A Tribute to BEGUM AKHTAR on her 102nd Birth Anniversary

 Akhtaribai popularly known as Begum Akhtar was born on 7th Oct 1914 at  Bada Darwaza, Town Bhadarsa, Bharatkund, District Faizabad U P.Infact she was born as Bibbi along with Zohra as twin daughters to Mushtari and Ashgar Hussain Her family belonged to the upper class of the society and was not even inclined towards music. She showed interest in music at a very young age and was sent to train under the great sarangi player, Ustad Imdad Khan. Later, she learnt classical music from great exponents of this field like Mohammad Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan and Ustad Jhande Khan Saheb.

Toone but e harjaayi kuchh aisi adaa paayi(Begam Akhtar NFS)(1930) 

She gave her first public performance.when she was only 15 years old.People were moved by her voice and she gained instant recognition. Her first recording was done by the Megaphone Record Company and they released many gramophone records with her melodious Ghazals, thumris, dadras, etc. In 1930's,

Begum Akhtar was very beautiful and her sensitive voice made her an ideal candidate for a film career in her early years. 
Those days only those actors were chosen who can sing also .Begum Akhtar was also aproached by many people from bombay to work in films.So she acted in a few Hindi films She was signed by East India Film Company as a singing actor. Her first film was East India Film Company’s ‘Ek Din Ka Baadshah’ (1933). This was followed by ‘Nal Damyanti’ (1933), ‘Mumtaz Begum’ (1934), ‘Roop Kumari’ (1934), ‘Ameena’ (1934), ‘Jawani Ka Nasha’ (1935), ‘Naseeb Ka Chakkar’ (1936) etc.. In all these films, she sang all her songs herself. 

WOH HANS RAHE  FROM ROTI 1942

Seeing her performance in these films  the renowned director Mehboob Khan approached her for a film titled "Roti". The music was composed by the famous Anil Biswas. The movie was released in the year 1942 in which Begum Akhtar had sung six Ghazals. Unfortunately, four of the Ghazals were deleted due to some tension between the producer and the director. The film was appreciated by one and all and the music took the industry by storm. 
After her marriage with  barrister Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi in the year 1945.she could not sing for almost five years. But  In the year 1949, she returned to record at the Lucknow Radio station and sang three Ghazals and a Dadra. She felt so satisfied and happy that she wept with joy. She then continued to give public performances and sing in concerts till she passed away

Aye Ishq Mujhe Aur to Kuch Yaad

 Begum Akhtar was persuaded by Madan Mohan, a famous music director to sing in two movies "Daana Paani" (1953) and "Ehsaan" (1954). The songs "Aye Ishq Mujhe Aur to Kuch Yaad" and "Hamein Dil Mein Basa Bhi Lo" were absolutely melodious and were liked by one and all. Her last movie stint was that of a classical singer in Satyajit Ray's film "Jalsa Ghar". Begum Akhtar was a refined Ghazal singer and was called as Mallika-e-Ghazal or the Queen of Ghazals.

Fasl e gul aayi hamen yaad teri phir aane lagi (Panna Dai)(1945) 

Begum Akhtar performed last in a concert in Ahmedabad. That day she felt that her voice was not upto the mark and raised her pitch. This put much stress on her and her health deteriorated. The situation became critical and she had to be rushed to the hospital. She breathed her last on 30th October 1974, leaving many fans disappointed and heart broken.
Her tomb was built in a mango orchard within her home, ‘Pasanda Bagh’ in Thakurganj area, of Lucknow. She was buried alongside her mother, Mushtari Sahiba. Attempts are on to convert her home built in 1936 in China bazaar, Lucknow into a museum.
She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for vocal music, and was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan(posthumously) by Govt. of India. She was given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals).
 Her taseer(soulful sound) was the result of years of “loneliness, pain, suppression and silence, she had the ability to sing the saddest song with a bright smile

.On the conclusion of  her 102 nd birth anniversary, I have selected one of her six songs from the film ‘Roti’ (1942), ‘Chaar Dinon Ki Jawaani’ . This song was written by Dr. Safdar ‘Aah’ Sitapuri and the music was given by Anil Biswas. The film was produced under the banner of National Studios and was directed by Mehboob. 

‘Chaar Dinon Ki Jawaani

Meghraj Aaye Barkha Laye from Roti 1942

The Ghazal that gave Begum Akhtar name and fame was written by Behzad Lucknowi –deewaana banaana hai to deewaana banaa dethat she became famous as a ghazal singer. Interestingly, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan accompanied her on Sarangi in this ghazal. This record not only cut a platinum disc, Megaphone Company had to set up a full fledged plant at Dum Dum to meet the unprecedented demand for this ghazal’s gramophone record

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Begum Akhtar - diwana banana hai to

This song is from the Film Roti 1942 in which Begum Akhtar sang 6 songs but all the songs were removed from this film due to the contract she signed with the record company earlier not to sing for others.Later this song was released by the same company.All the songs were written by  Behzad Lucknowi, keeping Akhtaribai in his mind.I think he  was in love with Akhtaribai Faizabadi or with her singing .

Akhtari Bai Faizabadi's early years 6 Aye mohabbat tere anjam pe rona aaya

The ghazal is ‘mere hum-nafas mere hum-nawaa mujhe dost banke dagha na de’ written by Shakeel Badayuni. This ghazal was first issued by HMV on LP No.ECSD 2486 in 1971.This was composed by Khayyam 

Mere ham nafas mujhe dost ban kar daga na de

Deewana Banana hai to

Jigar Moradabadi remained one of her favourite poets and she continued to sing his ghazals until her death in October 1974.The ghazal is ‘koi ye keh de gulshan gulshan’. Begum Akhtar had composed this ghazal and sang in concerts sometime in latter half of 30s, but it was recorded for HMV sometime in early 50s

Koi ye keh de gulshan gulshan

Here is this song which is sung and composed by Begam Akhtar. The lyrics are traditional and the lyricist is not known.