Mukhtar Begum was a Pakistani classical, ghazal singer and actress.[2][3] She was referred as The Queen of Music 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 (1901-07-12)12 July 1901 Amritsar, British India, India |
| Died | 25 February 1982(1982-02-25) (aged 80) Karachi, Pakistan |
| Other names | The Queen of Music[1] |
| Education | Patiala Gharana Music School |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1920 – 1982 |
| Spouse | Agha Hashar Kashmiri (husband) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Ghulam Muhammad (father) |
| Relatives | Farida Khanum (sister) Sheeba Hassan (niece) |
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 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]
Mukhtar married Urdu poet, playwright and dramatist Agha Hashar Kashmiri and Mukhtar's younger sister Farida Khanum is also a famous ghazal singer.[18][2][19]
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]
| 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 |