In 2013, Shamshad Begum died at the age of 94. There was a period in the early ninetees when remixes of old Hindi film tunes were viral. They are still, but these remixes had a little bit more character. Popular 1950s and 1960s songs like ” “Saiyyan Dil Mein Aana Re,”Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar,” and “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar” were just being introduced to teenagers at the time. However, older people found the sexualization of these songs, which appeared to be innocent, quite offensive. However, the woman who sang most of these songs during the golden age of Hindi film music adored them all. Shamshad Begum, who sang most of these songs, was happy that her music was being heard by younger people, even if not in its original form.Even though Shamshad Begums name is less well-known today, her songs are essential to the history of Hindi film music. Songs like “Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon” from the 1947 film Patanga, “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar” and “Kahin Pe Nigaahein” from the 1949 film CID, “Saiyaan Dil Mein Aana Re” from the 1951 film Bahar, “Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar” from the 1954 film Aar Paar, “Reshmi Salwar” from the 1957 film Nay One of her final hits were “Kajra Mohabbat Wala” from the 1968 film Kismat.Shamshad retired in the late 1960s as she finds the politics of the Hindi music industry quite shady, despite singing over 5,000 songs in five languages. She admitted in an interview that she was discouraged when manipulation and politics started to take precedence over ones work. In the industry, work became less critical, and manipulation became an essential factor. I would never give in to it. I can work all day, yet I cant be manipulative. She stated, “That is why I left.” During the latter half of her career, the singer told Filmfare that “the more hits I gave, the less work I got.”Shamshad Begums decision to leave the music industry was reportedly influenced partly by his rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar, but this appears not to have been the case. Shamshad and Lata sang together for some two-part harmonies. In an interview with the BBC, Naushad talked about how it was to record with these two great singers. The singers had to be physically present simultaneously when registering a duet, unlike today. He continued, “Lata would be a few inches away from the mic when Shamshad Begum recorded her duets with her, but we would make her stand much further away because of the force of her voice.”Shamshad Begum was a star by her own doing however carried on with a basic life. “She was an excellent singer with a compelling and versatile voice,” composer Khayyam stated in an interview with The Indian Express. She did many songs for several music directors and remained the queen of playback singing for a long time. She was humble and respected others as a person. She was unaffected by success.” Radio moderator Ameen Sayani, known for his show Binaca Geetmala, added, “I had once welcomed her for an honor function, and she answered, I could do without any pageantry and show. I feel at ease with my family.”In 2013, Shamshad Begum passed away.Unlike many of her peers, she disliked the attention. In a meeting with BBC, Naushad said, “She could never get her photos clicked, and to that end, it is so challenging to track down photographs of her.”In 2013, Shamshad Begum passed away with her achievements intact, and her legacy lives on. Even though future generations may not know her name, her music will live forever.
