Woh Lamhe - Page 3

1959 film 'Sawera,'

Music composer, Manzoor Ashraf, lyrics, Fayyaz Hashmi

The above proverb holds true to the great singer of the yesteryear, S.B. John. Sunny Benjamin John, who is popularly known as S.B. John spend most of his life in Karachi, Pakistan.

Accompanied with his wife and two sons namely Robin and Glenn John, S.B. John used to sing gospel on Christmas Eve, on Pakistani television.

Prominent singers like S.B. John who perform it best could still be heard joyously stretching and bending notes, breaking syllables and bouncing phrases back and forth.

S.B. John started singing on Radio Pakistan Karachi as an 'A' category artist. Side by side he also made his presence felt in various functions and stage shows held in Karachi.

S.B. John also sang Janab Rana Akbar Aabadi Sahab's ghazal, 'Uray hoash us dar pay janay say pehlay.' Sohail Rana composed this ghazal at EMI Pakistan.

Around 1973, S.B. John introduced his son, Robin John, to Sohail Rana and said that he wishes to get his son a keyboard. Since young Robin remembered all his father's songs. Robin was seven or eight years of age at the time.

Fifteen years later, S.B. John again brought Robin to Sohail Rana. By that time Robin had grown up as a talented singer. Hence, Sohail Rana utilized Robin's singing talents in Pakistani television shows, and also in private songs and the film recordings.

Additionally, Robin also toured UAE, Turkey and USA with Sohail Rana and participated in the musical programs.

Nowadays, Robin lives in USA. Hopefully, his parents will join him soon.

While recording the ghazal below S.B. John might have envisioned music sweeping Pakistan:

'Kal chaudween ki raat thee, shab bhar raha churcha tera,' Poet, Ibne Insha.


Kal chaudween ki raat thee, shab bhar raha churcha tera,
kuchh nay kaha ye chand hai, kuchh nay kaha chehra tera
kal chaudween ki raat thee

hum bhee waheen maujood thay, hum say bhee sub pucha kiye
hum chup rahay, hum hans diye manzoor tha parda tera
kal chaudween ki raat thee

S.B. John's music mastery marked the undisputed triumph of the formula, exemplified best—surprise!

S.B. John achieved lofty heights through ghazals like the one below:

'Teray milnay kay zamanay Aaye, teri baatain he sunanay Aaye,' Poet, Ahmed Faraz.

Presumably, it never occurred to S.B. John that his name will become synonymous with the song below. In my minds eye, I conjure the recording of that song as vividly as I was there:

'Tu jo naheen hai to kuchh bhee naheen hai, ye mana keh mehfil jawan hai haseen,' the 1959 film 'Sawera,' Music composer, Manzoor Ashraf, lyrics, Fayyaz Hashmi, pictured on Kamal, Shamim Ara- Kamal played the lead.

Forty-seven-years down the line, this song is as much in demand as if it were recorded yesterday. Alas! To this day, no one could come up with the explanation as to what is so special about this song.


But we don't need a logical explanation. Some things should remain mysterious. The wistful magic of S.B. John is, indeed, one of them.

Thank u so much Dada.. I luv all the songs of Woh Lamhe.. Daily i hear to it atleast once.. I liked kya mujhe pyaar hai and wanted to hear to it, in that course i listened to all the other songs too.. They r so good.. This year around we hv had many films with great songs.. RDB, Gangster, and the next is Woh Lamhe..

I never knew about Glenn John and his Dad and that his dad had sung tujo nahin toh before.. Thanks Dada for the information.. 😊

Originally posted by: Qwest

But we don't need a logical explanation. Some things should remain mysterious. The wistful magic of S.B. John is, indeed, one of them.

👏

Best explanation for the singer. Thanks Bobda. I heard the songs of the album yesterday. They are really good.