Mukhtar Begum was a Pakistani classical, ghazal singer and actress.[2][3] She was known as The Queen of Music, Queen Songstress and Melody Queen of India for singing songs in films and on radio.[1] She worked in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu films and was known for her roles in films Hathili Dulhan, Ali Baba 40 Chor, Nala Damayanti, Dil ki Pyas, Ankh ka Nasha, Muflis Ashiq and Chatra Bakavali.[4][2]
Mukhtar Begum | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mukhtar Khanum 12 July 1901 |
| Died | 25 February 1982 (aged 80) |
| Other names | The Queen of Music[1] Queen Songstress Melody Queen of India |
| Education | Patiala Gharana Music School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1920 – 1982 |
| Spouse | Agha Hashar Kashmiri (husband) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Ghulam Muhammad (father) |
| Relatives | Farida Khanum (sister) Sheeba Hassan (niece) |
Early life edit
Mukhtar Begum was born in 1901 in Amritsar, British India. Mukhtar was the older sister and she had four siblings, a sister including Farida Khanum and three brothers.[2][5]
She attended Patiala Gharana's Classic Music School. A teacher named Ustad Mian Meherbaan Khan there liked her singing and he was the teacher of Ustad Aashiq Ali Khan. So he trained Mukhtar Begum in Hindustani vocal classical music since the age of seven.[2]
In 1920 she was regularly invited by Raja's and Maharajas at their royal courts and was given huge respect.[2] She was hired by Nizam of Hyderabad at his court and she would sing classical songs then he offered her to sit next to his Queen which was criticised by his court officials later he mentioned that the reason he have offered her to sit next to Queen's chair was because of her art and talent.[2]
Career edit
In the 1930s, she moved to Kolkata and she did stage plays and theatre which were written by famous Urdu playwright and poet Agha Hashar Kashmiri.[6][2] Mukhtar Begum also went to Bombay and there she also worked in theatre.[7] After doing theatre, she started working in silent films and made her debut in 1931 and she appeared in both Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu films including Nala Damayanti, Dil ki Pyas, Ankh ka Nasha and Muflis Ashiq.[2] Mukhtar Begum also composed songs for two films in which she worked including Prem ki Aag and Bhesham.[8]
In Calcutta, She met Noor Jehan and her family and she encouraged Noor Jehan and her sisters to join films and theater. So she introduced them to some producers and to her husband Agha Hashar Kashmiri.[9]
Mukhtar Begum, along with her family, moved to Pakistan after Partition and she settled in Lahore.[10][2] She continued to sing ghazals for radio and television.[11][12][13] At Lahore, Mukhtar Begum then went to Radio Pakistan. From there, she sang many songs.[14][15][16]
Mukhatr Begum also worked as a music teacher and she trained singer Naseem Begum and her own younger sister Farida Khanum in classical music singing and ghazals.[17]
Personal life edit
Mukhtar married Urdu poet, playwright and dramatist Agha Hashar Kashmiri and Mukhtar's younger sister Farida Khanum is also a famous ghazal singer and her niece Sheeba Hassan is also an actress.[18][2][19]
Illness and death edit
Mukhtar Begum suffered a paralysis and contracted a prolonged illness from which she died on 25 February 1982 at age 80 in Karachi and she was laid to rest at Society's Graveyard in Karachi.[20][21][2]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Film | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Ali Baba 40 Chor | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1932 | Chatra Bakawali | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1932 | Hathili Dulhan | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1932 | Hindustan | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1932 | Indrasabha | Hindi, Urdu[2] |
| 1932 | Krishna Kant ki Wasiyat | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1932 | Muflis Ashiq | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1932 | Shravan Kumar | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1933 | Ankh ka Nasha | Urdu, Hindi |
| 1933 | Aurat Ka Pyar | Hindi, Urdu[22] |
| 1933 | Chantamini | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1933 | Nala Damayanti | Urdu, Hindi |
| 1933 | Ramayan | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1934 | Seeta | Urdu, Hindi |
| 1935 | Dil ki Pyas | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1935 | Majnu 1935 | Hindi, Urdu[2] |
| 1936 | Prem ki Aag | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1937 | Bhesham | Hindi, Urdu |
| 1940 | Matwali Mira | Punjabi[2] |
| 1941 | Chatra Bakvali | Punjabi |
References edit
- ^ a b "فلمی و ادبی شخصیات کے سکینڈلز۔ ۔ ۔قسط نمبر356". Daily Pakistan. 28 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Mallikas of yesteryear". Himal Southasian. 26 March 2022.
- ^ Indian Horizons, Volume 53. New Delhi, Indian Council for Cultural Relations. p. 55.
- ^ Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. Oxford University Press. p. 40.
- ^ Who's Who: Music in Pakistan. Xlibris Corporation. p. 179.
- ^ India's Shakespeare : translation, interpretation, and performance. Newark : University of Delaware Press. p. 289.
- ^ "From here to Bombay". The News International. 6 September 2021.
- ^ Indian Filmography: Silent & Hindi Films, 1897-1969. Bombay J. Udeshi. p. 90.
- ^ DOUBLE X FACTOR. JAICO Publishing House. p. 100.
- ^ "Lahore a part of me". The News International. 12 July 2021.
- ^ "The history, art and performance of ghazal in Hindustani sangeet". Daily Times. 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Daagh and ghazal singing". The News International. 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Experimenting with ghazal". The News International. 24 December 2021.
- ^ Lahore: A Musical Companion. Lahore : Baber Ali Foundation. p. 23.
- ^ Lahore: A Musical Companion. Lahore : Baber Ali Foundation. p. 69.
- ^ Lahore: A Musical Companion. Lahore : Baber Ali Foundation. p. 70.
- ^ Who's Who: Music in Pakistan. Xlibris Corporation. p. 187.
- ^ Let's know music & musical instruments of India. London ibs BOOKS. p. 59.
- ^ Bayād Jālib. Karācī, Pākistān : Pākistānī Adab Pablīkeshanz. p. 1.
- ^ "کلاسیکی گائیکی میں نام وَر مختار بیگم کی برسی". ARY News. 10 May 2022.
- ^ Asiaweek, Volume 12, Issues 27-39. Asiaweek Limited. p. 28.
- ^ Urdu/Hindi : an artificial divide : evolution from African genes, Mesopotamian roots, and Indian culture. New York : Algora Pub. p. 319.