Ahmed Rushdi: Remembering the voice of 'Ko Ko Korina'

KARACHI: Twenty-nine years on, Koko Korina still reverberates in the hearts of Pakistanis thanks to Ahmed Rushdi – the man who changed the face of playback singing in Pakistan.

Rushdi’s unparalleled career kicked off as a presenter on Radio Pakistan, but his singing skills gained him prominence in the film world.

Better known as the “voice of Wahid Murad”, Rushdi was one of Pakistan’s first pop singers. His jovial and bubbly voice earned him the status of “chocolate hero”.

Rushdi sang more than 150 songs in 60 movies for Pakistani film actor Wahid Murad. Both icons ruled the Pakistani film industry in the 60s and 70s.

His fame was such that critics say the history of Pakistani film industry music will be incomplete without mentioning Rushdis name.

On the eve of 11th april 1983, Rushdi died of a heart attack. Twenty years later, the government of Pakistan conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz upon him.