Remembering Mehnaz Begum on her 12th death anniversary-A famous Pakistani TV, radio, and film singer

Lahore, 19 Jan 2025 (Ali Imran Chattha) : Mehnaz Begum was a Pakistani singer, known for her film singing. Mehnaz was born in 1958 and received her early musical training from her mother Kajan Begum, a prominent singer and souz khawan. Her father was also an accomplished singer and souz khawan. The family hailed from Mehmoodabad (some say Lucknow) in UP, India, and migrated to Pakistan in the 50s.

Mehnaz started her career as a playback singer in the early 70s. Her melodious voice and control over her voice made her instantly popular with music composers and film audiences. She sang for several films, most of which were popular.

Suraya Bhopali was one of the first films for which she sang songs and Zeba Bakhtiar's Babu was the last film. Films in which her playback singing was highly appreciated include Haider Ali, Parastash, Bandish, Zindagi, and Aaina and her famous songs include 'Mujhe Dil Se Na Bhalana', 'Do Pyaase Dil Ek Hoye' (Bandish), 'Kiyon Roye Shehnai' (Haider Ali) and 'Ja Ja Re Koeliya' (Haider Ali).

Mehnaz Begum also sang for television and was equally fond of ghazal singing. She was proficient in light classical genres such as thumri and dadra.

She sang 297 songs in 294 films.

She has won the Nigar Award for Best Female Playback Singer 13 times and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lux Style Awards in 2011. She was not married but her favorite hobbies included bird watching and admiring nature. Her favorite television show and film were Franklin (show) and Bombay (film). She also enjoyed drawing various flowers and birds.

Mehnaz was on a plane, flying to the United States for treatment of a respiratory illness when her condition worsened. During a stopover in Bahrain, she was taken to the hospital where she died on 19 January 2013.

Some of his hit songs are:

1. ਮੇਰਾ ਪਿਆਰ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਕੇ ਸੰਗ ਰਹੇਗਾ (ਪਛਾਣ)

2. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਜਾਓ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਬੂ ਹੈ ਉੱਥੇ ਗੀਤ (ਖੁਸਬੂ)

3. ਆਏਗਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਬਾਬੂ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਦਿਲ ਨੂੰ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਕਰੋ (ਝਰਨਾ)

4. ਪਿਆਰ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਏਦਾਂ ਹੀ ਰੱਖੋ, ਜੇ ਭੁੱਲ ਜਾਵਾਂ ਤਾਂ (ਅੱਜ ਤੇ ਕੱਲ) ਮਰ ਜਾਵਾਂਗਾ।

5. ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦਿਲ ਤੋਂ ਨਾ ਭੁੱਲੋ, ਇਸ ਉਮਰ (ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਾ) ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕੋ.

6. ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰੋ ਕਿ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹੁਣ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਛੂਹੋਗੇ (ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਾ)

7. ਜੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਸੱਚਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ. (ਪਿਆਰ ਪਿਆਰ)

8. ਇਕੱਲਿਆਂ ਨਾ ਜਾਣਾ ਸਦਾ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਚਲੋ ਜੀ (ਅਜ ਦੀਨ ਕਦੀਆਂ)

9. ਐਸਾ ਹੈ ਤੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਦਾ ਸੁਭਾਉ (ਬਾਰਾਂ)

10. ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਧੜਕਦੇ ਦਿਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਛੁਪਾਵਾਂਗਾ (ਬੰਦਸ਼)

11. ਅਸੀਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਦੋਸਤੀ (ਜੀਵਨ) ਨੂੰ ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਛੱਡਾਂਗੇ.

12. ਦੋ ਸਾਥੀ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਦੂਜੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਥ ਦੇਣਗੇ (ਭੈਣ)।

13. ਜਿਸ ਦਿਨ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਪਿਆਰ ਭੁੱਲ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ (ਪਰਫਿਊਮ)

14. ਦੋ ਪਿਆਸੇ ਦਿਲ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਇੱਕ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ (ਬੰਦਿਸ਼)

15. ਅਸੀਂ ਵਫ਼ਾਦਾਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਭੁੱਲਾਂਗੇ।

Report by : Ali Imran Chattha, Special Reporter, Lahore  (International Desk)