Naseem Begum

{{short description|Pakistani singer (1936–1971)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Naseem Begum

| post-nominals = PP

| image = File:Naseem_Begum.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| native_name = {{Nastaliq|نسِیم بیگم}}

| native_name_lang =

| birth_name = Naseem Begum

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1936|2|24}}

| birth_place = Amritsar, Punjab, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1971|9|29|1936|2|24}}

| death_place = Lahore, Pakistan

| nationality = Pakistani

| alias = The Tragedy Queen

| occupation = Playback singer

| years_active = 1956 – 1971

| spouse = Deen Mohammad (husband)

| children = 6

| awards = Pride of Performance (1965)

}}

Naseem Begum ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|نسِیم بیگم}}}}), (24 February 1936 – 29 September 1971) was a famous Pakistani film playback singer. She was known as The Tradegy Queen for singing sorrowful and downhearted songs in films.

She rose to prominence in the late 1950s, and by 1964, she had won the prestigious Nigar Awards on four occasions. Despite originally being billed as a Second Noor Jehan, Naseem Begum quickly carved out her own successful niche in the Pakistani film industry.

She was the original singer of the popular song "Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo".

Early life

Naseem Begum was born in the city of Amritsar, British India, in 1936.{{cite book|title=Who's Who: Music in Pakistan|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|page=187}} She acquired her musical training from the classical singer Mukhtar Begum, the elder sister of the renowned ghazal vocalist Farida Khanum.

Career

Her first film, as a playback singer, was music director Ghulam Ahmed Chishti composed Guddi Gudda (1956). In 1958, the music composer Mian Sheharyar was greatly impressed by her vocal range, and gave her the opportunity to sing for his film Begunah (1958).[https://www.dawn.com/news/597788/newspaper/newspaper/column Article on Naseem Begum and composer Mian Sheharyar] on Dawn (newspaper) Published 10 Jan 2011, Retrieved 28 September 2022

Naseem Begum immediately achieved success with her song "Nainon mein jal bhar aayey", which became one of the most popular tracks of the 1950s. She gained popularity after singing memorable duets with famous playback singer Ahmed Rushdi.

For her contributions towards singing industry and for army for her moral support in the Indo-Pak war, she was honored by the Government of Pakistan with the Pride of Performance in 1965.

Personal life

Naseem married a book publisher named Deen Mohammad at Lahore and had five children but her sixth and youngest child, a son, died during pregnancy complications.

Illness and death

She was experiencing labor pain and was admitted to the hospital, as she was expecting, and was about to give birth. However, due to pregnancy-related complications, she suffered a brain hemorrhage and died on 29 September 1971 in Lahore, Pakistan at the age of 35. She was laid to rest at Miani Sahib Graveyard, Lahore.{{cite web|url=http://cineplot.com/music/naseem-begum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101111033/http://cineplot.com/music/naseem-begum|title=Naseem Begum profile|publisher=Cineplot.com website|date=17 July 2010|access-date=28 September 2022|archive-date=1 November 2011 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-09-2020/naseem-begums-49th-death-anniversary-is-being-observed-today|title=Naseem Begum's 49th death anniversary observed|website=Radio Pakistan|date=29 September 2020|access-date=28 September 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Entertainment/621968-Death-anniversary-of-renowned-singer-Naseem-Begum-being-observed-today|title=Death anniversary of renowned singer Naseem Begum observed|website=Dunya News|date=20 September 2021}}

Filmography

Some remarkable films for which Naseem Begum sang some heart-warming songs are:

  • Guddi Gudda (1956)
  • Kartar Singh (1959)
  • Salma (1960)
  • Shaam Dhalay (1960)
  • Saheli (1960)
  • Ghunghat (1962)
  • Shaheed (1962)
  • Aulad (1962)
  • Baaji (1963)
  • Dulhan (1963)
  • Ik Tera Sahara (1963)
  • Haveli (1964)
  • Beti (1964)
  • Farangi (1964){{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/605942/darling-of-the-singers|title=Darling of the singers|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|date=24 June 2019|access-date=28 September 2022}}
  • Kaneez (1965){{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/164206-Mandwa-to-screen-Kaneez-today|title=Mandwa to screen 'Kaneez' today|website=The News International|location=Pakistan|date=26 January 2022}}
  • Aag Ka Darya (1966)
  • Maader-e-Watan (1966){{cite web|url=https://dnd.com.pk/masheer-kazmi-and-naseem-begum-became-eternal-after-aye-rah-e-haq-ke-shaheedo-went-to-battlefields-of-1965-war/171655 |title=Mushir Kazmi and Naseem Begum became eternal through "Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo"|author=Agha Iqrar Haroon|website= Dispatch News Desk (dnd.com.pk) website|date= 5 September 2019|accessdate=16 September 2019}}
  • Payel Ki Jhankar (1966)
  • Shahansha-e-Jahangir (1968)
  • Zarqa (1969)

In addition to these films, she also sang for many Punjabi films, some of which are Tees Maar Khan (1963), Jeedar (1965), Mukhra Chann Warga and Genter Man (1969). Some big musical films on her credit are Lutera (1964), Koun Kisi Ka, Kousar, Chann Puttar (1970), Mera Veer (1967), Chann Veer (1969), Langotiya and Yeh Raste Hain Pyar Ke.

Patriotic songs

Naseem Begum had also sung many patriotic songs which stir the soul of listeners. "Ae rah-e-haq kay shaheedo wafa ki tasveero, Tumhain watan ki hawain salaam karti hain", Mushir Kazmi wrote lyrics of Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo while music was given by Mian Sheharyar and vocalist was Naseem Begum for the Radio Pakistan recording in 1965.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/878188-national-songs-that-enthralled-us|title=National songs that enthralled us|website=The News International|location=Pakistan|date=16 August 2021}} Majority of listeners still wrongly believe that Aye Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo was sung by Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan. Later in 1966, veteran Pakistani film producer/director Saifuddin Saif used this song in his film Maader-e-Watan (1966) in which this song's music was arranged by Salim Iqbal.{{cite web|url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-09-2021/death-anniversary-of-renowned-singer-naseem-begum-being-observed-today|title=Death anniversary of renowned singer Naseem Begum observed|website=Radio Pakistan|date=1 December 2021}}

Awards and recognition

class="wikitable"
YearAwardCategoryResultTitleRef.
1960Nigar AwardBest Female Playback Singer{{Won}}Shaam Dhale{{cite web|title=Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards.|url=https://www.desimoviesreviews.com/index.php/2017/11/24/pakistans-oscars-nigar-awards|website=The Hot Spot Film Reviews website|access-date=28 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722111654/https://www.desimoviesreviews.com/index.php/2017/11/24/pakistans-oscars-nigar-awards|archive-date=22 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
1961Nigar AwardBest Female Playback Singer{{Won}}Shaheed
1963Nigar AwardBest Female Playback Singer{{Won}}Baji{{cite web|url=http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/bolly/Lollywood/NigarAwards.htm|date=17 June 2002|title=Nigar Awards (1957–1971)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724022517/http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/bolly/Lollywood/NigarAwards.htm|website=The Hot Spot Online website|archive-date=24 July 2008|access-date=28 September 2022}}
1964Nigar AwardBest Female Playback Singer{{Won}}Lutera
1965Pride of PerformanceAward by the President of Pakistan{{Won}}Arts{{cite web|url=https://mag.dunya.com.pk/demo.php/barse/5831/2024-09-29|title=نسیم بیگم :مگر تیرے "گیت" نہیں بھُولے|website=Dunya Sunday Magazine|date=September 29, 2024}}

References

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