Begum Akhtar

about

Akhtari Bai Faizabadi or Begum Akhtar (October 7, 1914–October 30, 1974) was a well known Indian singer of Ghazal, Dadra and Thumri. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for vocal music, and was awarded Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan (posthumously) by Govt. of India. She was given the title of Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals). Early life Begum Akhtar was born in Bada Darwaza, Town Bhadarsa, Bharatkund, Faizabad District, Uttar Pradesh. Her father Asghar Hussain, a young lawyer who fell in love with her mother Mushtari and made her his second wife, subsequently disowned her and his twin daughters Zohra and Bibbi (Akhtar). 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, Abdul Waheed Khan of Lahore, and finally she became the disciple of Ustad Jhande Khan. Her first public performance was at the age of fifteen. The famous poetess, Sarojini Naidu, appreciated her singing during a concert which was organised in the aid of victims of a Bihar earthquake of 1934. 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 gramo

top songs

albums

Begum Akhtar

▥

Diwana Banana Hai By Begum Akhtar

▥

Who Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein

Thumri - Kajri - Hori - Sawan - Dadra

The Golden Collection - Begum Akhtar

Thumris Sawan Ghazals

▥

Gorakh Kalyan

Dewana Banana Hai - Begum Akhtar-4 Pack

▥

Aye Mohabat Tere Anjam Pe Rona Aaya

▥

50 Glorious Classical Years

▥

Rare Gems

Unforgettable Legends

similar artists