Beghum Akhtar

Beghum Akhtar

Popularly known as " Begum Akhtar", Akhtaribai Faizabadi (born October 7, 1914 in a small town of Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India), a vocalist, became popular under the name Beghum Akhtar. She was based at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Born in a high class family without any musical tradition, she trained under the great sarangi exponent, Ustad Imdad Khan, at the insistence of her uncle. She later trained under Ata Mohammed Khan. She went to Kolkatta accompanied by her mother to learn classical music from such stalwarts as Mohammad Khan, and Abdul Waheed Khan. She later became the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan Saheb.

She performed publicly for the first time at the age of fifteen. She sang ghazals. After her marriage in 1945 to Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, a barrister, she came to be known as Begum Akhtar. The restriction of her husband stopped her singing for about five years. She fell ill and the only remedy prescribed was music! She reappeared in the recording studios in 1949. She cried after singing three ghazals at the Lucknow Radio Station after which she sang only in concerts till her death in 1974.

An Insight in Beghum Akhtar's Life

Begum Akhtar was the ‘ghazal gayaki’ immortalizing her distinct singing style that no one could imitate. She came to be called as Mallika-e-Ghazal. Her voice had the depth and richness and along with her inimitable style, she created her own niche in singing with about four hundred songs to her credit. She composed ghazals on her own which were raag based. She regularly performed on All India Radio and had several Hindi films to her credit.

Career of Beghum Akhtar

She raised her pitch to make her singing better when she was unwell, at a concert in Ahmedabad. The additional stress made her seriously ill that she was rushed to to a hospital. She breather her last in the arms of her friend, Nilam Gamadia, who had invited her to Ahmedabad, on October 7, 1974.

Education and Musical Career of Beghum Akhtar

Beghum Akhtar became a fan of Chandra Bai, an artist with a touring theatre group, when she was hardly seven years old. Beginning with the great sarangi expert Ustad Imdad Khan, she trained with Ata Mohammed Khan of Patiala. She learnt music from exponents such as Mohammad Khan and Abdul Waheed Khan of Lahore. She later became a disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan Saheb.

Her first rendition at the age of fifteen took the experts by surprise. Sarojini Naidu, a famous poetess, appreciated her at a concert for the Bihar earthquake victims. All these encouraged her to become more passionate about her singing.

Her first dic was cut with Megaphone Record Company. A number of records with her dadras, ghazala, thumris and so on have been released since then. She was offered roles in films both for her voice and looks. She decided to take on the offer after meeting singers as Malak Jan and Gauhar Jan.

Important work done by Beghum Akhtar

She acted in Mumtaz Beghum(1934), Jawaani Ka Nasha(1935), King for a Day (1933), Ameena (1934), Roop Kumari (1934), Naseeb Ka Chakkar (1936), AnaarBala (1940), Roti (1942), and Jalsaghar(1958).

Her renditions included Naseeb Ka Chakkar, Kalyug Hai Jabse Aaya Maya Ne..., Roti | Anna Sahab Mainkar, Wo Hans Rahe Hain Aah Kiye Jaa..., Ulajh Gaye Nayanwa Chhute Nahin..., Char Dino Ki Jawani Matwale..., Ai Prem Teri Balihari Ho..., Phir Fasle Bahaar Aayi Hai..., Rehne Laga Hai Dil Me Andhera..., Panna Dai | Gyan Dutt, Hamen Yaad Teri Sataane Lagi..., Main Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke Rahungi..., Dana Pani | Mohan Junior, Ishq Mujhe Aur Kuchh To Yaad Nahi..., and hame.n dil me.n basaa bhi lo.

Awards and Achievement of Beghum Akhtar

Begum Akhtar received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1972), Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.