Entertainment

‘Boojh mera kya naam re’: Shamshad Begum and her eclipsed career

Published

2 months ago

April 14, 2023

Nearly four decades before Madhuri Dixit (courtesy Alka Yagnik) in “Tezaab” (1988), she had already made the nation count “Ek do teen…” in Raj Kapoor’s “Awara” (1951) at her career’s high point, when she was eagerly sought by both established and new composers. Yet, as the 1960s began, Shamshad Begum’s robust and crystal-clear voice had largely disappeared from the film world.

The first female playback superstar of Hindi films, Shamshad Begum not only held her own against existing singers like Ameerbai Karnataki and Zohrabai Ambalewali and new singing-actresses like Noor Jehan and Suraiya, but also boosted the prospects of emerging music composers like Naushad, S.D. Burman, C. Ramchandra, and O.P. Nayyar. She also prophesied a bright future ahead for Madan Mohan and Kishore Kumar, who began as chorus singers for her songs.

Sung with gusto and a sense of abandon, her songs like “Naina bhar aye neer” (“Humayun”, 1945), “Jab usne gesu bikhraye” (“Shahjehan”, 1946), “Na bol pee pee more aangna” (“Dulari”, 1949) , “Mere piya gaye Rangoon” (“Patanga”, 1949), “Chod Babul ka ghar” and “Milte hi aankhen dil hua” (“Babul”, 1950), “Saiyan dil mein aana re” (“Bahar”, 1951), “Door koi gaye” (“Baiju Bawra, 1952), “Kabhi aar kabhi paar” (“Aar Paar”, 1954), “Leke pehla pehla pyar”, “Kahin pe nigahen kahin pe nishana”, and “Boojh mera kya naam re” (“CID”, 1956) became immensely popular – and still strike a chord, including for remix artistes.

Born in Lahore on this day (April 14, 1919) in a conservative family of modest means, Shamshad Begum’s musical abilities were recognised early – at school, where her principal made the five-year-old lead the class prayers. She sang at religious and family functions, though her family was not very keen on her “hobby”.

“In those days, a girl singing a song was not really a good thing,” Shamshad Begum’s sole daughter Usha Ratra had told IANS in an interview soon after her mother’s demise in 2013.

However, in 1931, her uncle, who was fond of music, clandestinely took her to an audition with Lahore-based music composer Ghulam Haider, who was so impressed with her that he gave her a contract for a dozen songs with the same terms as for top singers. The uncle then convinced her father to let her sing, and he eventually agreed, though he imposed two conditions – that she would record in a burka and not be photographed.

However, this contract, which was with a gramophone company, only brought her restricted fame.

“Whatever she used to sing was famous only among rich people. Gramophones used to come for Rs 250 and one record for around Rs 2, which was very expensive at that point of time. Only rich people used to hear them. She was well-known among the rich,” her daughter recalled.

Even as she continued her music career, a teenaged Shamshad Begum took another major decision in her life – she fell in love with law student Ganpat Lal Batto and married him in 1934, despite her family’s objection.

Her career took a new turn in 1937 when she was chosen to sing on All India Radio (AIR) in Peshawar and Lahore. A producer wanted her to act as well and she was willing, but her father flatly forbade her. She promised him that she would never appear before the camera – and kept her word so strictly that for the next three decades, many of her admirers didn’t even see a photograph of her.

It was legendary filmmaker Mehboob Khan, who convinced her family to let her move to Bombay and sing for films.

“Mehboob sahab told my father, ‘I will take her to Mumbai and give her a flat, car, conveyance and even if four to six people accompany her, it’s fine. Please let her come to Bombay’. My nana was not convinced but he had to give in because my mom wanted to go,” Usha Ratra recalled.

Shamshad Begum hit it big with her very first film – murder mystery “Khazanchi” (1941), the biggest hit of the year and where she rendered eight songs, and then, “Taqdeer” (1943), which marked the debut of Nargis.

She was eagerly sought after since then and composers, especially Naushad and Nayyar – who likened her voice to the “peal of a temple bell” for clarity – acknowledged how her readiness to sing for them helped their rise.

