Bollywood pays tribute to the legendary Shamshad Begum

Mumbai: Hindi film fraternity today mourned the demise of legendary singer Shamshad Begum, calling her death the end of an era in Hindi cinema music.

Begum died last night at her Powai residence in presence of her daughter Usha Ratra and son-in-law Yog Ratra.

Begum, who ruled playback singing in the ’40s and 50s, was the voice behind evergreen hits like ‘Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishaana’, ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’, ‘Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar’ and ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala’.

Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar started her playback singing when Begum was at the peak of her career. Mangeshkar, who sang many duets with Begum like ‘Darna Mohabbat Karle from 1949 film ‘Andaz’, ‘Pyar Ke Jahan Ki from 1949 film ‘Patanga’ and ‘Bachpan Ke Din’ 1951’s ‘Deedar’, said she was saddened to hear about her death.

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“Aaj subha mujhe pata chala ki mashhoor playback singer shamshad begumji humare beech nahi rahi, ye sunke mujhe bohot dukh hua, maine unke saath kafi filmo mein gaane gaaye, wo bohot acchhi hasmukh aur sidhi saadhi shakhsiyat thi, main unko shraddhanjali arpit karti hun,” Mangeshkar tweeted.

(“I got to know about the demise of famous singer Shamshad Begumji today. I felt very sad as I sang with her in many films. She was a lively and simple person.)

Reacting to her death, megastar Amitabh Bachchan said, “The golden voice of Shamshad Begum, playback singer of great eminence in some of the most historic film songs… now silent…RIP.”

Singer Bappi Lahiri said Begum’s death was a huge loss to the industry, which is celebrating its 100 years in May.

“She was one of the most senior singers and had a unique style of singing. Her ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala’ was a super-duper hit and we still listen to that song. I am a big fan of her and wanted her to sing for ‘Paanch Qaidi’ but it did not happen somehow because she was in Delhi that time. I deeply regret her death,” Lahiri told PTI.

Film historian Raju Bharatan, who has been close to Begum’s family, said the singer was a favourite of all the composers of her time.

“She and Noorjahaan were discovered by Ustad Ghulam Haider. He brought her to Mumbai. She sang extensively for Naushad and for C Ramchandra. She was a favourite of all the composers because she had a great personality and sense of humour. She had great stamina and was the number one playback singer before Lata Mangeshkar came. Her peak was from 1945 to 1955,” Bharatan said.

Composer-singer Shankar Mahadevan said her voice will always be remembered.

“I had the big fortune of talking to her over phone four years ago. She blessed me for my work. I live with that moment. We will always remember her through her songs.”

Director Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, “Shamshad Begum can truly be call the Indian nightingale. She’ll be immortal because of her songs. RIP.”

PTI