TV show on Geo TV called Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo (THE TRIBUTE). The show honored his work, and many famous singers performed his classic songs with a large orchestra.

Awards and Recognition

Sohail Rana has received many awards for his contributions to music.

• Pride of Performance (1981) - A high honor from the President of Pakistan.
• Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) (2012) - Another major award from the President of Pakistan.
• Nigar Award (1966) - For Best Music Director for the film Armaan.
• Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) - From Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) for his long and successful career.
• Peace Messenger Award (1987) - From the United Nations in New York.