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A tribute to Zeenat Begum Ji, the singing stalwart
Written by Vidur Sury
Vintage music is one of the greatest pleasures one can acquire. The 1940s was an era was originality and sheer talent
in singing. "Pat Rakho Girdhari", "Gaadiwale Dupatta Uda Jaaye Re", "Kya Yahi Jawani Hai", "O Rasiya Ho", "Araj Suno
Prabhu Meri", "Hamari Gali Aana", "Sun Le Tu Meri", "Salam-E-Mohabbat Ka Matlab", "Hamari Gali Aao Shyam".....in all
these songs, the main singer is very unique and sings to utter perfection. A voice with great sweetness, melodiousness,
yet confidence, strength, and weight. Such versatility as nowhere else. This is none other than the great
Zeenat Begum Ji, a major heartthrob in 1940s, mostly as a heroines' singer.
Zeenat Ji was a Kothewali (courtesan) and a respected and fabulous classical singer. Hardly anything is known of her personal life
or important events of her life. Pandit Amarnath Ji, one of the best composers of the 1940s, also a great master of classical music,
discovered this great talent and made her sing songs composed by him, beginning from around 1937.
Although Pandit Amarnath Ji could be considered her mentor, it was another great classically trained composer, Pandit Gobindram Ji
who introduced her in films in 1942, with Mangti, a Punjabi film. Mangti was not only the first film to celebrate the Silver Jubilee but
also the first to establish Zeenat Ji as a famous singer. She sang 10 songs in the film, all of which were super hits. Apart from this more
great vocal talents like Shamshad Begum Ji, Naseem Akhtar Ji, Nandlal Nurpuri Ji, Rehmat Bai Ji made the film one of the top grossing films
of the year. The same year she did another film, her first Hindi film, Nishani (1942), music composed by Pandit Amarnath Ji. Nishani was
a success as well. She is also known to have sung for another Punjabi Gwandi the same year in which She had solos and atleast one duet
with S.D. Batish. Although a famous singer, she did not make any more films this year.
The next year, 1943, she made three films: Poonji, Paapi and Sahara. The first film, Poonji, saw her getting used for the first time by
the great Master Ghulam Haider Ji, the famed 'grandfather of Hindi film music' as said by 'father of Hindi film music' Anil Biswas Ji. This
was only one song, Gaadiwale Ho Dupatta Uda Jaaye Re, a duet with Shamshad Begum Ji. The song was the most famous in the film.
Paapi had her singing for the Pandit Amarnath Ji as the heroine's singer. She sang three songs out of which one, a Bhajan
(Hindu devotional song) - Pat Rakho Girdhari, Aan Padi Hai Aafat Bhaari earned a lot of popularity. The next film - Sahara had
hit songs of Zeenat Begum Ji, some sung with siger - actress Kaushalya Ji and chorus, music was by Gobindram Ji.
In the next year, she made 5 films: Bhai (music Ghulam Haider, Shyam Sundar). Chand (debut film of Husnlal - Bhagatram),
Daasi (music Pandit Amarnath), Panchi (music Pandit Amarnath), Shukriya (music G A Chishti).
She sang 2 songs in Bhai, which gained average popularity, but not as much as they deserved. The more famous of the two
was a duet with Ghulam Haider Ji: Saajan Aaja, Raajan Aaja, Khelen Dil Ke Khel. The films Chand and Daasi launched her as a top
playback singer with all her songs becoming extremely famous. The blockbuster Chand was the debut film for the great composer
pair, Husnlal - Bhagatram Ji, where Zeenat Ji sang 4 songs for a popular heroine of the 1940s, Begum Para, and became famous
playback for her. Daasi was a blockbuster with 7 songs of Zeenat Ji and also made Ragini Ji, an Indo - Pak actress a very famous heroine.
Zeenat Begum Ji became famous thereafter as Ragini Ji's natural singing voice. The combination makes the viewers feel that Ragini Ji didn't
get playback but sang herself. From this Zeenat Ji sang in a lot of films for Begum Para Ji and Ragini Ji. Panchi was another famous film with
an all - hit score, where Zeenat Ji sang as much as 9 songs for the first time, for actress Manorama Ji, who was soon to become a famous vamp
in later eras of films, in the 1940s, Manorama Ji mostly acted in Lahore or Punjab based films. Shukriya was another soundtrack to gain a good
amount of fame. In particular, among Zeenat Ji's 4 songs, the trio Hamari Gali Aana, Accha Ji sung with Amar Ji, the hero and Naseem Akhtar Ji
was a superhit.
