Shamshad Begum is one of the famous versatile singers of Indian Cinema; who always praised for her famous melodious songs like sainyan dil me anaa re… and kabhi aar kabhi paar… Recently, on 23rdApril 2013 she passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 94. In this article, I’ve given a short note about Shamshad Begum, her musical performances and contribution to the Indian Cinema.
Born on 14thApril 1919 at Amritsar, Punjab; she started singing in 1933. However, in 1947, her song was first aired from Peshawar Radio Station. Within a short tenure she became fame for many music lovers.
She first started working with Xenophone, a famous music company; where she used to receive Rs. 15/- per song as per the contract. However, at the end of the contract she receives a prize of Rs. 5,000/- from the company. Before India’s independence she’s working for Lahore and Peshawar Radio Stations; but after independence she never went to Pakistan.
She promised her father to not come up on the screen and camera; and she never given any pose in front of the camera also. Due to which, as of other’s it is very rare to get her photos or pictures. In addition, till the end of 70s people were keen to see the person with a sweet voice. And, at the end of 80s she started giving some interviews to the media. She gave her last interview in the year 2012.
Shamshad Begum used to sing in All India Radio on behalf of ‘The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts’ of Delhi. Filmmakers and directors were getting pleased by listening to her songs on radio. In 1930s, she was discovered by Ustad Ghulam Haider and she was the disciple of famous SarangiMaestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale.
Ustad Ghulam Haider has introduced her in the film Khazanchi (1941) and Khandaan (1942). In the year 1944, when Ghulam shifted to Bombay, Shamshad Begum also shifted with him and used to stay with her paternal uncle at Bombay. She became highest paid singer during 1940-55, when she sang the famous song of C. Ramachandra’s Meri Jaan… Sunday ke Sunday… She sang many solo and duets for Naushad. She sung 4 songs of ‘Mother India’ out of 12 songs. Her voice was so clear to listen, due to which O. P. Nayyar was defined as ‘temple’s bell’.
Some of the famous songs of Shamshad Begum are:
Teri Mehfil Me... From Mughal-E-Azam; Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon… from Patang; Sainyan Dil Me Aana Re… from Bahar; Bujh Mera Naam Re… based on Minu Mumtaz by O. P. Nayyar; Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Lagithi re Nazar… from Aar Paar and many more. Her duet song with Talat Mehmood, Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua…from Babul was Super Hit in the industry and memorized for many years.
In the year 2009 she was awarded with ‘Padma Bhushan’ and ‘O. P. Nayyar Award’ for her contribution and dedication to the musical world and Hindi Cinema Industry. She sang more than 6000 songs in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi and Tamil languages.
