Songs of Shamshad Begum
One of the first playback singers of Hindi Cinema is Shamshad Begum who was born on April 14th, 1919 at Amritsar, Punjab. She is a Padma Bhushan singer who has spread her magic of voice in the industry. It is said that she is a big fan of famous actor and singer K.L Saigal. She has watched K.L Saigal’s film titled ‘Devdas‘ fourteen times. She was married to Ganpat Lal Batto and have a daughter named Usha Ratra and she currently lives with her daughter and son-in-law in Powai, Mumbai. She had an elder sister also. Her husband died in 1955. At that time, she earned rupees fifteen per song and also was awarded rupees five thousand on the completion of the contract on Jenaphone. A controversy erupted in the media when several publications printed false statement of her death in 1998. But later it was clarified that Shamshad Begum who has died was Saira Banu’s grandmother who had same name.
Shamshad Begum started her career on December 16th, 1937 at the Peshawar Radio in Lahore. She had a magical voice which attracted the listeners and soon she became very popular. Shamshad was very much conscious of her not so beautiful face and therefore she never posed for any pictures. Due to this many people did not knew her face rather she was recognised with her voice. By 1970s, no one knew her face at all but her voice was affectively used by some music maestros like Naushad Ali and O. P. Nayyar. Even today her songs of 1950s, 60s and 70s are much popular and remixed by the upcoming music directors. In her earlier days Shamshad sang for the All India Radio (AIR) with her musical group ‘The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts’ which was set up in Delhi. It was AIR Lahore which helped her to enter the world of movies as they frequently broadcast her songs, which induced music directors to use her voice for their films.
She has also recorded ‘naats’ and devotional music for a couple of gramophone recording companies. Later her deep and clear voice attracted the attention of sarangi maestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale Saheb. He got impress with her voice quality so much and took her as his disciple. In 1941, her voice was used effectively by Lahore-based composer Ghulam Haider in the movie ‘Khazanchi’. In very next year, 1942 once again Ghulam Haider used her voice in ‘Khandaan‘. Later in 1944, she moved to Bombay with him staying with her Chacha. There she became the first Westernised songs “Meri jaan…Sunday ke Sunday” which was composed by C. Ramchandra. By the time she became a sensation in 1940s and in late 1950s where she sang in many superhit movies. Among them were CID (1956), Mother India (1957), Kismat (1968), Naya Andaaz, Kismat etc. She was able to create her own image between her peers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt and Amirbai Karnataki.
Songs of Shamshad Begum are :
1. Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re - CID
2. Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon Mein - Kismat
3. O Gadiwale - Mother India
4. Milte Hi Aankhen Dil Hua - Babul
5. Ek Tera Sahara – Shama
6. Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar - CID
7. Naina Bhar Aye Neer - Humayun
8. Meri Neendon Mein Tum - Naya Andaaz
9. Chod Babul Ka Ghar - Babul
10. Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon - Patanga
Related posts:
- Songs of Mubarak Begum
- Songs of Lata Mangeshkar
- Songs of Atif Aslam
- Songs of K. L. Saigal
- Songs of Rajkumari Dubey
- Songs of Mohammad Rafi
- Lyrics of Jaana hai tujhko piya ke angna - Mere Baap Pehle Aap
- Songs of Alisha Chinai
- Hit songs of Mukesh
- Songs of Kavita Krishnamurthy
- Songs of Babul Supriyo
- Songs of Alka Yagnik
- Songs of Geeta Dutt
- Songs of Mother India
- Songs of Sonu Kakkar
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