Shamshad Begum
- Not to be confused with Shamshad Begum (classical singer) (died 1998), mother of Naseem Banu, and grandmother of actress Saira Banu.
Shamshad Begum | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 14, 1919 Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Died | 23 April 2013 (aged 94) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Genres | Playback singing |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1934–1975 |
Shamshad Begum (April 14, 1919 - April 23, 2013[1][2]) was an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry.
Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab. She was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2009.[3] She passed away at her Mumbai residence on the night of April 23, 2013 after prolonged illness. [4]
Career
Shamshad Begum started singing in 1933.When she sang for the film Khajanchi in 1941, she was already well established. Begum made her debut on radio on Peshawar Radio in Lahore on December 16, 1947, captivating the hearts of her listeners with the enchanting depth of her voice. She was a big fan of K.L. Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times. She earned 15 rupees per song and was awarded 5,000 on the completion of the contract on Xenophone, a renowned music recording company. She promised her father that she would never appear before the camera, and so forged a long and successful camera in the recording studio. She never posed for any pictures and not many people saw her pictures anywhere. Until the end of the 1970s, nobody knew her face at all, though everybody could recognise her melodious voice as it was used by the great maestros like Naushad Ali and O. P. Nayyar.She started giving few interviews only from late 1980's and gave her last interview in 2012. Even today, her songs from the 1940's, 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s are popular and continue to be remixed. Without any formal lessons in music, she had a distinct inimitable voice. Shamshad was born in Amritsar and had no known Pakistani connection post 1947. She had of course rendered songs in the pre-Partition days from Peshawar and Lahore radio stations. [5]
Begum sang for the All India Radio (AIR) through her musical group 'The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts', set up in Delhi.[6] The then AIR Lahore helped her entering the world of movies as they frequently broadcast her songs, which induced music directors to use her voice for their films. Shamshad also recorded naats and devotional music for a couple of gramophone recording companies.
Her crystal-clear voice caught the attention of sarangi maestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale Saheb, who took her as his disciple. Lahore-based composer Ghulam Haider used her voice skillfully in some of his earlier films like Khazanchi (1941) and Khandaan (1942). When he moved to Bombay in 1944, Shamshad went with him as a member of his team, leaving behind her family and staying with her Chacha (paternal uncle). She is credited with singing one of the first Westernised songs, Meri jaan...Sunday ke Sunday by C. Ramchandra. Naushad acknowledged he was indebted to her in reaching the top as Shamshad Begum was famous personality already even before Naushad made a name for himself in late 1940's. It was Shamshad's solo and duet songs sung for Naushad in the late 40's and early 1950's which made Naushad famous. After Nausahd became successful he recorded songs with new singers as well in the early 1950's but kept working with Shamshad in late 50's and early 1960's. Naushad chose his favourite singer Shamshad Begum once again to sing four out of the 12 songs in Mother India.[7] O.P. Nayyar described her voice as that of a "temple bell" for its clarity of tone and worked with her more in 1950's till late 1960's. Begum became a national rage between the early 1940s and the early 1960s, having a voice different from her peers like Noorjehan, Mubarrak Begum, Suraiya, Sudha Malhotra, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt and Amirbai Karnataki.Her songs picturised on Nigar Sultana like Teri Mehfil Mein from Mughal E Azam and Mere Piyan Gaye from Patanga(1949), then Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re picturised on Vyjantimala and on Minoo Mumtaz like Boojh Mera Naam Hai are extremely popular till today. Milte hi aankhen dil hua from - Babul (1950) had a romantic duet by Talat Mahmood and Shamshad Begum picturised on Dilip Kumar and Munawar Sultana which became popular as well. In 2009, she was conferred with the prestigious O P Nayyar award for her contribution to Hindi film music.[8]
