Birth name Anwar Hussain Occupation(s) Singer Role Singer Instruments Vocalist | Name Anwar Hussain Years active 1979–present Genres playback singing Website anwarsinger.com | |
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Albums Aashiqi Se Pehle, Sachchi Ibadat, Tohfa Similar People Asha Sachdev, Qamar Jalalabadi, Gulshan Kumar Mehta, Arshad Warsi, Anjaan | ||
Guftagoo with anwar
Anwar Hussain, known more by his first name Anwar, is a playback singer who rose to prominence in the Hindi playback industry because of the uncanny resemblance of his voice with that of singer Mohammed Rafi. His most popular song to date is "Aisa Bhi Dekho Waqt" from Mahesh Bhatt's Aditya Pancholi-starrer Saathi (1991)
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Early years
Anwar was born in Mumbai in 1949; his father was an accomplished harmonium player and an assistant music director to the famed Ghulam Haider. He was classically trained by Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan, incidentally same musical academy that produced the legendary playback singer Mahendra Kapoor. Anwar started singing Mohammad Rafi songs at various concerts. It was during one of those musical shows that Anwar was spotted by the music director Kamal Rajasthani, who gave him a chance to sing for his film Mere Gharib Nawaz. The song was Kasme Hum Apni Jaan Ki.In an interview given to Afternoon Dc in May 2013 he claimed that Mohammad Rafi personally acclaimed and congratulated him for the song.
Very few people know that Anwar is step brother of Arshad Warsi and noted actress of her time Asha Sachdev.
Singing Career
In 1977, comedian Mehmood and music director Rajesh Roshan hired Anwar to sing for the film Janta Hawaldar. The songs "Teri Aankhon Ki Chahat", and "Humse Ka Bhool Hui", were picturised on famous actor Rajesh Khanna. Both the film and song were super hit; hence Anwar started getting work and recognition.
Music Director Kamal Rajasthani relates that during the recording sessions of song "Kasme Hum Apno Jaan Ki", Mohammed Rafi was so impressed that he described Anwar as the one singer who could take his place after him.
Anwar sang duets alongside the majestic playback singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle to Alka Yagnik, under music directors Khayyam, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji to Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik and present Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen. In a career span stretching over thirty years, Anwar sang a variety of songs including filmi songs, classical songs and contemporary ghazals, bhajans, qawwali, and Sufi songs.
He was offered to sing in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog, which he declined. However he got to sing a duet Ye Pyar Tha Ya Kuch with Sudha Malhotra. Manmohan Desai wanted him to sing in Amitabh Bachchan starrer Mard, but the songs later went to Shabbir Kumar as Anwar demanded too much.
Recent Years
In an interview given to Hindustan Times in November 2007, he cite the rise of Kumar Sanu after the release of Aashiqui as the reason for his moving to the United States, where he gave music lessons and performed live shows to audiences in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In 2004 Anwar composed an album called Meri Aashiqui Se Pehle broadcast on popular RKB show of Sahara Channel. All the songs in the album were mesmerising so much so that one would sense the magic of Mohammad Rafi and appreciate Anwar's talent.
In 2007 he admitted being in construction business. He stated that he was expecting the release of his latest album Tohfa.
He is not in good terms with his half brother Arshad Warsi and half sister Asha Sachdeva. He was reported by the Mumbai Mirror to be living on a very meager income obtained by singing in a night bar.
Thanks to a November 20, 2010 interview published in the Mumbai Mirror, Anwar got a few offers to sing for few TV shows like Rishton Ke Bhanwar Mein Uljhi Niyati.
Notable songs
Film songs:
Other Selected Hit Songs:
Selected Classical Ghazals:
Selected Contemporary Ghazals:
Contemporary Ghazal Albums: