Ustad Muhammad Yousuf

Ustad Muhammad Yousuf (Sindhi: استاد محمد يوسف) (January 20, 1940 – February 14, 1997) was a folk and playback singer of Pakistan. He was one of the leading singers of Sindh, Pakistan for about four decades (i.e. 1960s to 1990s). He had an honor to sing duets with renowned singers Noor Jahan, Abida Parveen, Runa Laila and others. He is popularly called "Mahedi Hassan of Sindh"

Ustad Muhammad Yousuf
محمد يوسف
Born
(1940-01-20)January 20, 1940

Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
DiedFebruary 14, 1997(1997-02-14) (aged 57)
Occupation
  • Folk Singer
  • Playback Singer
  • music composer
Years active(1950-1997)
Awards
Musical career
GenresKafi, Ghazal, Filmi Lyrics

Childhood

Muhammad Yousuf was born in Muhalla Din Ali Shah, Tiyoon Number Talau, Tando Tayeb Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.[1] His father Laung Faqir Maganhar was a Dholak Nawaz (drum beater) and Sharnai (or Shahnai) player. His father used to play Dholak at Radio Pakistan Hyderabad. Muhammad Yousuf got primary education from Baar Sudhar School and Haji Seth Kamaluddin School Hyderabad, however, he was not interested in formal education and left school after passing five classes.[2] Due to his interest in music, he got admission in the musical club of Ustad Bibo Khan. Afterwards, his father sent him to noted singer Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan at Tando Adam. He stayed with for about 13 years and learnt music from him.[3]

In 1951, a competition of new singers was organized at Liaquat Medical College (Now Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences) Jamshoro. The Provincial Minister Pir Ali Muhammad Rashidi was the chief guest of the event. Muhammad Yousuf not only participated in that competition but got first position and lot of appreciation and encouragement. Then, he started singing at Radio Pakistan Karachi. After the establishment of Radio Pakistan Hyderabad in 1955, he shifted from Karachi to his home town Hyderabad.[4]

Singing career

Muhammad Yousuf had a beautiful voice and good knowledge of music. After early success at Radio Pakistan, he started singing in Sindhi films as a playback singer.[5] His first film as a playback singer was Shehro Feroz which was released on 18 October 1968 from Karachi. This film was directed by Shaikh Hassan and its music composer was Ghulam Ali. His first play back lyric "Rahat Milay Thi Dard Men, Man Piyar Tan Sadqay" made him very popular in film industry. He continued as a playback singer in almost all Sindhi films released in the 1970s and 1980s. Those films included Laila Majnu, Ghoonghat Lah Kunwar, Moomal Ranu, Mithra Shaal Milan, Jeejal Mau, Rat and Ajrak, Mahboob Mitha, Chandoki, Soni Muhinji Dharti, Ghairat Jo Suwal, Rang Mahal, Sindhria Tan Sadqay and others. As a playback singer, he sang with many famous singers such as Madam Noor Jahan, Abida Parveen, Runa laila and others.[6]

He was also a great folk singer. He sang the poetry of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Misri Shah and other Sufi poets of Sindh.[7] He also performed in England, Germany, Belgium, Russia and China. Muhammad Yousuf not only sang in Sindhi but also in Seraiki and Urdu languages.

Honors and awards

Muhammad Yousuf received two Pride of Performance awards, four Shah Latif Awards, Four Qalendar Shahaz Awards and three Sachal Awards.[8] He was the first singer who was honoured to receive the prestigious Shah Latif Award.

References
  1. "سنڌي راڳ جو راڻُو استاد محمد يوسف". SindhSalamat. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  2. Tunio, Aftab. "ناليواري ڳائڻي استاد محمد يوسف جي وڇوڙي کي 19 ورهيه گذري ويا". www.awaztv.tv. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  3. "Tareekh e Pakistan - Birth of Yousaf, Folk Singer (لوک گلوکار محمد یوسف کی پیدائش) | Online History Of Pakistan". www.tareekhepakistan.com. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  4. Jaffery, Aqeel Abbas; Ustad Muhammad Yousuf (In Urdu), Pakistan Chronicle, pp. 794, Fazeli Sons, Karachi, 2010.
  5. صدارتي ايوارڊ يافتا راڳي استاد محمد يوسف جي وڇوڙي کي ايڪيهه سال گذري ويا, On Line Indus News, available at https://onlineindus.com/sindhi/71463, retrieved on 2020-04-12.
  6. Solangi, Wazir Farhad; ارڙهين ورسيءَ جي موقعي تي – سنڌي سنگيت جو سدا بهار آواز استاد محمد يوسف, Sindhi World Congress, 2015-02-14.
  7. "نامور لوک گلوکار محمد یوسف کی20 ویںبرسی (آج) منائی جائے گی". UrduPoint. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. Tunio, Aftab. "ناليواري ڳائڻي استاد محمد يوسف جي وڇوڙي کي 19 ورهيه گذري ويا". www.awaztv.tv. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
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