Shamshad Begum
Shamshad Begum | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 23 April 2013 | (aged 94)
Spouse |
Ganpat Lal Batto
(m. 1934; died 1955) |
Awards | O. P. Nayyar Award (2009)[1] Padma Bhushan (2009)[2] |
Musical career | |
Genres | Filmi |
Occupation(s) | Playback singer |
Years active | 1933–1976 |
Shamshad Begum (
Personal life
Shamshad Begum was born in
In 1932, the teenage Shamshad came in contact with Ganpat Lal Batto, a
In 1955, Ganpat Lal Batto died in a road accident. His death left Shamshad very distraught, because her husband had been the focus of her life and they had both been extremely devoted to each other. He had handled many aspects of her career and contracts and had been a major positive energy behind her career progression. After his death, Shamshad became listless and lost the fighting spirit to pursue her career, which registered a sharp decline thereafter. Indeed, while Shamshad Begum was both an outstanding singer and a successful famous one, she was at some deeper level always a wife and mother first, someone who instinctively prioritised her family over her career. By nature, she preferred to keep away from the public glare and from business dealings, taking the view that it was rather unseemly for a lady to be involved in such things.
After her husband's death, Shamshad Begum began living with her daughter and son-in-law in
Career
1924–40
Begum's talent was first spotted by her principal when she was in primary school in 1924. Impressed by the quality of her voice, she was made head singer of classroom prayer. At 10, she started singing folk-based songs at religious functions and family marriages. She received no formal musical training. Her singing ambitions, which she held from 1929, met with opposition from her family. In 1931, when she was twelve, her uncle, who enjoyed qawwalis and ghazals, secretly took her to Jenophone (or Xenophone) Music Company for an audition with Lahore-based musician and composer, Ghulam Haider. Begum said in an interview, "I sang Bahadur Shah Zafar's (the poet-ruler) ghazal Mera yaar mujhe mile agar." An impressed Haider gave her a contract for twelve songs, with the same facilities provided to top singers. It was Begum's paternal uncle Aamir Khan[11] who convinced her father, Miya Hussain Baksh, to allow her to sing. When she won a contract with a recording company, her father agreed to let her sing on the condition that she would record in a burka and not allow herself to be photographed.[12] She earned 15 rupees per song and was awarded 5,000 on the completion of the contract on Xenophone. Xenophone was a renowned music recording company, patronised by the rich, and her popularity grew in elite circles in the early 1930s. Though she had won the Xenophone audition without having any formal music training, Hussain Bakshwale Sahab and later Ghulam Haider improved her singing skills between 1937 and 1939.
Her popular breakthrough came when she began singing on All India Radio (AIR) in Peshawar and Lahore from 1937. Producer Dilsukh Pancholi wanted her to act as well in a film he was producing. Begum readily agreed, gave a screen test and was selected. Her father became angry when he found out and warned her that she would not be allowed to sing if she continued to harbour a desire to act. Begum promised her father that she would never appear before the camera. She continued to sing songs on the radio. She never posed for photographs, and few people saw her picture between 1933 and the 1970s.
Begum sang for AIR through her musical group 'The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts', set up in Delhi.
1941–45
Director
When Haider moved to
1946–55
Begum sang extensively for composers including
Begum is credited with singing one of the first Westernised songs, "Meri jaan...Sunday ke Sunday" by Ramchandra. She kept getting more offers to sing songs and was the highest paid female singer from 1940 to 1955 and again post Mother India in 1957 to 1964. In 1949, music directors S. Rajeswara Rao, M. D. Parthasarathy and Balakrishna Kalla asked her to sing "Jaiyo Jaiyo Shipayon Bazar" for P. Bhanumathi in the film Nishan, produced by Gemini Films of Madras, which became highly popular.
Although Burman started composing Bengali music in 1937, he achieved national fame with tracks sung by Begum in Hindi films.[15] Burman was not well established as a music director in Hindi films until 1946; he then asked Begum to sing in his debut Hindi film as music director, Shikari (1946), with the song, "Kuch Rang Badal Rahi". In 1949, came Shabnam, in which Burman asked her to sing duets named "Pyar Main Tumne" and "Kismat Bhi Bhichadna" with Mukesh, which became popular. Shabnam was Burman's biggest hit to that date with Filmistan, and was especially noticeable for its multilingual song "Yeh Duniya Roop ki Chor", sung by Begum and acted by Kamini Kaushal, which became another hit.[16] Burman subsequently asked her to sing tracks in Bazar, Mashaal, Bahar, Shahenshah, Miss India, and other films. The song "Jaam Tham Le" from Shahenshah was a trendsetter for Burman compositions.
