Legendary singer Shamshad Begum, a pioneer of Bollywood’s music fraternity and voice behind hit songs like ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’, ‘Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar’ and ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala’, passed away today at her Mumbai residence after prolonged illness.
The singer who celebrated her birthday just a few days ago on April 14th made her singing debut on Peshawar Radio in 1947 and then sang for All India Radio as part of Delhi’s Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts, before singing for Bollywood.
94-year-old Shamshad Begum was the voice behind some of the Bollywood’s most memorable hits between the 1940s and 1950s.
Begum had a unique voice and style of singing which set her apart from her contemporaries. Many of her hit songs like Leke pehla pehla pyar, Kabhi aar kabhi paar from Aar Paar, Saiyyan dil mein aana re and Kajra mohabbatwala have been remixed in present times.
Shamshad Begum received the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour in 2009.