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For her, the solution is to bring together like-minded people who appreciate classical singing. She attributes this to many reasons, firstly the lack of skilled musical teachers who could train the next generation of ghazal singers, secondly the lack of commitment to the discipline of classical singing, and thirdly a lack of understanding the various dimensions of Urdu language that is used in the ghazal. I feel like there is not much to a song these days, you can’t feel the sur (tone), shayer ka dard (the poet’s pain) in the song delivery.” During a performance at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 2018, she explained, “Now, it’s about making the song as fast as possible and getting your payment for it. In recent years, Khanum has lamented the lack of ghazal singers and songs released in the mainstream. After a long hiatus, Khanum returned to perform this song for the public, when she sang the song for Coke Studio in 2015. And Khanum’s honey-soaked voice only added to the magic of the song. Written by poet Fayyaz Hashimi and composed by Sohail Rana, this iconic ode to love and longing, with its beautiful melody and poignant lyrics, continues to bewitch audiences of all generations. She heard the song at a gathering, and fell in love with it, making it her own by performing it everywhere. Perhaps her most popular ghazal, one which she has continued to sing and be associated with, has been ‘Aaj Jaane ki Zidd Na Kero’ (Don’t Insist on Leaving). Through her meticulous technique, she created an intimate but impactful relationship with her listeners, and her songs would often stay with them long after the performance.įarida Khanum and Madam Noor Jehan Sharing a Laugh Fans are not only struck by the incredible range she uses to convey a diverse set of emotions, but the careful reflection of Raag (melody) she selects to reach out to the listener’s heart. While words and enunciation are equally important to the ghazal, her use of melody has the power to amplify the depth of the poetry and its meaning. She also sang briefly in Afghanistan along with Pashto and Persian artists, to audiences who enjoyed her craft without necessarily understanding the lyrics.
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Khanum felt a deep connection to Amristar and Calcutta because of her childhood, and would often perform on the other side of the border, especially at Ghalib’s mausoleum in Old Dehli. Meanwhile, Pakistani radio signals used to reach all the way to India, and ghazal enthusiasts were immediately enraptured by her singing. She began her career among Radio Pakistan sensations like Mehdi Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Reshma, guided by producers who understood the craft of the ghazal, like the great Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari, the channel’s first Director-General.įarida Khanum with her 'Best Ghazal Singer' Award in 1974 After declining film roles (due to the long and hectic schedules), she began to sing in competitions at age 20, and found her way to Radio Pakistan.įor much of her career, Khanum remained committed to ghazal singing, and has been closely associated with national broadcasting channels like Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television. With the help of her unique singing skills, creative upbringing, and the overall culture of singing in mehfils (gatherings), success was inevitable. She was trained in the singing styles of ghazal, Khayal, Thumri and Dadra, and continued to be deeply devoted to her riyaaz. In interviews, she explained that her riyaaz (classical music practice) would last up to 4 hours a day, perfecting the modulations, pitch, notations and breathing. (L to R) Mukhtar Begum, Actress Nasira Sarfraz, Poet Sahir Ludhianvi, Farida Khanum Growing up, Khanum was not too fond of studying, but attributes her range and discipline to her teacher, Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana. The family shifted to Lahore in modern-day Pakistan when Khanum was 18.
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Khanum began to sing at the age of seven, following in her sister’s footsteps. By then her sister, Mukhtar Begum, already established herself as an artist of tremendous beauty and talent. Khanum was born in 1939 in Calcutta, British India, and shifted to Amristar at a young age.
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Her life and career have proven to be an extraordinary example of how talent and hard work can come together to move people across borders and generations. Known as Malika-e-Ghazal (The Queen of Ghazal) in both Pakistan and India, Khanum has dedicated her life to honing the musical, technical and literary complexities of ghazal singing. When Farida Khanum sings of love in her rich and melancholy voice, people invariably stop to listen. Even in her old age, her presence inspires awe and reverence from all, as audiences gather to watch and listen.