Noor Jehan

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Born with a wail of Almighty! It is reported that when baby Noor Jehan was born on September 21, 1926, the night was dark and silent but with birth of Noor Jehan, there was a sudden awe in atmosphere as the wail of the baby was in the Sur of the Sargam. Her parents who were professional musicians were left wonderstruck and could foresee the birth of a musical genius. As the baby was bestowed with melodious voice hence they named Allah Wasai (Voice of Almighty). Since the family performed musical events at local theatre and at seasonal fairs, young Noor Jehan soon displayed rare musical talent at just four or five years. Watching the usual talent of the girl the family arranged imparting musical training. Thus she learned music first under Kajjanbai (a singer between 1920 and 1930) who made her do "riyaz" up to 12 hours a day and then took classical singing under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Her efforts bore result when she was discovered by Punjabi singer Ghulam Ahmed Chishti, who gave her first break on stage to perform musical show in Lahore.

Silent romance between Noor Jehan and with Dilip Kumar In the mid-40 when Noor Jehan was at her peak of her career when she did a film with an upcoming actor Dilip Kumar. Dashing, handsome and a man with principal its reported Noor Jehan fell in love with the suave actor. During the making of the film both Dilip Kumar and Noor Jehan came close. The movie became a box office bonanza. The charming Jodi of Dilip Kumar and Noor Jehan became so popular that they became the most sought after pair in Bollywood but alas with partition of India and Pakistan, Noor Jehan migrated to Pakistan with her husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi in 1947. 35 Years later on February 11th 1982 Noor Jehan came to Mumbai to attend a musical programme “Mortal Men, Immortal Melodies” at Shanmukhanand Hall in Mumbai. Here she was greeted by Dilip Kumar, who showered her with words of praise and recalled his first movie Jugnu with her. Noor Jehan understood the hidden emotions of Dilip Kumar and conveyed her emotions through the song Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang… which said more than words!

Begins her career in films a Child star Noor Jehan was blessed by both a melodious voice and a beautiful appearance. Hence as she grew old her interest in singing declined and she was more inclined towards acting. Luckily in the early 30’s her family moved to Kolkata in lure of more money. Here she was spotted by renowned singer, Mukhtar Begum , who advised her to join cinema. Thus she did her first silent feature film called Hind ke Tare (1930). She also changed her name from Allah Wasai to ‘Baby Noor Jehan’. After the success of Hind ke Tare she did as many as 11 films and was recognized as the top child star of the 1930s. Her first talkie feature film was Sassi Puhnu, released in 1932. In 1935 she did Pind Di Kudhi directed by K.D. Mehra. Later in Missar Ka Sitara (1936) she not only acted but began to sing and won the hearts of audience. Her first film song which was Lang Aaja Pattan, Channa Da Yaar. Music legend Master Ghulam Haider introduced Baby Noor Jehan as singer Few may be aware that the music director who first discovered Lata Mangeshkar and brought her in Bollywood was legendary music director Master Ghulam Haider (Who is less popular because after partition he migrated to Pakistan). Before discovering Lata Mangeshkar Master Ghulam Haider had discovered the genius of Baby Noor Jehan and had dared to introduce her as playback singer in Pancholi Art Productions' film Khazanchi (1941). This was the first film in which Noor Jehan did not act but did playback singing for the heroine Ramola Devi. The movie was musical blockbuster and a great hit. First film as heroine and singer In 1942 she moved to Mumbai and was discovered by film director Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, who first introduced her as lead heroine in Khandaan (1942). Interestingly the hero of the film was actor Pran (who later became a popular villain and character actor). Khandaan had music by Ghulam Haider, who exploited Noor Jehan’s sweet voice to the hilt and all songs became popular and placed her among the top singing heroine of that era viz Kanan Devi, Shanta Apte and Khursheed. After Khandaan's success she gave a row of hit films like Naukar (1943), Nadan (1943), Dost (1944) and Lal Haveli (1944). Soon director Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi married Noor Jehan. Noor Jehan and Lata Mangeskar come together During the making of Master Vinayak's ‘Badi Maa(1945) Noor Jehan came in contact with baby Baby Asha Mangeshkar. Incidentally in this film even Baby Asha Bhosle played a supporting role. During the shooting break once Noor Jehan happened to listen to the mellifluous voice of young Lata Mangeskar and was left surprised at her brilliance. She called Baby Lata to sing along with her during the singing practice sessions and developed a fondness for her. Appreciating Lata Mangeskar’s unusual talent she had predicted to film Master Vinayak that one day Lata Mangeskar would rule the world due to her mellifluous voice! And her prediction turned true. Lata Mangeskar too considers Noor Jehan her idol and mentor and in her initial years she had a huge influence of Noor Jehan in her singing style. Noor Jehan dethrones all the other singing star actresses If you are a Qawwali fan than I am sure you must have heard the super hit all time classic Qawwali ……….. Aahen Na Bhareen Shikave Na Kiye- But few would know that this was the first ever Qawwali recorded in a female voice in the subcontinent films. The film was Zeenat (1945) and Noor Jehan had the privilege of singing the Qawwali with country’s two top most Qawwali expert lady singers viz Zohrabai Ambalewali and Amirbai Karnataki. With the success of this film Noor Jehan dethroned all the other singing star actresses Khursheed, Kanan Devi and Shanta Apte.