Begum had met Nayyar during her radio stint in Lahore, when he worked as an office boy delivering cakes for the lead singers. In 1954, when Nayyar got a break as a composer, he approached Begum to record songs for Mangu. Nayyar described her voice as resembling a "temple bell" for its clarity of tone. He worked with her until the late 1960s and gave her many hit songs, including "Ab To Jee Hone Laga" from Mr. & Mrs. '55, "Main Jaan Gayi Tujhe" from Howrah Bridge, "Zara Pyar Karle" from Mangu, "Saiyan Teri Ankhon Mein" from 12' O Clock, "Thodasa Dil Lagana" from Musafirkhana, and many others.[citation needed]
Several of her songs from this period remain extremely popular, including those acted by
In the late 1940s,
1955–76
Shamshad was at the peak of her career right from 1941 to 1955 and was the most in demand female singer and highest paid female playback singer from 1940 to 1955. She was the lead singer for many films like Taqdeer, Humayun, Shahjehan, Anokhi Ada, Aag, Mela, Patanga, Babul, Bahar, Jadoo, Aan and more. But after her husband's accidental death in 1955, Begum became a recluse and stopped accepting singing assignments, including recordings, for a year. Though she had stopped recording for her songs in the year 1955 after her husband's death, the songs released between 1955 and early 1957 including songs from films such as CID, Naya Andaz, Baradari, Mr. & Mrs. '55 and other hits continued to be popular. At this juncture Mehboob Khan approached her in 1957 and said he wanted a full-throated voice for Nargis in Mother India. The first song she sang after returning to her career was "Pee ke ghar aaj pyari dulhaniya chali" for Mother India. She made a successful comeback, and subsequently recorded many notable songs for films such as Howrah Bridge, Jaali Note, Love in Simla, Bewaqoof, Mughal-e-Azam, Bluff Master, Gharana and Rustom-E-Hind.[citation needed]
The well-known later playback singer,
Retirement and death
From the late 1980s, Begum started giving occasional interviews. In one of her interviews with Filmfare magazine in 2012, Begum disclosed, "The more hits I gave, the less work I got. When I helped new composers I never told them to give me all their songs to sing. I believed only God could give, not them."[19] Her final interview was in 2012. In 2009, she was conferred with the prestigious O. P. Nayyar Award for her contribution to Hindi film music.[1] She was also conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2009.[2] Later, her daughter Usha said in an interview, "Because of the politics in the industry, she didn't want to work any more. This is one of the reasons why she wouldn't let me be a singer. I told her, let me sing for my self-satisfaction, but she said if you learn to sing, you will directly enter the industry. So, she wouldn't let me do so."[20]
Begum died at her Mumbai residence on the night of 23 April 2013 after a prolonged illness. She was 94.[21][22] She was cremated in a small, dignified ceremony.[23]
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."[24] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "She was an artist of extraordinary talent and abilities, and the songs she has left behind in her long career, which she started with AIR in 1937, will continue to enthral music lovers."[25] Her daughter Usha Ratra said, "She kept herself away from glamour of the industry despite being one of the top singers of her era as she did not like the limelight. My mother used to say that artistes never die. She wanted to be remembered for her songs."[5]
Selected songs
- "Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar", "Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana", "Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re" – CID (1956); (Music: O.P. Nayyar)
- "Savan Ke Nazare Hai" - Khazanchi (1941 film); (Music: Ghulam Haider)
- "Hum Dard Ka Afsana" - Dard (1947 film)
- "Jab Usne Gesu Bikhraye" - Shahjehan (1946) (Music: Naushad)
- "Main Bhawara Tu Hai Phool" (Duet with Mukesh) - Mela (1948 film); (Music: Naushad)
- "Chandni Aayi Ban Ke Pyar" - Dulari (film) (1949)
- "Na Bol Pi Pi More Aangna" - Dulari (film) (1949)
- "Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua", (Duet with Naushad Ali)
- "Chali Chali Kaisi Yeh Hawa Yeh", (Duet with Kalyanji Anandji)
- "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laga Teer-e-nazar", (Aar Paar 1954), (music: O.P. Nayyar)
- "O Gadiwale Dheere" – Mother India 1957; (Music: Naushad)
