Sohail Rana

Sohail Rana
Rana (middle) listening to Ahmed Rushdi during a song composition
Background information
Birth name	Sohail Rana
Born	1938 Agra, British India
Origin	Pakistan
Genres	Film music
Occupation(s)	Composer & music director
Years active	1962–1989

Sohail Rana is a Pakistani music composer for films. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi sang his compositions in such films as Arman and Doraha. He is now based in Canada.

Sohail Rana Akbar Abadi was born in Agra, British India, to renowned Urdu poets Mr.& Mrs.Rana Akbar Abadi. The family moved to Pakistan after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Karachi through D.J. Science College initially. Later he received his final B.A. degree from National College, Karachi.

Sohail Rana learned music from various ustads and familiarised himself with the Eastern classical music and the Western music knowledge, which added to his experience. The film Jab say deikha hai tumhain was Waheed Murad's second film as a producer and the musical debut of Sohail Rana. Theatrical release was on 29 March 1963, and huge audiences were drawn to the three highly popular songs of the film, Ye khushi ajab khushi hai (singer: Ahmed Rushdi), Tu haseen tera jahan haseen (singer: Ahmed Rushdi) and Jab say deikha hai tumhain, dil ka ajab Aalam hai (singer: Saleem Raza). The other most popular songs of his are Ko Ko Korina, Bay taab ho udhar tum, Jab pyar mein do dil miltay hain, Oont pay baitha mera munna, which were recorded by Ahmed Rushdi.

Sohail Rana composed the hit songs for the golden jubilee film, Heera Aur Pathar, released on 11 December 1964. The film completed 68 houseful weeks. The film became a musical phenomenon, and Sohail Rana became a well-known name in the Pakistan music industry. The composition of Mujhay tum say mohabbat hai (singers: Ahmed Rushdi and Najma Niazi, and Ja ja ray chanda ja ray (singer: Mala) earned him some fame for the above film.