The 19th death anniversary of the famous singer ‘Melody Queen’ Noor Jehan was observed on Tuesday. Born as Allah Wasai on September 21, 1926 in Kasur, Noor Jehan started her musical career from Calcutta at the age of nine as a talented child star.
She was renowned as one of the greatest and most influential singers of her time in South Asia and was given the honorific title of
Malika-e-Tarannum.
After partition, she moved from Bombay and started her film career in Pakistan as actress, singer and the first female film director with film “Chann Wey” in 1951.
If a Hebrew prophet spoke from his cradle, she crooned at birth. When Noor Jehan was born on September 21, 1926, to an impoverished musician Madad Ali in Kasur, her aunt rushed out to greet her father thus ‘Congratulations brother! This girl will change your fortune for she cries in tune.’
She recorded about 10,000 songs in various languages of India and Pakistan including Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, and Sindhi.
Noor Jehan ruled the film industry for more than 35 years and sung appropriately six thousand songs for Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi films. Not only was she a celebrated playback singer but also a gifted ghazal singer.
She also gave Pakistan a new genre, which later developed into a category we all know today as national anthems or milli naghme. The new beginning was made during the 1965 war when Madam sang live on radio and TV some of the most gripping songs ever composed. In 1957, Noor Jahan was awarded the President Award for her acting and singing capabilities.
On December 23, 2000, she died as a result of heart failure and was buried in Karachi.
The nation had lost a legend.
15 Reasons Why Noor Jehan Is One of Most Iconic Pakistanis
Madam Noor Jehan was and always will be an iconic woman who made Pakistan proud. Her music was so powerful and so moving, that it made its way across borders leaving millions mesmerized. An actress and singer, she was one of the most influential individuals in South Asia; there’s a reason why she was given the title of Malika-e-Tarannum
1. Female Prodigy.
2. International Love.
3. 007.
4. Small Town Girl With Big Town Dreams.
5. 10K Talent.
6. First Female Fame.
7. The More the Merrier.
8. TrendSetter.
9. Duet Diva.
10. Patriotic Punjaban.
11. Poetic Justice.
12. Greatness Knows No Number.
13. An Honor to Remember.
14. Beyond Borders.
15. Talented Genes.
By Minahil Cheema