In 1945, she made 6 films: Albeli (music G A Chishti), Bhaijaan (music Shyam Sundar), Dhamki, Kaise Kahoon, Ragni (all three music Pandit
Amarnath), Sharbati Aankhen (music Feroze Nizami). Albeli had 2 hit songs by her: Koi Le Lo Saiyyan and Main Laayi Meethe. In Bhaijaan,
great singer actress Noor Jehan Ji was one of the heroines with another great singer actress Anees Khatoon Ji. Noor Jehan Ji sang 5
popular songs in the film, but refused to record them. Hence, composer Shyam Sundar Ji used the equally talented Zeenat Ji in her place,
and she did an equally good job. The songs were Aaja Bedardi Aaja, Ae Baad-E-Saba, Apna Na Ho Sake, Chupke Se Dil Mein and Begum
Janiyan Ki God Bhari (with chorus). Dhamki and Kaise Kahoon had a lot of famous songs by Zeenat Ji and both films, she sang for Ragini Ji
again. Dhamki also marked the debut of the great Indo - Pak singing talent Munawar Sultana Ji (not to be confused with the famous actress
of this era with the same name, of Babul - 1950, Kaneez - 1949 and Dard - 1947 fame). Ragni had some great songs by Zeenat Ji as well, but
did not get as much fame as they deserved. She sang 2 versions of a song - Duniya Sharabkhana Hai, Duniya in Sharbati Aankhen, one a solo
and the other a duet with another great singer of 1940s fame, Hamida Bano Ji. This was the first time she and veteran singer Mohammed Rafi
Ji was used by Feroze Nizami Ji and the film had very early melodies of Rafi Ji.
In 1946, she became the heartthrob of millions, with 12 films. She was used for the first time by a non - Punjabi composer (Vasant Desai Ji) in
Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani, a famous movie of great director - actor V. Shantaram Ji, in a record - picturised song, Pardesi Re Kahe Choda Mora
Des. He used her again and created miracles in Shantaram Ji's Jeevan Yatra, which also had Lata Ji's first recorded Hindi film song - Chidiya Bole Chu Chu.
She sang some of her best songs in Jhumke, with music by Pandit Amarnath Ji. It was an all Zeenat Begum musical score except for a Dhaniram song and a
duet of Zeenat Ji with S. D. Batish Ji. She sang 9 out of 10 songs in the film. Kahan Gaye was a rare instance in films with complex Raga - based
compositions, very unique. It was also a rare occasion witnessing the great singer actress Shanta Apte Ji composing for a film (she composed for
only 2 films, Kahan Gaye and Main Abla Nahin Hoon starring herself), and her co - composers were Lacchiram and Anupam Ghatak in the film.
Zeenat Ji sang 4 unforgettable songs in the film. Khamosh Nigahen marked the debut of genius composer Vinod Ji. Zeenat Ji was his favourite
singer from the pre - parition era. Khush Naseeb was another film she sang for during this yeark, with music by Lacchiram Ji and Anupam Ghatak Ji,
but her songs, ironically, did not gain much popularity. Nek Parveen was another blockbuster from the Ragini - Zeenat combination, with music by
Feroze Nizami Ji. Zeenat Ji's songs were sensational in the film. Paraye Bas Mein with music by Vinod and Niyaz Hussain Shami was another musical
which did not get its due. Rehana (music by Qadir Fareedi, also debut film of Indo - Pak Ghazal singer Iqbal Bano Ji), Shahar Se Door (music Pandit
Amarnath), Shalimar (music Pandit Amarnath, Anupam Ghatak) were more successes of hers as a heroines' singer. She sang one song for Ghulam
Haider in the blockbuster film Shama, Khudaya Teri Hai Ye Kaisi Khudayi.
In 1947, she did 8 films. Aaj Aur Kal and Pagdandi had popular songs by her composed by great Indo - Pak music director Khursheed Anwar Ji.
Ghulam Haider Ji gave her hits with her songs in Mehndi and a solo in But Tarash - Faani Hai Jawani Pee Le Pee Le. Aarsi had some famous and
outstanding songs sung to perfection by Zeenat Ji, composed by Shyam Sundar Ji and Lacchiram Ji. She sang a very catchy sad song in the film -
Meri Akhiyan Nisdin Royen, a duet with Dilshad Begum, a very unique composition. Intezar Ke Baad had some great songs of hers composed by
Aziz Hindi Ji. Shanti was her last film in the year, where she sang one song composed by B. S. Thakur Ji, also a singer. She sang a hit
patriotic song, Is Desh Ke Jawanon Ko in Farz, music by K. S. Sagar.
