Immortal Songs by Shamshad Begum-A Tribute on her 4th Death Anniversary
A distinctive voice and a versatile artist, singing over 6,000 songs in Hindi and Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and Punjabi languages and of them 1287 songs were from Hindi films.Shamshad Begum was born on 14 th April 1919 and died on 23 rd April 2013.
Her 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 began her singing career from All India Radio (AIR) in Peshawar and Lahore from 1937.Shamshad Begum sang extensively for composers including Naushad Ali, O. P. Nayyar, C. Ramchandra and S. D. Burman from 1946 to 1960. Her peak period in the Hindi film industry was from 1940 to 1955 and again from 1957 to 1968.She was the highest paid female singer from 1940 to 1955 and again post Mother India in 1957 to 1964.Her song "Kajra Mohabbat Wala" from the 1968 film Kismat and Nathaniya Hale To Bada Maza from the 1971 film Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong remains popular.
She was conferred with the prestigious O. P. Nayyar award for her contribution to Hindi film music. She was also conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2009.Begum died at her Mumbai residence on the night of 23 April 2013 after a prolonged illness. She was 94.She was cremated in a small, dignified ceremony.
IMMORTAL SONGS Of SHAMSHAD BEGUM
Song from Shama 1946
Song from Shehnai 1947
Song from Mela 1948
Song from Patanga 1949
Song from Shabnam 1949
Song from Babul 1950
Song from Babul 1950
Song from Awara 1951
Song from Baiju Bawra 1952
Song from Aar Paar 1954
Song from CID (1956)
Song from CID (1956)
Song from Naya Daur 1957
Song from Mother India (1957)
Song from Kismat (1968)
Song from Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong 1971