Editing Begum Akhtar

{{short description|Indian singer and actress (1914-1974)}}
{{about|the Indian singer}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2024}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Begum Akhtar
| image            = Begum_Akhtar_(1942).jpg
| caption          = Screen shot as "Akhtari Fyzabadi" from film ''[[Roti (1942 film)|Roti]]'' (1942)
| native_name      =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name       = Akhtaribai Faizabadi
| birth_place      = [[Faizabad]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh|United Provinces]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]])
| death_place      = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|10|07}}
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1974|10|30|1914|10|7}}<ref name=nrcw/>
| origin           = [[Faizabad]], [[Awadh]]
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Ghazal]]|[[thumri]]|[[dadra]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PlNShmx3x68C&dq=Begum+Akhtar&pg=PA158 Dadra] ''Thumri in Historical and Stylistic Perspectives'', by Peter Lamarche Manuel, Peter Manuel. Published by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1989. {{ISBN|81-208-0673-5}}. ''Page 157''.</ref>}}
| occupation       = Singer
| years_active     = 1929 – 1974
}}

'''Akhtari Bai Faizabadi''' (7 October 1914 – 30 October 1974), also known as '''Begum Akhtar''', was an Indian  singer and actress. Dubbed "Mallika-e-Ghazal" (Queen of Ghazals), she is regarded as one of the greatest singers of [[ghazal]], [[dadra]], and [[thumri]] genres of [[Hindustani classical music]].<ref name=Google/><ref name=nrcw/><ref name=Josh/>

Begum Akhtar received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for vocal music in 1972, was awarded [[Padma Shri]], and later a [[Padma Bhushan]] Award posthumously by the [[government of India]].<ref name=HT>{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/begum-akhtar-birth-anniversary-the-queen-of-ghazal-who-enthralled-millions-with-her-silken-voice-see-playlist/story-pS0GBddJV91uN7KOS2VbDJ.html |title=Begum Akhtar birth anniversary: The queen of ghazal who enthralled millions with her silken voice, see playlist |date=7 October 2019 |newspaper=Hindustan Times (newspaper) |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:BegumAkhtar.jpg|thumb|Begum Akhtar's ancestral home in [[Faizabad]]]]

Akhtari Bai Faizabadi was born on 7 October 1914 to Asghar Hussain, a lawyer and his second wife Mushtari.<ref name=Josh>{{cite news |title=Uttar Pradesh Government approved new guidelines for Begum Akhtar Award |url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/uttar-pradesh-government-approved-new-guidelines-for-begum-akhtar-award-1439350478-1 |access-date=1 October 2020 |work=Jagranjosh.com |date=12 August 2015}}</ref> Asghar Hussain subsequently disowned Mushtari and his twin daughters Zohra and Bibbi (later known as Begum Akhtar).<ref name="live">{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/lRS1H4LcCjlyUHIdguk2oJ/What-a-life.html |title=What a life – (Begum Akhtar's real life was much wilder than fiction) |author=Priya Ramani |newspaper=Mint (newspaper) |date=7 November 2008 |access-date=30 September 2020}}</ref><ref name=LiveMint>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/memories-of-akhtari-11570190924213.html |newspaper=Mint (newspaper) |author=Shreya Ila Anasuya |date=5 October 2019 |title=Memories of Akhtari |access-date=30 September 2020}}</ref>

==Career==
Akhtar was barely seven when she was captivated by the music of Chandra Bai, an artist attached to a touring theatre group. However at her uncle's insistence she was sent to train under Ustad [[Imdad Khan]], the great sarangi exponent from [[Patna]], and later under Ata Mohammed Khan of [[Patiala]]. Later, she travelled to [[Calcutta]] with her mother and learnt music from classical stalwarts like Mohammad Khan, [[Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan|Abdul Waheed Khan]] of [[Kirana Gharana]], and finally she became the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan.<ref name=nrcw/>

Her first public performance was at the age of fifteen. The famous poet [[Sarojini Naidu]] appreciated her singing during a concert which was organised in the aid of victims of the [[1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake]]. This encouraged her to continue singing ghazals with more enthusiasm. She cut her first disc for the Megaphone Record Company, at that time. A number of gramophone records were released carrying her [[ghazals]], [[dadra]]s, [[thumris]], etc. She was amongst the early female singers to give public concert, and break away from singing in ''mehfils'' or private gatherings, and in time came to be known as ''Mallika-e-Ghazal'' (Queen of Ghazal).<ref name=toi/><ref name=HT/>

