Today is the birth anniversary of Shamshad Begum , the popular playback singer of the bygone era of Hindi Cinema. Born this day in 1919 at Lahore , exactly a day after the infamous Jallianwalla massacre that happened in nearby Amritsar, she had a humble beginning and was one of the eight children – five brothers and three sisters. Her singing talent was spotted at a very young age while she was still in School by the Principal and due to this talent , she was made head singer for the morning prayer. In 1931, when she was just twelve , her uncle took her to music director Ghulam Haider, who greatly impressed with her singing offered her a contract for twelve songs in a row. She was paid Rs15/- per song- not a small amount those days- by the Xenophone Company that recorded the songs .
At the tender age of fifteen , in 1934 she married one Ganpat Lal Bhatto, a Hindu much older than her . Eventually they had a daughter- their only child . Her singing skill were honed by Ghulam Haidar and Husssain Bakshwale Sahab . She started singing on on AIR Lahore and Peshawar . Established as asinger, she was offered role in films also but on strong opposition from her father, she shunned the proposal and never faced the camera. In the beginning of ‘40s director- producer Mehboob Khan brought her to Bombay and her singing career was formally launched. She sang for film Khazanchi and Khandan . Her Punjabi songs in the film Yamla Jatt became instant hits. She had a distinct voice , very different from Noor jahan,Suraiya , Mubarak Begum. Sudha Malhotra and Geeta Dutt.
Clarity of voice and flawless diction were the hallmark of her singing. She sang for composers like Naushad, O.P.Nayyar , S.D.Burman and C.Ramchandra and gave many memorable melodies. The most celebrated music director of the time Naushad, acknowledged his debt to Shamshad Begum , as according to him his success as a music director came due to his compositions sung by her, which were all hits. In fact the three decades – ‘40s, ‘50s and ’60s belonged to Shamshad Begum , in no less measure than to other celebrated female singers. Naushad made her sing four out of the twelve songs in Mother India.
Apart from solos, she sang beautiful duets with male singers Mohamad rafi, Mukesh, Talat Mehmood as also Lata Mangeshkar. She sang qawwalis and bhajans also. The Punjabi songs sung by her stand as a class apart.
Her songs and duets :
Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar…..
Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana……
Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re……
Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua….
Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laga Teer-e-nazar……
O Gadiwale Gadi Dheere Haank Re……
Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon…….
Ek Tera Sahara……
Holi Aayee Re Kanhaai…….
Nazar Phero Na Humse Hum hain Tum Par Marne Walon Mein…….
Chod Babul Ka Ghar…….
Badi mushkil se dil ki bekarari ko……
Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon mein Aisa dala……
Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat………
Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jaali Da……
Kisike Dil Mein Rehna Tha…..
Dharti Ko Aakash Pukare…….
Ek Do Teen Aaja Mausam Hai Rangeen………
Door koi gaye Dhun Ye Sunaye……
Chaman mein reheke veerana……
- and many many others echo and resonate in the ears even after decades today.
She was a recipient of Padma Bhushan .
Our humble tributes to the great singer !
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