She made 5 films in 1948. Three out of them, Birhan (music Lacchiram), Chupke Chupke (music S. D. Batish) and Nek Dil (music Asgar,
Mohammed Hussain) unfortunately failed to gain popularity. Her 2 songs from Rooprekha with music by Ravi Roychowdhri,
Amarnath, Vidyanath Seth, S D Batish were hits. Her most famous song in this year was Patthar Ka Mila Takiya Aur Khaq Ka Bichauna in
Papiha Re, music by Dhaniram Ji. In this film stalwart singer Amirbai Ji sang Kat Gayi Wadon Mein Kuch, Wadon Mein Kuch Kat Jaayegi,
which was originally sung by Zeenat Ji for Dhamki. She sang another song, a duet with Dhaniram in this film, which was a hit.
With decreasing popularity, she was brought to fame again in 1949. Ek Teri Nishani (music Pandit Amarnath), Ek Thi Ladki (music Vinod)
and Kaneez (music Ghulam Haider) had very successful songs by her, but the last film of with a solo of hers, Roomal, this year failed to gain popularity.
In 1950, she sang for Gulnar, music by Pandit Amarnath. Her 6 songs were moderately appreciated, and again did not get their due.
In 1951, her last year in India, she sang for Mukhda, songs composed by Vinod Ji. Out of her 2 songs, Hamari Gali Aao Shyam, a fabulous
solo was quite popular. This year she migrated to Pakistan and sang in Billo (1951), a Punjabi film, and some films of the 1950s and 1960s,
but they were not very popular. Some exceptions, though, were her 2 solos from Billo and a solo from Sailab (1953), Na Samjhi Kisiki Na Maani Kisiki, s
ung for sensational heroine Sahiba Ji, music was by Asghar Ali.
She left a huge gap in the richness of the subcontinent's music after her unfortunate passing away on November 12, 1966. She may not be
there with us, but she will be immortal in our Minds. Even the great singer Rajkumari Ji has said that Zeenat Ji was her favourite.
A list of songs her in India (1942 - 1951) is below. For dear music lovers, available songs will be provided for listening pleasure, viewers
with unavailable songs are requested to provide them.
FILM
YEAR
MUSIC DIRECTOR
SONG
SINGER
Song (if available)
1. Khandan (Private, non-film, version)
1942
Ghulam Haider
1. Maar Gayi Re Maar Gayi Re Mohe
Zeenat Begum, Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum
-
2. Nishani (debut Hindi film)
1942
Pandit Amarnath
1. Zor Lagake Haiyya…Dheere Dheere Aaja Re Baanke Sipahiya
Zeenat Begum, G M Durrani, Naseem Akhtar, Chorus
2. Huwi Dil Mein Paida Jalan Meethi Meethi Tumhari Qasam Tum
Zeenat Begum, Naseem Akhtar, Shamshad Begum
(Courtesy: Nikhil Iyer)
3. Zara Dheere Dheere Bolo Ji Koi Sun Lega
Zeenat Begum, G M Durrani, Chorus
4. Ye Kya Sun Rahi Hoon Ki Tum Bewafa Ho
Zeenat Begum
5. Wo Hamein Tadpa Rahe Hain Kya Karein Ham
Zeenat Begum
3. Paapi
1943
Pandit Amarnath
1. Pat Rakho Girdahri, Aan Padi Hai Sharan Tihari
Zeenat Begum
2. Yah Chandni Yah Saaye, Pehlu Mein Tum Ho Mere
Zeenat Begum, G M Durrani
-
3. Aankhon Mein Bas Rahe Hain Wo, Kaise Unhen Bhulaoon Main
Zeenat Begum
-
4. Poonji
1943
Ghulam Haider
1. Gaadiwale Ho Gaadiwale Ho Dupatta Uda Jaaye Re
