Entertainment

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

Published

1 year 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

Amandeep Sidhu gets nostalgic as she will miss Diwali with her family

Published

6 months ago

November 5, 2023

Divya Sharma

Amandeep Sidhu gets nostalgic as she will miss Diwali with her family

Mumbai: Actress Amandeep Sidhu, who is currently seen in the show ‘Saubhagyavati Bhava- Niyam aur Shartien Laagu’, shared that she won’t be able to celebrate Diwali with her family this time as she will be busy with the shoot of the show.

Diwali is one of the most fervently celebrated festivals in India.

Talking about the same, Amandeep said: “Every year, I used to celebrate Diwali with my family, but this time, due to my busy schedule in ‘Saubhagyavati Bhava’ shooting, I won’t be able to be with my family.”

“This time, I will miss my family, home-cooked food, and all the preparations because I always used to decorate the house with my mother. However, this time, I will celebrate Diwali with ‘Saubhagyavati Bhava’ family for the first time. My message to all of you is to try not to burst firecrackers, share happiness, stay joyful, and wish you all a very happy Diwali,” she added.

She is seen portraying Siya in ‘Saubhagyavati Bhava’, while Dheeraj Dhoopar plays the lead role of Raghav.

‘Saubhagyavati Bhava’ airs on Star Bharat.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift has fancy dinner in NYC as Travis Kelce plays football in Germany

Published

6 months ago

November 5, 2023

Divya Sharma

Taylor Swift has fancy dinner in NYC as Travis Kelce plays football in Germany

Los Angeles: Pop-country musician Taylor Swift amid her row of trailblazing successes is living it up in New York City, headed off for a fancy dinner while her boyfriend Travis Kelce is playing his football game in Germany.

Swift, 33, was seen heading into Minetta Tavern hours after Travis Kelce declined to comment on whether the singer would be attending the Kansas City Chiefs game versus the Miami Dolphins in Germany on November 5, as per People.

For her fancy dinner at the French restaurant, the singer went on to embrace the fall season by wearing a patterned tan sweater and brown trousers with brown leather shoes. She additionally completed the stylish, but somewhat androgynous look with a small purse and chose a bright shade of red for her lip colour.

AlthoughSwifthas attended four of Kelce’s games amid their budding romance, November will start a busy period for the performer and her footballer boyfriend due to their own hectic schedules.

While Kelce is due for additional games,Swiftever since she kicked off her Eras Tour in March and wrapped up the first leg of her US tour dates in August, she hasn’t caught a moment’s breathing space.

Currently, the singer is set to start her shows in Argentina and Brazil on November 9, as the ‘Love Story’ singer will begin her latest international dates with three shows in Buenos Aires and will head to Rio De Janeiro on November 17. Her last performance in Brazil will take place in São Paulo on November 26.

The tour is then scheduled to kick back up again in Tokyo on February 7, 2024 and will include a slew of performances in Europe, Asia and Australia. The Grammy winner had announced the tour dates of her 2024 leg on Instagram back in June.

Announcing the dates, she wrote: “EXCUSE ME HI I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY! I can’t wait to see so many of you on The Eras Tour next year at these new international dates!”

Entertainment

A week’s guest: Manasvi Mamgai evicted from ‘Bigg Boss 17’

Published

6 months ago

November 5, 2023

Divya Sharma

A week’s guest: Manasvi Mamgai evicted from ‘Bigg Boss 17’

Mumbai: Former beauty queen Manasvi Mamgai was shown the exit door during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode on Saturday.

Just a week after her entry on Salman Khan’s show, Manasvi was evicted by getting less votes.

She entered last week as a wildcard alongside Samarth Jurel.

This week, maximum votes for nominations went to Samarth Jurel, Isha Malviya, Arun Srikanth Mashettey, Sana Raees Khan.

Manasvi was named by the ‘Dimaag’ house in the show. After her nomination, Manasvi tried her bit to be seen in the show by getting into a fight with Anurag, whom she called a traitor.