Begum Akhtar's good looks and sensitive voice made her an ideal candidate for a film career in her early years. When she heard great musicians like [[Gauhar Jaan]] and Malak Jan, however, she decided to forsake the glamour of the film world for a career in [[Indian classical music]]. Her supreme artistry in light classical music had its moorings in the tradition of pure classicism. She chose her repertoire in primarily classical modes: a variety of [[Rāga|raags]], ranging from simple to complex. After the advent of talkie era in India, Begum Akhtar acted in a few Hindi movies in the 1930s. [[East India Film Company]] of Calcutta approached her to act in "King for a Day" (alias ''Ek Din Ka Badshah'') and ''Nal Damayanti'' in 1933.<ref name=nrcw/>

Like others of that era, she sang her songs herself in all her films. She continued acting in the following years. Subsequently, Begum Akhtar moved back to Lucknow where she was approached by the famous producer-director [[Mehboob Khan]], to act in ''[[Roti (1942 film)|Roti]]''  which was released in 1942 and whose music was composed by the maestro [[Anil Biswas (composer)|Anil Biswas]]. "Roti" contained six of her ghazals but unfortunately due to some trouble with the producer, [[Mehboob Khan]] subsequently deleted three or four ghazals from the film. All the ghazals are available on Megaphone gramophone records. Begum Akhtar, meanwhile, left Bombay and returned to Lucknow. Her name appears differently in many film credits as Akhtaribai Fyzabadi, Akhtaribai Faizabadi, Akhtari and Begum Akhtar.<ref name=Google/>

In 1945, Akhtari Bai married a Lucknow-based barrister, Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, and became known as Begum Akhtar.<ref name=nrcw/> However, after marriage, due to restrictions by her husband, she could not sing for almost five years and subsequently, fell ill and emotionally depressed. That is when her return to music was prescribed as a befitting remedy, and in 1949 she returned to the recording studios.<ref name=nrcw>{{cite web|url=http://nrcw.nic.in/shared/sublinkimages/209.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2009|date=19 March 2006|        archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410014918/http://nrcw.nic.in/shared/sublinkimages/209.htm |title=Begum Akhtar (1914–1974) – Begum Akhtar Profile|website= NRCW, Government of India website|access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref> She sang three ghazals and a dadra at Lucknow [[All India Radio]] station. She started crying afterwards and returned to singing in concerts,  which she continued to do unto death. She sang publicly in [[Lucknow]], in a women's only concert in aid of the war with China, which was held in 1962.<ref name=toi/>

Her voice matured with time, acquiring richness and depth. She sang ghazals and other light classical pieces, in her inimitable style. She has nearly four hundred songs to her credit. She was a regular performer on [[All India Radio]]. She usually composed her own ghazals and most of her compositions were [[Rāga|raag]] based. She also sang the timeless Bengali classical song "Jochona Koreche Aari" (জোছনা করেছে আড়ি).<ref name=Google/>

On 7 October 2017, [[Google]] dedicated a [[Google Doodle|Doodle]] profile to her commemorating the 103rd birthday of Begum Akthar.<ref name=Google>{{cite web |title=Begum Akhtar's 103rd Birthday (her profile) |website=Profile on Google Doodle website |url=https://doodles.google/doodle/begum-akhtars-103rd-birthday/ |date=7 October 2017|archive-date=2 March 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302041352/https://doodles.google/doodle/begum-akhtars-103rd-birthday/|access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref>

==Death==
During her last concert in [[Balaramapuram]] near [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in 1974, she raised the pitch of her voice as she felt that her singing had not been as good as she had wanted it to be and felt unwell. The stress she put herself under resulted in her falling ill and she was rushed to the hospital.<ref name=nrcw/>

She died on 30 October 1974 in the arms of Nilam Gamadia, her friend, who invited her to [[Ahmedabad]], which became her final performance.<ref name=Google/><ref name=nrcw/>

Her tomb was a mango orchard within her home, 'Pasand Bagh' in [[Thakurganj]] area, of [[Lucknow]]. She was buried alongside her mother, Mushtari Sahiba. However, over the years, much of the garden has been lost to the growing city, and the tomb has fallen into disrepair. The marble graves enclosed in a red brick enclosure, were restored in 2012, along with their [[pietra dura]] style marble inlay.<ref>{{cite web |title=After 38 yrs, Begum Akhtar's grave gets due attention |work=Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/after-38-yrs-begum-akhtar-s--grave-gets-due-attention/1028054/ |author=Hamza Khan |pages=1–2 |date=7 November 2012 |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref> Attempts are on to convert her home built in 1936 in China bazaar, Lucknow into a museum.<ref name=toi>{{cite web |title=In memory of Begum Akhtar |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/In-memory-of-Begum-Akhtar/articleshow/7297205.cms |author=Bhavita Bhatia |date=16 January 2011 |access-date=1 October 2020 |publisher=The Times of India (newspaper)}}</ref>

Her disciples include [[Shanti Hiranand]], who later received Padma Shri and wrote a biography ''Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi'' (2005).<ref name=toi/> Art critic S. Kalidas directed a documentary on her titled ''Hai Akhtari''.

