It’s all about the music

Mohsin Raza, whom I have known for over 30 years, has now joined the ranks of inveterate senior composers of Pakistan. He made his debut at the age of 15 in 1971, when he was declared the youngest ever artiste to compose songs in the sub-continent.

“It was in the year 1971′, recalled Mohsin after raking his memory somewhat, “when I recorded my first (patriotic) song Vatan kay mohafiz jarry paasbaan in the voice of Parvez Mehdi for Radio Pakistan, Lahore. In 1974, I produced my first LP record, containing popular ghazals of classical and modern poets. It was launched by EMI (Pakistan). The king of ghazals, Ustad Mehdi Hasan lent his voice for the recording of all those pieces of poetry, one of which, Guncha-e-shauq laga hai khilnay, by late Wajiusaman Irfani reached the lips of millions.

Mohsin Raza can be singled out from other Pakistani composers for his sharp musical grasp, acute sensitivity and abundant creative inventiveness. The level of confidence, usually shown by a composer within the intimate form of ghazal is to be found in his compositions in the referenced LP. He rightly claims that no musical form or style becomes obsolete, if a composer can inject it with freshness, creative strength and a personal point of view.