However, in the 1950s, younger singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Datt, et all were rising and while Shamshad Begum maintained her position, the death of her husband in an accident in 1955 led her to temporarily withdraw from work.

Naushad and Nayyar did manage to coax her back for songs in several iconic films, including “Holi aayee re Kanhaai” (“Mother India”, 1956), “Reshmi salwar kurta jaali Da” (“Naya Daur”, 1957) and “Teri mehfil mein qismat” (“Mughal-e-Azam”, 1960), but after 1960, she more or less withdrew fully – only making a brief comeback to render “Kajra mohabbatwala” (“Kismat”, 1968), a duet with Asha Bhosle where she proved her voice had not lost any vigour.

Shamshad Begum spent the rest of her life with her daughter and her family, coming back into the limelight again in 2004 when there were erroneous reports of her demise. She was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2009, and died in 2013, a few days after her 94th birthday.

According to her daughter, Shamshad Begum had no regrets.

“She earned respect and affection from the people because of her hard work and dedication… She helped everyone, but later people just took advantage of it and used her…

“… She used to say, ‘Whatever I have got, I have got from my god; I am not going to take anything with me. And the law of life is whoever goes up and tastes fame and name has to come down today or tomorrow. So I have tasted success and I am happy about that and I am prepared for everything’,” Usha Ratra had told IANS in 2013.

Entertainment

Nawaz visits Faculty of Performing Arts: ‘This is where it all started for me’

Published

2 weeks ago

May 16, 2023

Divya Sharma

Nawaz visits Faculty of Performing Arts: ‘This is where it all started for me’

Acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui visited Faculty of Performing Arts Academy in Gujarat where he started his journey in performing arts.

Travelling through the lanes of the academy, it was indeed a nostalgic trip for the actor where he addressed the students.

Nawazuddin captured some precious moments from his visit to his Faculty of Performing Arts Academy in a video on his social media. Remembering his good old days from the academy, the actor gave a speech to the students and the moment was filled with a lot of warmth and emotions.

He wrote in Hindi that translates to: “This is the place where I performed for the very first time in a play. This is where it all started for me @faculty.of.performing.arts.msu Special Thanks to everyone involved in this process.”

On the work front, Nawazuddin has an interesting lineup of films which includes Jogira Sara Ra Ra, Noorani Chehra, Haddi, Tiku Weds Sheru’, and Adbhut.

Entertainment

Daisy Shah on ‘KKK 13’: Trying to test my strength, patience and limits

Published

3 weeks ago

May 9, 2023

Divya Sharma

Daisy Shah on ‘KKK 13’: Trying to test my strength, patience and limits

Bollywood actress Daisy Shah, whose been away from the silver screen since 2018, is all set to make a comeback with the stunt-based reality show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ Season 13 and she is looking forward to perform stunts under filmmaker-host Rohit Shetty’s guidance.

Why did she want to do the show?

“(I am) Trying to test my strength, patience and limits,” Daisy told IANS.

“Nervous to perform stunts like obviously. Because, If I am not then I am over confident so that’s not going to happen,” said Daisy, who was last seen in the Salman Khan-starrer ‘Race 3’ in 2018.

Talking about the excitement to share screen space with Rohit Shetty, she said: “Yes, I am super excited I have known Rohit (Shetty) sir for the longest time.”

She added: “I can’t wait to meet and connect with him because there are a lot of things we might talk about bhoole bhisrey memories we shared, we might talk about that. Also, looking forward to perform stunts under his guidance. Rohit has been very motivating since I have known him and stunts he pushes more.”

What has kept Daisy, who has worked as an assistant to choreographer Ganesh Acharya, away from the big screen?

“The first reason being Covid and second reason is that I have finished shooting for two projects. They are under post-productions and should be ready to release by the end of this year.”

