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 at least 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. In all of her high - pitched and high - noted songs, she proved herself to be a singer par excellence, rendering them without even a tinge of shrillness.
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 and Rafique Ghaznavi), Bhaijaan (recorded version, 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, tuned by the true greats G. A. Chishti Ji and a rare combination of her with Rafique Ghaznavi Ji. Uniquely composed and rendered really lovely, this made excellent composer, singer and actor Rafique Ghaznavi Ji one of the few non - Punjab - based composers who used Zeenat Ji. In Bhaijaan, great singer actress Noor Jehan Ji was one of the two heroines, with another great singer actress Anees Khatoon Ji playing the other heroine. 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 totally 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 showcasing her immense talent, her great range, super - melodious voice and great ability to express successfully the emotions of her songs. Kahan Gaye was a rare instance in films with complex Raga - based compositions, very unique. The songs were very beautifully composed and tremendously rendered by the great Zeenat Ji, such that they can easily go straight to your heart and highly appeal to you. She also proved herself to be a very talented classical singer in the songs, and her great classical music training helped her a lot. 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. Herself an outstanding singer, no wonder Shanta Ji chose this artist of great calibre as the lead singer. 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 year, 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 the truly appreciable genius 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 great musical which did not get its due. Rehana (music by Qadir Fareedi, also debut film of great 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. Her song O Sahukar Ji, O Nambardar Ji from this film was rendered with incomparable fun and zeal in the jumping and jolly Zeenat Ji's voice, greatly befitting the natural and spontaneous actress Meena Shorey Ji. 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 much 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, sung 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 eternally be immortal in our Minds. Even the great singer Rajkumari Ji has said that Zeenat Ji was her favourite. A list of her Hindi film songs in India (1942 - 1951) is below, along with her statistics with composers and co - singers. A treasure of vailable songs from the list will be uploaded very soon.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You can read editions of the article and song list I wrote at anmolfankaar.com and cineplot.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