Death and reactions
Shamshad Begum died at her Mumbai residence. She was 94.[9]Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said "The film industry has lost one of its most versatile singers. Shamshadji's style of singing set new benchmarks. Her melodious voice with powerful lyrics gave us songs that have remained popular even today."[10]
Controversey
Sometime back, a controversy erupted in the media, when several publications gave the false news of her death, before it was clarified that the Shamshad Begum who died in 1998 was Saira Banu's (Dilip Kumar's wife) grandmother with the same name. The singer has been living with her daughter Usha Ratra and son-in-law in Mumbai, ever since her husband Ganpat Lal Batto died in 1955.[11] Recently, she celebrated her 89th birthday at her elder sister's house and stayed at - Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai [12]
Songs
- Leke pehla pehla pyar, (CID 1956), (music: O.P. Nayyar)
- Milte hi aankhen dil hua, (Duet with Talat Mehmood), (Babul), (music: Naushad)
- Chali chali kaisi yeh hawa yeh, (Duet with Usha Mangeshkar), (Bluffmaster 1965), (music: Kalyanji Anandji)
- Kabhi aar kabhi paar zara dere chalo, (Aar Paar), (music: O.P. Nayyar)
- O Gadiwale Dheere - Mother India - Naushad
- Kahin pe nigahen kahin pe nishana - CID (1956) - music O.P. Nayyar
- Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re - (1956) - music O.P.Nayyar
- Mere piya gaye Rangoon - Patanga - music C.Ramchandra
- Ek Tera Sahara – Shama - music Master Ghulam Haider
- Holi aayee re Kanhaai - Mother India (1957) - Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni, Music: Naushad
- Naina Bhar aye neer - Humayun - music Master Ghulam Haider
- Nazar Phero Na Humse -(Duet with G M Durani) - Deedar (1951) - music Naushad
- Chod Babul Ka Ghar - Babul - music Naushad
- Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon mein Aisa dala (Duet with Asha Bhosle) - Kismat (1968) - Music: O.P. Nayyar
- Meri neendon main tum, meri khwabon mein tum (Duet with Kishore Kumar) - Naya Andaz - Music: O.P.Nayyar
- Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat (Duet with Lata Mangeshkar) - Mughal-E-Azam
- Saiyan Dil mein aana re - Bahar
- Reshmi salwar kurta jaali da - Naya Daur
- Milte Hai Ankhen Dil Deewana Hua Kisika - Babul - with Talat Mahmood
- Kisike Dil Mein Rehna Tha - Babul - with Lata
- Dharti Ko Aakash Pukare - Mela - with Mukesh
- do teen aaja mausam hai rangeen - Awara
References
- ^ India Post, South Asia Bureau, August 1998 Available online
- ^ The writer has posted comments on this article. "Shamshad Begum dies at 94 - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
- ^ Yesteryears' playback singer Shamshad Begum named for Padma Bhushan
- ^ "Veteran Bollywood Singer Shamshad Begum passes away at 94". Retrieved 24 April 2013.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/shantanumukharji/3500/64485/shamshad-begum-a-living-legend.html
- ^ http://www.ndtv.com/article/people/shamshad-begum-a-song-in-her-heart-358188
- ^ http://www.ndtv.com/photos/entertainment/the-greatest-hits-of-shamshad-begum-14992/slide/11
- ^ "O P Nayyar award for Shamshad Begum". Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shamshad-Begum-dies-at-94/articleshow/19706290.cms
- ^ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1826427/report-shamshad-begum-s-singing-style-had-set-new-benchmarks-manish-tewari
- ^ Newsmakers - Shamshad Begummilligazette.com, 1-15 Nov, 2004.
- ^ Shamshad Begum Profile - Interview planetpowai.com.
External links
- Legends - Shamshad Begum: Her profile, Interview, complete list of her songs and her work with Music Directors and Co-Singers
- Shamshad Begum at IMDb
- Indianetzone - Shamshad Begum
- PLANET POWAI - Shamshad Begum
- IndianMelody.com - Shamshad Begum, The Legendary Singer This link refers to the wrong Shamshad Begum, which says she has died.
- PRO BOLLYWOOD - Dharti Ko Aakash Pukare by Manohar Iyer
- PRO BOLLYWOOD - Shamshad Begum's Photos at Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards
- Dhool.com - Song of the Day # 691
- Shamshad Begum -The Eternal Voice
- Video links