Zeenat Begum, Shamshad Begum
5. Sahara
1943
Pandit Gobindram
1. Main To Lahanga Naahi Pehnoon, La De Makhmal Ka Salwar
Zeenat Begum
-
2. Wo Bhola Baalam Kya Jaane
Zeenat Begum
3. Rakhi Ka Din Aaya Sajni Rakhi Ka Din Aaya
Zeenat Begum, Kaushalya, Chorus
4. Beqason Ki Zindgani Ka Sahara Kaun Hai
Zeenat Begum
5. Gori Kar Le Haar Singar Tohe Baalam Ghar Hai Jaana
Zeenat Begum, Kaushalya, Chorus
6. Bhai
1944
Ghulam Haider, Shyam Sundar
1. Saajan Aaja Rajan Aaja Khelen Dil Ke Khel Aaja
Zeenat Begum, Ghulam Haider
-
2. Duniya Ki Ye Khushi Hai Tujhe Bhool Jaayen Ham
Zeenat Begum
-
7. Chand
1944
Husnlal-Bhagatram (debut film)
1. Ae Chand Bata Mujhko Kya Isi Ka Naam Hai Pyar
Zeenat Begum, G M Durrani
2. Kya Yahi Jawani Hai Har Din Hai Nikhra Huwa Har Raat Suhani Hai
Zeenat Begum
3. Aaye Hain Balma Ho Din Pyare Pyare Ab Jaage Hain Bhag Hamare
Zeenat Begum, G M Durrani
4. Panchi Meri Khushi Ka Zamana Kahan Gaya, Zamana Kahan Gaya
Zeenat Begum
8. Daasi
1944
Pandit Amarnath
1. O Rasiya Ho, Kabhi Le Chal Tu Jamuna Ke Paar Re
Zeenat Begum, Dilshad Begum, Chorus
2. Dhaan Ki Khet Mein Na, Dhaan Ki Khet Mein Na Jaiyyo More Raja
Zeenat Begum, Chorus
3. Milke Bichad Mat Jaana, Meethi Nazar Milake, Keh Do Ji More
Zeenat Begum
4. Subah Huwi Aur Panchi Jaage, Chuga Chugne Ko Bhage, Tu Bhi
Zeenat Begum
5. Raaten Na Rahein Wo, Na Rahe Din Wo Hamare, Tum Hi Bata Do
Zeenat Begum
6. Wo Din Yaad Karo, Wo Din Yaad Karo, Gaon Ki Chori Phir Se Yaad
Zeenat Begum
7. Dekha Karo Bhagwan Garibon Ka Tamasha, Garibon Ka Tamasha
Zeenat Begum
9. Panchi
1944
Pandit Amarnath
1. Ismein Kya Sharmana Piya Ghar Jaana Gori
Zeenat Begum, Chorus
2. Aaja Ri Nindiya Pyari Aaja
Zeenat Begum
3. Ae Dil Mujhe Ab Le Chal, Jangal Ki Fizaon Mein
Zeenat Begum, Zohrabai Ambalewali
(Courtesy: Nikhil Iyer)s
4. Uthi Hain Ghatayen Chali Hain Hawayen
Zeenat Begum
5. Araj Suno Prabhu Meri, Jit Jaoon Ut Ghor Andhera
Zeenat Begum
6. Panchi Meethe Bol Na Bol
Zeenat Begum, S D Batish
-
7. Wo Aayi Badariya Kaari, Jiya Mora
Zeenat Begum
-
8. Unhonne Mohabbat Ki Duniya Mita Di
Zeenat Begum
9. Jaiye Ghairon Ka Dil Ka Aasra Ho Jaiye
Zeenat Begum
10. Shukriya
1944
Ghulam Ahmed Chishti
1. Hamari Gali Aana, Achha Ji, Kya Jod
Zeenat Begum, Naseem Akhtar, Amar
2. De Saqi Jaam-E-Jam, Bhula De Duniya Ke Sab Gham, Ye Aaniwali
Zeenat Begum
3. Tum Zara Zara Si Baaton Par Sharmati Ho
Zeenat Begum, Amar
4. Saajan Kabhi Aao, Kabhi Aao, Kabhi Aao
Zeenat Begum
11. Albeli
1945
Ghulam Ahmed Chishti
1. Main Laayi Meethe Kandhari Anaar
Zeenat Begum
(Courtesy: Nikhil Iyer)
-
2. Koi Le Lo Saiyyan, Koi Le Lo Saiyyan Meethe Chaman Ke Angoor
- Vidur, an ardent fan of Zeenat Begum Ji and vintage film music
Please note that the list is made with inputs from Geet Kosh and other sources. Some songs are unconfirmed ones and the website doesn't certify
the authenticity of these. Thanks a lot to music lovers like Prof ji, Contributors to his site (Narsingh ji, Hem Jain and others), Jimmy Noor,
Murtaza Ghullam and all others who have provided songs above.
