Mehnaz Begum
Mehnaz Begum (1950 – 19 January 2013) was a Pakistani singer, well-known as a film playback singer.[1][2]
Mehnaz Begum | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958 Mahmudabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Died | 19 January 2013 (aged 55) Manama, Bahrain |
| Occupation | Singer, film playback singer |
| Years active | 1972–2013 |
| Awards | 13 Nigar Awards Lux Style Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) (2011) |
Early life and career
Mehnaz Begum was born at Mahmudabad, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1958. Her family migrated to Pakistan in the late 1950s. She received her initial training in music from her mother Kajjan Begum who was also a singer.[1][3]
She started her career as a playback singer in the early 1970s. Saleem Gilani, the director general of Radio Pakistan, Karachi first spotted her doing a concert at her college and helped her. Mehdi Hassan and his elder brother Pandit Ghulam Qadir trained her at this radio station for about a month. Her melodious voice, musical training and control over her voice made her popular among the Pakistani film music directors.[4]
She sang a variety of genres but specialized in ghazal, thumri, dadra, khayal, drupad and reciting salam, noha and marsiya. She was the daughter of celebrated sub-continental singer Kajjan Begum. and the famous government officer Abdullah Abdullah Tasnim, but when she realized fame, she changed her name to simply Mehnaz or Mehnaz Begum. She also sang ghazals and light classical music for Pakistani television shows[1][3][4]
Mehnaz Begum never married but some of her favorite hobbies included bird-watching and admiring nature. Her favorite television show and movie was Franklin (TV series) (life of a turtle by the name Franklin) and Bambi (1942 animated movie by Disney Studios). Mehnaz Begum loved to paint in her college days and wanted to choose painting as her career. She also delighted in drawing various flowers and birds.[4]
Popular songs
| Song title | Lyrics by | Music by | Film notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mera Pyar Tere Jeevan Ke Sang Rahega[5] | Masroor Anwar | Nisar Bazmi | Pehchan (1975 film)[5] |
| Pyar Ka Waada Aisay Nibhaen, Koi Juda Karne Na Pai[5] | Taslim Fazli | Khalil Ahmed | Aaj Aur Kal (1976) |
| Mujhe Dil Se Na Bhulana[5] | Taslim Fazli | Robin Ghosh | Aina (1977 film) |
| Jaisi Tasveer Banai Hai Mere Saajan Ne | Taslim Fazli | Wajid Nashad | Parastish (1977 film)[1] |
| Mein Jis Din Bhula Doon Tera Pyar Sajna[5] | Masroor Anwar | M. Ashraf | Khushboo (1979)[5] |
| Do Pyaasay Dil Aik Huay Hain Aise [1] | Taslim Fazli | Robin Ghosh | Bandish (1980 film)[1] |
| Sachha Tera Naam, Tu Hi Bigre Banai Kaam | Masroor Anwar | Nisar Bazmi | Biwi Ho Tau Aisi (1982 film)[5] |
Death
She died on 19 January 2013 at a Bahrain hospital while transiting from Karachi to Miami, Florida for medical treatment of a respiratory ailment. Her condition worsened during the flight and during a stopover at the Bahrain airport, she was taken to a hospital where she died.[3][1]
Awards and recognition
- She had won the Nigar Award for Best Female Playback Singer 13 times[5][6]
- Lifetime Achievement Award by Lux Style Awards (2011)[6]
Television
- Wafa (Serial) 1999
- Mahnoor (Film) 2004
References
- Peerzada Salman (20 January 2013). "Singer Mehnaz Begum dies". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- KARACHI: Some thoughts on All-Pakistan Music Conference’s Baithak, Dawn (newspaper), 10 April 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2020
- "Transitions: Renowned classical singer Mehnaz Begum passes away". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 19 January 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- Profile: The songbird (Mehnaz Begum) Dawn (newspaper), Published 11 March 2012, Retrieved 21 April 2020
- Adnan Lodhi (19 January 2019). "Remembering ghazal giant Mehnaz Begum". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- Fahad Shabbir (19 January 2020). "7th Death Anniversary Of Renowned Singer Mehnaz Begum Observed". UrduPoint.com website. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
External links
- Mehnaz Begum on IMDb