They also locked horns after the YouTuber said that she is not from Uttarakhand and keeps repeating it for votes. Manasvi also got into trouble with Bigg Boss during the ration task, when she went to change her clothes ahead of the task without listening to the full instructions.

She was also called out for disrupting the shooting as she wrote ‘Anurag is a traitor’ on mirrors, which have cameras recording the contestants 24×7.

Entertainment

Britney Spears gets in holiday mood, wears red cutout dress

Published

6 months ago

November 5, 2023

Divya Sharma

Britney Spears gets in holiday mood, wears red cutout dress

Los Angeles: Pop icon Britney Spears has shared a post on Instagram, in which she posed in a red floor-length one-shoulder gown and celebrated some end-of-the-year festivities.

“Merry Halloween Christmas New Years Thanksgiving (sic)”, Spears — who released her memoir, ‘The Woman in Me’, last month — wrote in her caption, reports People magazine.

In the clip, the ‘Circus’ singer smiled and twirled around her home’s living area, where a lit-up Christmas tree could be seen behind her.

Spears’ latest video was shared after her memoir sold 1.1 million copies in its first week of sales. According to Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the total sums up pre-orders, ebooks, print books and audiobooks formats.

As per People, the audiobook version of the memoir, in which Spears voices the introduction and actress Michelle Williams narrates the rest of the book, is the fastest-selling audiobook in the publisher’s history, Gallery Books added.

“I poured my heart and soul into my memoir, and I am grateful to my fans and readers around the world for their unwavering support,” Spears said in a news release earlier this week. A fourth printing of Spear’s memoir is now in the works following the high demand for the book in the U.S. and internationally, according to Gallery Books.

In her memoir, Spears details the trials she faced in her career and in her conservatorship. She also opens up about motherhood and her past relationships, most notably with ex Justin Timberlake.

She spoke to People about why it was important for her to share her story ahead of the memoir’s release.

“Over the past 15 years or even at the start of my career, I sat back while people spoke about me and told my story for me,” she said last month. “After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life.”

She added: “It is finally time for me to raise my voice and speak out, and my fans deserve to hear it directly from me. No more conspiracy, no more lies — just me owning my past, present and future.”

Entertainment

Tabu turns 52: Ajay, Kareena, Farah wish ‘duniya se alag’ friend

Published

6 months ago

November 5, 2023

Divya Sharma

Tabu turns 52 Ajay Kareena Farah wish ‘duniya se alag friend

Mumbai: As Tabu celebrates her 52nd birthday on Saturday, the actress has received several heartfelt wishes from actors Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, Farah Khan, among others.

Superstar Ajay Devgn wished his longtime collaborator ‘Drishyam’ co-star on her 52nd birthday on Instagram, and posted a small clip of the two together in a jeep with the latter driving.

He penned: “Sometimes, behind the wheels, sometimes behind the screen but it’s always an adventure. Happy Birthday tabutiful!”

Kareena Kapoor wishing the ‘Maachis’ actress wrote: “Happy birthday dearest Tabu. Have a fab day!”

Director Farah Khan posted a picture of the actress with her kids and wrote: “I have a one of a kind ‘duniya se alag’ friend for the last 27 years.. who disappears on her birthday.. didn’t let me take new pics to post n wants only Anda curry as a birthday gift!

“So im forced to put old pics.. happy birthday @tabutiful .. i lovvv u just the way you are, and anda curry is on the way!”

An old friend of hers, actress Shilpa Shetty shared a picture of herself with Tabu and wished the ‘Chachi 420’ alum, writing: “Happy birthday Timpoo! Sending loads of love, duas, smiles and hugs n kisses your way, my darling! Here’s to many many more years of friendship!”

Superstar Anil Kapoor applauded the ‘Vijaypath’ actress’ skills as an actor and wrote: “Happy birthday to Tabu! Your craft is as stunning as you are.”

Last seen in the spy-thriller film ‘Khufiya’, Tabu on the work front is also geared for her 10th collaboration with Ajay Devgn in Neeraj Pandey’s directorial ‘Auron Kahan Dum Tha’.

In addition, she will also be seen in ‘The Crew’, where she will star alongside Kareena Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.