==Discography==
# Begum Akhtar has nearly four hundred songs to her credit.<ref name=nrcw/>

===List===
* See [[Begum Akhtar songs]] for comprehensive list.
* ''Naseeb Ka Chakkar'' | –
# "Kalyug Hai Jabse Aaya Maya Ne..."
*''Roti'' | Anna Sahab Mainkar
# "Wo Hans Rahe Hain Aah Kiye Jaa..."
# "Ulajh Gaye Nayanwa Chhute Nahin..."
# "Char Dino Ki Jawani Matwale..."
# "Ai Prem Teri Balihari Ho..."
# "Phir Fasle Bahaar Aayi Hai..."
# "Rehne Laga Hai Dil Me Andhera..."
* ''Panna Dai'' | Gyan Dutt
# "Hamen Yaad Teri Sataane Lagi..."
# "Main Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke Rahungi..."
* ''Dana Pani'' | Mohan Junior
# "Ishq Mujhe Aur Kuchh To Yaad Nahi..."
* ''Ehsaan''
# "Hamen dil mein basaa bhi lo.."

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Movie Name 
|-
|1933 ||''King for a Day'' (Director: Raaj Hans)<ref name=nrcw/> 
|-
|1934 ||''Mumtaz Beghum''<ref name=nrcw/>
|-
|1934 ||''Ameena''<ref name=nrcw/>
|-
|1934 ||''Roop Kumari'' (Director: Madan)
|-
|1935 ||''Jawani Ka Nasha''
|-
|1936 ||''Naseeb Ka Chakkar'' (Director: Pesi Karani)
|-
|1940 ||''AnaarBala'' (Director: A. M. Khan)
|-
|1942 ||''[[Roti (1942 film)|Roti]]'' (Director: [[Mehboob Khan]]) [credited as Akhtaribai Fyzabadi]<ref name=nrcw/>
|-
|1958 ||''[[Jalsaghar]]'' (Director: [[Satyajit Ray]])[credited as Begum Akhtar]
|-
|}

==Awards and recognition==
* 1968: [[Padma Shri]]<ref name=padma/><ref name=HT/><ref name=Josh/>
* 1972: [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<ref name=SNA>{{cite web |url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |title=SNA: List of Akademi Awardees (Begum Akhtar 1972)|publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331060603/http://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archive-date=31 March 2016 |access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref><ref name=Josh/>
* 1975: [[Padma Bhushan]] (posthumously)<ref name=padma>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013) |publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=HT/><ref name=nrcw/><ref name=Josh/>

==Bibliography==
* ''In Memory of Begum Akhtar'', by Shahid Ali Agha. US Inter Culture Associates, 1979.<ref>{{cite web |title=In Memory of Begum Akhtar |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5711516-in-memory-of-begum-akhtar |website=www.goodreads.com |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref>
* ''Great Masters of Hindustani Music'', by Susheela Misra. Published by Hem Publishers, 1981. ''Chapter 26''.
* ''Begum Akhtar: The Queen of Ghazal'', by Sutapa Mukherjee. Rupa & Co, 2005, {{ISBN|81-7167-985-4}}.
* ''Begum Akhtar: The Story of My Ammi'', by Shanti Hiranand. Published by Viva Books, 2005, {{ISBN|81-309-0172-2}}.
* ''Ae Mohabbat… Reminiscing Begum Akhtar'', by Jyoti Sabharwal & Rita Ganguly, 2008, {{ISBN|978-81-904559-3-0}}.
* ''Begum Akhtar: Love's Own Voice'', by S. Kalidas. 2009, {{ISBN|978-8174365958}}.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.urdupoetry.com/profile/begumakhtar.html Biography of Beghum Akhtar]
* [http://www.kamat.com/database/articles/behum_akhtar.htm An Article of Beghum Akhtar]
* [http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-music/indian-singers/begum-akhtar.html Beghum Akhtar -interesting insights]

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1970–79}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhtar, Begum}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian women ghazal singers]]
[[Category:Indian ghazal singers]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Hindustani singers]]
[[Category:Thumri]]
[[Category:Indian women playback singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Lucknow]]
[[Category:People from Ayodhya district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Women Hindustani musicians]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian singers]]
[[Category:Indian courtesans]]