Background
Naseem Begum was born in the city of Amritsar, British India, in 1936.
Naseem Begum was born in the city of Amritsar, British India, in 1936.
Despite originally being billed as a "second Noor Jehan", Naseem Begum quickly managed to carve out her own successful niche in the music industry. She had the calibre to sing film songs based on semiclassical compositions and ragas, which indeed is a difficult task. She acquired her musical training from the classical singer Mukhtar Begum, the elder sister of the renowned ghazal vocalist Farida Khanum.
Naseem Begum immediately tasted success with her song Nainon mein jal bhar aayey, which became one of the most popular tracks of the 1950s.
She gained popularity after singing memorable duets with famous playback singer Ahmed Rushdi. Some remarkable Urdu films for which Naseem Begum sang excellent and heart-warming songs are Sham Dhalay (1960), Saheli (1960), Shaheed (1962), Aulad (1962), Baji (1963), Ik Tera Sahara (1963), Haveli (1964), Farangi (1964), Payel Ki Jhankar (1966), Zarqa (1969), and Pardes.
In addition to these films, she also sang for many Punjabi films, some of which are Kartar Singh (1959), Tees Maar Khan (1963), Jeedar (1965), Mukhra Chann Warga and Genter Manitoba (1969). Some big musical films on her cr are Lutera (1964), Koun Kisi Ka, Kousar, Chann Puttar (1970), Mera Veer (1967), Chann Veer (1969), Langotiya, Yeh Raste Hain Pyar Ke.
She had also sung many patriotic songs which stir the soul of listeners.
Ae rah-e-haq kay shaheedo wafa ki tasveero, Tumhain watan ki hawain salaam karti hain, is a song from film Madr-e-Watan (1966), lyrics by Saif-ud-din Saif and music composed by Saleem Iqbal. Us bewafa ka shehr hay aur hum hain dosto, Ashk-e-rawaan ki nehar hay aur hum hain dosto
So bar chaman mehka so bar bahaar aaee, Dunya ki wohi ronaq dil ki wohi tanhaee
Mera bichhra balum ghar aa gaya ghar aa gaya, Meri payal bajay chhanan chhanan chahann
Chanda toray chandani main jiya jala jaey ray
Habibi hayya hayya habibi hayya hayya
Hum bhool gaye har baat magar tera pyar nahin bhoole
Begum was admitted in the hospital, as she was expecting, and was about to give birth. However, due to pregnancy-related complications, she died on 29 September 1971.
