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Bilqees Khanum

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Bilqees Khanum
بلقیس خانم
Born(1948-12-25)25 December 1948
Garhi Shahu, Lahore, Pakistan
Died21 December 2022(2022-12-21) (aged 73)
Karachi, Pakistan
OccupationSinger
Years active1964 - 2022
Known forGhazals
TelevisionPTV
Spouse
​
(m. 1980)​
Children2
RelativesMohsin Raza (brother)

Bilqees Khanum (Urdu: بلقیس خانم; 25 December 1948 – 21 December 2022) was a Pakistani classical music singer. She is known for singing ghazals and geets like "Kuch Din To Baso Meri Ankhon Mein", "Anokha Laadla Khelan Ko Mangay Chand", and "Mat Samjho Hum Ne Bhula Diya".

Early life and family

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Khanum was born on December 25, 1948, in a middle-class family in Garhi Shahu, Lahore. Her mother was a housewife, and her father Abdul Haq used to build furniture. Of their seven children—five girls and two boys—Khanum was the oldest. Because of her family’s financial hardship, she couldn't continue her schooling beyond elementary school. Her early years spent in Faisalabad. She used to perform songs at school festivals. At a young age, she studied singing with her maternal grandfather, Inayat Ali Khan. One of Khanum's brothers Mohsin Raza is also a musician.[1]

Career

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Khanum started her singing career in 1964 from Radio Pakistan. She was one of the artists who applied during PTV's initial test transmission in 1965. She sang several patriotic songs during the 1965 India-Pakistan War. Her vocalization of Habib Jalib's "Mat samjho hum nay bhula diya, Ye mitti tumko pyari thee, Iss mitti main hee sula diya" was a memorial tribute to the war heroes of 1965.[1][2]

Khanum also performed as a playback singer for some Lollywood movies. She sang under the music direction of Khalil Ahmad, Nashad, G.A. Chishti, Nisar Bazmi, Sohail Rana, Bakhshi-Wazir, Rehman Verma, Safdar Hussain, and others. Her singing career lasted for over 45 years.[2][3]

Personal life

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In 1980, Khanum married the Indian classical music sitarist Ustaad Raees Khan, who later got Pakistani nationality and settled in Karachi with his fourth wife Khanum.[1][4][5]

Death

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After a prolonged illness, Khanum died in Karachi on 21 December 2022.[6] The prime minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif offered their condolences over her death and acknowledged her services for the music world.[7]

Awards

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Year Award Category Result Work Ref.
2018 Pride of Performance Award Arts Won Singing [8]

Songography

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Radio/TV

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Song title Lyrics by Music by
"Mat samjho hum ne bhula diya" Habib Jalib
"Anokha Laadla Khelan Ko Mangay Chand" Asad Muhammad Khan Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan
"Kuch din to buso meri aankhon mein" Obaidullah Aleem Ustad Nazar Hussain
"Wo to khushbu hai hawaon main bikhar jayega" Parveen Shakir Nisar Bazmi
"Sakal ban phool rahi sarson" Ameer Khusro Ameer Khusro
"Amma meray baba ko bhejo ri" Ameer Khusro Ameer Khusro

Film

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Song title Lyrics by Music by Film
"Pyar Di Khatir Ban Geye Jogi.. Rab Sajna Di Kahir Karay" Khawaja Parvez Bakhshi-Wazir Melay Sajna De (1972)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Shuaib, Haroon (26 December 2022). "Bilqees Khanum: A Golden Voice Goes Silent". Youlin Magazine.
  2. ^ a b Parvez, Dr. Amjad (23 December 2022). "Bilquis Khanum — veteran ghazal singer is no more". Daily Times.
  3. ^ "گلوکارہ بلقیس خانم طویل علالت کے بعد کراچی میں انتقال کرگئیں". Radio Pakistan (in Urdu). 22 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Bilqees Khanum's plight". Dawn (newspaper). 5 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Singer Bilqees Khanum passes away". The News International (newspaper). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Renowned singer Balqis Khanum passes away in Karachi". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 21 December 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  7. ^ "PM grieved over renowned singer Bilqees Khanum's demise". Daily Dunya News. 22 December 2022.
  8. ^ "President Mamnoon confers civil awards on Yaum-i-Pakistan". Dawn. 23 March 2018.
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