Suraiya

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Suraiya sung her first song for Music director Naushad at age of 11 Born in Gujranwala, Punjab (Now in Pakistan),Suraiya was moved to Mumbai when she was just 1 year old to her maternal grandmother and uncle. In Mumbai her neighbors were young Madan Mohan (Music Director) and young Raj Kapoor (Actor/ filmmaker). Both Madan Mohan and young Raj Kapoor were interested in Music and would participate at children programme on All India Radio station (AIR). Young Suraiya, in contrast, was not interested in Music but since the trio played together hence one day Madan Mohan and Raj Kapoor insisted Suraiya to accompany them to AIR. Incidentally Music maestro Naushad was present in the recording room and was overwhelmed by young Suraiya’s melodious voice and approached her to sing a song for A.R. Kardar production movie Sharda. The song was filed on the actress Mehtab (Sohrab Modi’s wife). Suraiya was just 11 year old. The song was Panchi Ja Peechey Raha Hai Bachpan Mera.. Its reported ‘little’ Suraiya was so short when she first recorded her maiden song she had to stand on a stool to reach the microphone!

How Suraiya and Dev Anand’s love story took shape In an interview Suraiya informed that during the shooting of their first film Vidya (1948) there was a song sequence being filmed in a boat when suddenly the boat overturned and both Suraiya and Dev Anand fell into the river. Incidentally Suraiya did not know how to swim as a result she begun to drown but Dev Anand, who knew swimming immediately rushed to save her. Finally at the risk of his life he saved her. Gratified at Dev Anand’s daring action Suraiya fell in love with Dev Anand and the two came closer. Lore has it Dev Anand even proposed Suraiya with a diamond ring which she happily accepted but Suraiya’s grandmother played villainy and threw the ring! This had an intense impact on Suraiya’s heart. When Suraiya and Dev Anand decided to Elope! Few are aware that after the unfortunate incident of Suraiya’s grandmother throwing Dev Anand’s proposal diamond ring, both Suraiya and Dev had planned to elope. Recalling the daring episode Suraiya had told in an interview that since her grandmother kept a hawk eye over her hence it was decided to shoot a ‘fake scene’ of ‘real marriage’. It was decided to invite a real life pandit and conduct real marriage of the two after which the two would driving away in a car. The scene was planned for the film Jeet but unfortunately somebody leaked the secret plan to Suraiya’s grandmother and everything was aborted. After this Suraiya did not marry anybody and lived a life of a spinster.

Her bewitching beauty fetched her first role in films Suraiya’s maternal uncle M. Zahoor was a renowned villain of the 40’ and 50’s. One day little Suraiya accompanied his uncle to watch shooting at Prakash Picture’s studio that was shooting the film Taj Mahal being produced by Nanubhai Vakil. When Nanubahi saw young Suraiya he was wonderstruck by her incredible beauty because he was searching for a similar beautiful girl to play the younger version of Mumtaz Mahal. Hence he immediately signed Suraiya who was asked to pack her bag and move to Agra for a day 10 days shoot. The movie was a hit and Suraiya was flooded with offers. Clash of Singing Superstars K.L.Saigal V/s Suraiya Though Suraiya made her debut as an adult in K. Asif's Phool (1944) as a second lead but it was her second film Tadbir (1945) opposite the legendary Superstar cum Singing wizard K.L.Saigal that made her a star overnight. According to box office reports the movie was the 5th biggest blockbuster of 1945. Film historians reveal that when Saigal heard Suraiya’s songs he was so bowled over by her sweet voice that it was his plan to create the unique Jodi of Singing Male Star K.L.Saigal versus Signing Female Star Suraiya. Their first film together was Tadbir. The idea clinked and the success led to other hits like Omar Khayyam and Parwana. However, due to untimely death of K.L.Saigal this winning pair couldn’t last long. Casting Coup Suraiya versus Mallika-E-Tarrnum, Noor jahan Inspired by the success of the unique combination of Singing Male Star K.L.Saigal versus Signing Female Star Suraiya, eminent filmmaker of the that era Mehboob Khan (who directed Mother India) decided to confront Suraiya with the topmost Singing Film star of that era Mallika-E-Tarrnum, Noor jahan and reap dividends at the box office. The movie was all the time classic Anmol Ghadi (1946). The casting coup created magic at box office and the timeless songs sung by the duo like Aawaaz De Kahaan Hai, Mere Bachpan Ke Saathi Mujhe Bhool Na Jaan, Aaja Meri Barbaad Mohabbat Ke Sahaare etc made the movie Highest grosser at the box office in 1946. Her sensational Jodi with Dev Anand After Saigal the other big Jodi that Suraiya made was with evergreen star Dev Anand. In fact in the 40’s Suraiya was a huge star and Dev Anand was just a new comer yet Suraiya had no airs of her stardom and supported the young actor. Right from their first film Vidya the duo gave six consecutive hits in a row like Jeet (1949), Shayar (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili (1950) and Do Sitare (1951). Highest paid star; Even Nargis envied her success In the late 40’s after Mallika-E-Tarrnum, Noor jahan migrated to Pakistan Suraiya became the Highest paid actress and with three hits in a row , Pyar Ki Jeet, Badi Behen, and Dillagi, Suraiya became the undisputed queen of Bollywood. Her success even over shadowed other A Grade actresses like Kamini Kaushal and Nargis. In fact Nargis in a lighter mood had once confessed to Suraiya, “I envy your success. You are really fortunate to get classy films and good songs.”