Entertainment

Tom Cruise enjoys conversation with Shakira at Formula One Miami Grand Prix

Published

3 weeks ago

May 9, 2023

Divya Sharma

Tom Cruise enjoys conversation with Shakira at Formula One Miami Grand Prix

Los Angeles: Hollywood star Tom Cruise has apparently brushed shoulders with Shakira at an unlikely place.

When attending the inaugural Formula One Miami Grand Prix, the “Top Gun: Maverick” lead man was caught on camera seemingly having an interesting chat with the “Hips Don’t Lie” hitmaker, reports aceshowbiz.com.

In a video uploaded, the 60-year-old Hollywood star was seen hanging out with the 46-year-old singer in a VIP area for the sports event. The two stood close to each other while chatting. Joining the two of them was one of Shakira’s sons.

On the occasion, the “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” actor kept his ensemble casual. He opted to go with an unbuttoned white polo shirt and a pair of long dark-coloured pants. He completed his look with a pair of black aviator sunglasses.

The Colombian superstar, in the meantime, looked chic in her all-green outfit. She donned a fitted top with several cutouts and matched it with a pair of loose matching pants. She additionally accessorised her ensemble with a pair of dark shades.

At the event, Tom also had a meet-up with fellow action stars. In a photo shared on another social media platform, he was all smiles when posing with “Fast X” stars Vin Diesel and Ludacris. The picture was shared by both Vin and Ludacris on their respective Instagram accounts.

Tom was seen enjoying a conversation with Shakira just one day after the ex-partner of Gerard Pique received the Woman of the Year award at Billboard’s first Latin Women in Music gala. In her speech at the Saturday, May 6 event, she seemed to address her break-up with the former soccer star.

“This has been a year of seismic change in my life where I’ve felt more than ever and very personally what it is to be a women. And what it means,” she said.

“It’s been a year where I’ve realised we women are stronger than we think, braver than we believed, more independent than we were taught to be.”

Entertainment

‘Adipurush’ actor Devdatta Nage recalls chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ before shooting

Published

3 weeks ago

May 9, 2023

Divya Sharma

‘Adipurush’ actor Devdatta Nage recalls chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ before shooting

Actor Devdatta Nage, who will be seen playing Lord Hanuman in the upcoming film ‘Adipurush’ starring Prabhas, has recalled how the film’s unit would star shooting everyday for the movie.

Devdatta recalled: “Every single day before starting the shoot, we used to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. I have to say that Goddess Saraswati resides in the hands of Manoj Muntashir (the dialogue writer). He has breathed life into this epic story with his writing.”

‘Adipurush’ is an upcoming 2023 Indian mythological film based on the Sanskrit epic ‘Ramayana’. The film is directed by Om Raut.

Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu languages, the film stars Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan in his Telugu debut and Sunny Singh.

‘Adipurush’, is set to be released theatrically on June 16.

Entertainment

Saffron flags, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants in movie hall prior to ‘Adipurush’ trailer launch

Published

3 weeks ago

May 9, 2023

Divya Sharma

Saffron flags, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants in movie hall prior to ‘Adipurush’ trailer launch

Ahead of the trailer launch of the widely anticipated film ‘Adipurush’, starring Prabhas as Lord Ram, Kriti Sanon as goddess Sita, Sunny Singh as Lakshman and Saif Ali Khan as Raavan, flags walked in the venue — a multiplex in the heart of Mumbai’s Juhu area with saffron flags chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

As the media waited with bated breath for the trailer release, fans, dressed in ethnic wear, walked in holding saffron flags and chanted the name of Lord Ram, who is essayed by Prabhas in the film.

They also chanted “Shri Ram Lakshman Janki, Jai Hanuman ki” (Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita, all hail Lord Hanuman).

The religious emotion was also drummed up by the emcee who chanted in unison with the crowd.

The coordinated activity also saw different placards on the same lines. The chants grew stronger as the trailer release drew closer.

Earlier, the film’s dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir countered Congress’s claim for putting a ban on religious outfit Bajrang Dal as a part of their manifesto during the high-voltage Karnataka elections.

‘Adipurush’, is set to be released theatrically on June 16.