Begum Akhtar
Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, also known as Begum Akhtar, was a
well known Indian singer of Ghazal, and Dadra, and Thumri genres of Hindustani
classical music.
She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for
vocal music, and was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan(posthumously)
by Govt. of India.[3] She
was given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals).
Born: October
7, 1914, BhadarsaDied: October
30, 1974, AhmedabadSpouse: Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi (m.
1945–1974)
Movies: Roti, The Music RoomAlbums: Koyelia Gaan Thama
Early life
Begum Akhtar was born in Bada
Darwaza, Town Bhadarsa, Bharatkund, Faizabad District, Uttar
Pradesh. Her father, Asghar Hussain, a young lawyer who fell in love with her
mother Mushtari and made her his second wife, subsequently disowned her and his
twin daughters Zohra and Bibbi (Akhtar)
CareerAkhtar was barely seven when
she was captivated by the music of Chandra Bai, an artist attached to a touring
theatre group. However at her uncle's insistence she was sent to train under
Ustad Imdad Khan, the great sarangi exponent from Patna, and later under Ata Mohammed Khan of Patiala.
Later, she travelled to Calcutta with her mother and learnt music from
classical stalwarts like Mohammad Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan of Lahore, and
finally she became the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan.
Her first public performance
was at the age of fifteen. The famous poetess, Sarojini
Naidu, appreciated her singing during a concert which was organised
in the aid of victims of the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake. This
encouraged her to continue singing ghazals with more enthusiasm. She was amongst the early
female singers to give public concert, and break away from singing in mehfils or
private gatherings, and in time came to be known as Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen
of Ghazal).Begum
Akhtar's good looks and sensitive voice made her an ideal candidate for a film
career in her early years.East India Film Company of
Calcutta approached her to act in "King for a Day" (alias Ek Din Ka Badshah) and Nal Damayanti in 1933.East India Film Company of
Calcutta approached her to act in "King for a Day" (alias Ek Din Ka Badshah) and Nal Damayanti in 1933.
In
1945, Akhtaribai married a Lucknow-based barrister, Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, and
became known as Begum Akhtar.[8] However, after marriage,
due to her husband's restrictions, she could not sing for almost five years and
subsequently, she fell ill, that is when her return to music was prescribed as
a befitting remedy, and in 1949 she returned to the recording studios.
Her
voice matured with time, adding richness and depth. She sang ghazals and other
light classical pieces, singing them in her inimitable style. She has nearly
four hundred songs to her credit. She was a regular performer on All India Radio. She usually
composed her own ghazals and most of her compositions were raag based. She sang the
timeless Bengali classical song "Jochona Koreche Aari"
DeathDuring her last concert in
Ahmedabad she raised the pitch of her voice as she felt that her singing had
not been as good as she had wanted it to be and she felt unwell. The additional
demand and stress that she put herself under resulted in her falling ill and
was rushed to the hospital.She died on 30 October 1974 in
the arms of Nilam Gamadia, her friend, who invited her to Ahmedabad, which has
become her final performance. Discography
ListHindi films
·
Naseeb Ka Chakkar | –
1. Kalyug Hai Jabse
Aaya Maya Ne...
·
Roti | Anna Sahab Mainkar
1.
Wo Hans Rahe Hain Aah Kiye Jaa...
2.
Ulajh Gaye Nayanwa Chhute Nahin...
3.
Char Dino Ki Jawani Matwale...
4.
Ai Prem Teri Balihari Ho...
5.
Phir Fasle Bahaar Aayi Hai...
6.
Rehne Laga Hai Dil Me Andhera...
·
Panna Dai | Gyan Dutt
1.
Hamen Yaad Teri Sataane Lagi...
2.
Main Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke Rahungi...
·
Dana Pani | Mohan Junior
1.
Ishq Mujhe Aur Kuchh To Yaad Nahi...
·
Ehsaan
1.
(1954 – hame.n dil me.n basaa bhi lo).
Filmography
·
Mumtaz Beghum (1934)
·
Jawaani Ka Nasha (1935)
·
King for a Day (1933, director : Raaj Hans)
·
Ameena (1934, director : -)
·
Roop Kumari (1934, director : Madan)
·
Naseeb Ka Chakkar (1936, director : Pesi Karani)
·
AnaarBala (1940, director : A M Khan)
·
Roti (1942, director : Maadhav Kaale)
·
Jalsaghar (1958;
director: Satyajit
Ray)
Awards and recognition
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