All-time Greats
Noor Jehan
The nightingale still enthralls
Although singer-actress Noor Jehan passed away in 2000, her contribution to the music world is immense. Well-known for Indian films (dating back to the 1940s-'50s) such as Dost and Lal Haveli, and particularly for an eternal song in the film Anmol Ghari, she widely contributed to the film industry in Pakistan with roles in Gulnaar, Anarkali, Koel and Ghalib.Born in Kasur in 1926, Noor Jehan's music reflected a unique blend of a melodious voice and a deep passion. At a very young age she displayed the talent that was to win her many awards, including the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the Pride of Performance of Pakistan. In a span of five decades, she sang numerous songs in both Urdu and Punjabi. Starting out as an acclaimed child artiste, Khandan (1942) was her first major film as heroine. Four more films followed in 1945, with Gaon ki Gori attaining accolades. The real breakthrough was a song for the cinematic endeavour Anmol Ghari. She won over Bombay audiences with her undisputed talent displayed in the memorable Awaaz dey kahan hai. Noor Jehan's last production in Bombay was Jugnoo. In 1947 she moved to Lahore with her husband Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi. In Pakistan she continued to win over audiences with her undisputed talent. In 1956, she appeared in films, including Intezaar and Lakht-e-Jigar. The 1960s and 1970s marked the peak of her musical career. In Punjabi film Heer Ranjha, she won over filmgoers with songs such as Sun wanjani di mithi mithi taan way, Mein ta ho ho gai qurban way. When Noor Jehan died in 2000, the music world lost one of its brightest stars. As Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, pointed out, the vacuum created by her demise would be difficult to fill. Compiled by Cultural Correspondent
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