Update
Zahoor Ahmad ji of Lahore has shared information about songs sung by Zeenat Begum post-partition which we are reproducing below. There is only one of those songs available. If someone can share the missing ones it would be appreciated:-
songs of zeenat begum in pak films film JEHAAD(1950)---music by karim daad khan.poet:tanvir naqvi 1-aye raat k musafir 2-daikha bhe na tha toot gya 3-aag se bulbuly nahin uthtay 4-muskra laikin labon se 5-ghm hai apna na hai khushi apni HAMARI BASTI(1950)-music by firoze nizami. 1-uthay ghm k baadil(musheer kazmi) DO AANSO(1950)-music by mubarak ali khan(younger brother of ustad bade ghulam ali khan) 1-quon hns rahi hai dunya(jalib badauni) 2-o jane waly quon mohabbat ka fsana(hzeen qadri) EID(REET)---1950music by s d batish 1-jao jao jee 2-guzarti hai ji haye kisy bataen 3-is dil ko too ne dunya se 4-eid aa gai(with nasim akhtar and others) DIRECTOR(1951)-music by lachhi raam 1-me kee dunya doly 2-sunder sunder taro 3-aee thee jin kee yaad GHAIRET(1951) music by-talib jafferi 1-aa jee bher k pyar ker lay(muzaffer tahir) 2-mora jiya kahy ik baat(tanvir naqvi)/duet with s m baatish. SHOLA(1952) music by fatehali khan 1-aa ja perdaisi 2-chaly nahin jana 3-hu sda rhen humjoli 4-o rani matwali poet of all songs:taj ch ILZAM(1953)music by asgher ali muhammad hussain 1-hun gdd gher lay ja mahya way(punjabi duet with inayt hussain bhatti)/lyric;abdul majeed bhatti SAILAAB(1953)music by asgher ali muhammad hussain 1-naa samjhi kisi kee 2-qismet he ko manzoor na tha3-sun suno re duya walo(chorus)
Thanks for a great article. And even more so for rare songs, particularly from three of the giants and pioneers of HFM and PFM – Pt Gobindram, Pt. Amarnath and Master Ghulam Haider.
Some more comments: - Not sure how Ghulam Haider becomes the grandfather of HFM when he and Anilda were contemporaries and good friends. - Looking at the Punjabi music in late 30s and 40s, I get the feeling that Punjabi film music and industry suffered badly post partition, at least in India. - I see Pt. Amarnath credited for films in late 40s and 1950 though he passed away in 1946/47. I guess they were the ones done/completed by his assistants Husnlal Bhagatram, Vinod etc.
Glad you liked the post Sir. I hope to put up much more of such posts and please visit this post often - about 15 more songs are available and will be soon included, so will the other songs once we get them.
It was Anil Biswas Ji who had called him the 'Grandfather Of Film Music'.
Thanks for liking the article and enjoying the songs Kalyan. The reason for punjabi music in industry going down is partly due to migration on partition and more so due to the loss of audience. A majority of the punjabi speaking population was in the western punjab which affected the economics. Even though for coming years we see good music by Hansraj Behl, Sardul Kwatra and Vinod, the number of films was drastically reduced and took its toll in India. In Pakistan the audience was still there and it continued to relatively flourish. As far as Pt Amarnath is concerned, Many incomplete films being made in Lahore were brought to Mumbai and completed. Songs made earlier were used. For eg Tehzeeb became Kaneez in India with Ghulam Haider's recorded songs and the extra ones required being done by Hansraj Behl. If you notice the few movies with Pt Amarnath, you'll find they are having a few songs by him and the other required songs by other composers.
As for Ghulam Haider being grandfather, one may think that Vidur considered only one. There are usually two grandfathers. Don't know who's the maternal one and which one the paternal one?! ;)
You are most welcome Sir! We plan to post many more articles of very talented artists of vintage films.
We also hoped you would like it. About 10 - 15 more songs are available and will be uploaded soon. Looking forward to excited audience like you who keep our website alive.
Vidur
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Some more comments:
- Not sure how Ghulam Haider becomes the grandfather of HFM when he and Anilda were contemporaries and good friends.
- Looking at the Punjabi music in late 30s and 40s, I get the feeling that Punjabi film music and industry suffered badly post partition, at least in India.
- I see Pt. Amarnath credited for films in late 40s and 1950 though he passed away in 1946/47. I guess they were the ones done/completed by his assistants Husnlal Bhagatram, Vinod etc.
It was Anil Biswas Ji who had called him the 'Grandfather Of Film Music'.
We also hoped you would like it. About 10 - 15 more songs are available and will be uploaded soon. Looking forward to excited audience like you who keep our website alive.
Vidur
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