- "Ye duniya roop ki chor" – Shabnam 1949; (Music: S.D.Burman)
- "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" – Patanga 1949; (Music C.Ramchandra)
- "Ek Tera Sahara" – Shama 1946; (Music: Master Ghulam Haider)
- "Holi Aayee Re Kanhaai" – Mother India (1957); (Music: Naushad)
- "Haye ni mera baalam hai barha zalim" and "Teri kanak di rakhi"-Do Lachhian (1960) Punjabi Movie
- "Naina Bhar Aye Neer" – Humayun (1945); (Music: Master Ghulam Haider)
- "Nazar Phero Na Humse" – (Duet with G M Durani) – Deedar (1951); (Music: Naushad)
- "Chod Babul Ka Ghar" – Babul 1950; (Music: Naushad)
- 'Badi mushkil se dil ki beqarari ko qarar aaya' – Naghma 1953; (Music: Naushad) ; (Lyrics: Shoukat Dehlavi)
- "Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon mein Aisa dala" (Duet with O.P. Nayyar)
- "Meri Neendon Main Tum" (Duet with Kishore Kumar) – Naya Andaz 1956; (Music: O.P.Nayyar)
- "Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat" (Duet with Lata Mangeshkar) – Mughal-E-Azam 1960; (Music:Naushad)
- "Pyar Ke Jahan Ki Nirali" (Duet with Lata Mangeshkar) - Patanga (1949 film); (Music: C. Ramchandra)
- "Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re" – Bahar 1951; (Music: S.D.Burman)
- "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jaali Da" – Naya Daur 1957; (Music: O.P.Nayyar)
- "Kisike Dil Mein Rehna Tha" – Babul 1950 – with Lata; (Music:Naushad)
- "Dharti Ko Aakash Pukare" – Mela 1948 – with Mukesh; (Music: Naushad)
- "Ek Do Teen Aaja Mausam Hai Rangeen" – Awaara (1951); (Music: Shankar-Jaikishen)
- "Dil eechak beechak gurr" – "Bawre Nain" 1950 – (Music:Roshan)
- "Kahin pe nigahein" – "C.I.D." 1956 – (Music: O.P. Nayyar)
- "Door Koi Gaye" – "Baiju Bawra (1952)(Music: Naushad)
- "Chaman mein reheke veerana" – "Deedar" 1951 – (Music :Naushad)
References
- ^ a b "O P Nayyar award for Shamshad Begum". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Yesteryears' playback singer Shamshad Begum named for Padma Bhushan". Twocircles.net. 25 January 2009. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum, The Legendary Singer". India Post. August 1998. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum dies at 94". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ a b "India singing legend Shamshad Begum dies". 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Who was Shamshad Begum?". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum was born in Lahore, not Amritsar: Daughter". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum was born in Lahore, not Amritsar: Daughter (Interview)". Newstrackindia.com. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Newsmakers – Shamshad Begum". milligazette.com. 15 November 2004. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum Profile – Interview". planetpowai.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009.
- ^ IANS (3 May 2013). "Shamshad Begum was born in Lahore, not Amritsar: Daughter". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ "Legendary playback singer Shamsad Begum passes away". Oneindia News. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum: A song in her heart". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum was born in Lahore, not Amritsar: Daughter (Interview)". Bihartimes.in. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b "The greatest hits of Shamshad Begum – NDTV.com Photo Gallery". Ndtv.com. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "SD Burman". Upperstall.com. 31 October 2005. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ "Movies: Classics Revisited: Andaz". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar remember legendary singer Shamshad Begum". The Indian Express. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Remembering Shamshad Begum". filmfare.com. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Singer Shamshad Begum passes away". Business Standard News. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
- ^ "Veteran Bollywood Singer Shamshad Begum passes away at 94". Biharprabha News. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum dies at 94 – The Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ "Manmohan Singh condoles passing away of Shamshad Begum". Yahoo. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Tewari, Manish (24 April 2013). "Shamshad Begum's singing style had set new benchmarks". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Shamshad Begum had extraordinary talent: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013.