Shahnaz Rahmatullah (; 2 January 1952 – 23 March 2019) was a Bangladeshi Bengali singer.
Her notable songs are Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay, Prothom Bangladesh Amar Sesh Bangladesh, Ekbar Jete De Na Amar Chotto Sonar Gaye, Je Chilo Drishtir Shimanay and Ek Tara Tui Desher Kotha. She was the recipient of the Ekushey Padak in 1992 and Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film Chhutir Phande (1990).
Background
Rahmatullah was born on 2 January 1952 as Shahnaz Begum in Dhaka to M Fazlul Haq and Asiya Haq. Actor Zafar Iqbal and music director Anwar Parvez were Rahmatullah's brothers. She was trained by ghazal maestro Mehedi Hassan, Ustad Phul Mohammad, Ustad Munir Hossain and Altaf Mahmud.
Rahmatullah was married to Maj (retd) Abul Bashar Rahmatullah.
Career Rahmatullah debuted in singing at the age of 11, as a playback singer for the film Notun Sur (1963).In 1967 she sang Sha’er Siddiqui’s famous ghazal “Kahan ho tum, chale aao” composed by Karim Shabuddin, and later she also sang “Hum tum jahan mile they, phulon ki anjuman mein” on Dhaka Television. She first performed on television in 1964. She sang in Bangladeshi and Pakistani films. She mostly sang modern (Adhunik Gaan) and patriotic songs. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she sang patriotic songs such as Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhe and Jeevay Jeevay Pakistan. She released an album with Samina Chowdhury called Megh Roddur on which she sang six songs composed by Shafiq Tuhin. She released four albums in total.
Four of Rahmatullah's songs were selected in a BBC survey of 20 greatest Bangla songs of all time.
Rahmatullah died on 23 March 2019 of a heart attack at her residence in Baridhara, aged 67.
Pakistani journalist, Hamid Mir said, "Shahnaz Begum passed away in Bangladesh on March 23 when many Pakistanis were listening to her famous song Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay on Pakistan Day."
Works Films Notun Sur (1962) Abar Tora Manush Ho (1973) Ghuddi (1975) Albums Badal Diner Pakhi
Film songs Year Film Song Composer(s) Songwriter(s) Co-artist(s) 1966Bhawal Sanyasi "Sokhi Amar Elo Mrigayay" Satya Saha Zia Haider Anjuman Ara BegumDaak Babu "Holud Baato, Mehndi Baato" Ali Hossain Mohammad Moniruzzaman chorus 1968Balyobondu "Pakhir Kakoli Theme Gelo" Anwaruddin Khan Amjad Hossain soloSaat Bhai Champa "O Saat Bhai Champa Jaago Re" Amir Ali Khan Ataur Rahman solo 1969 Agantuk "Ami Je Kebol Bolei Choli" Azad Rahman Dr. Abu Haider Sajedur Rahman Mahmudun Nabi "Olira Gun Gun Gunguniye" soloMukti "Tumi Asbe Ei Logone" Karim Shahbuddin Gazi Mazharul Anwar soloNaginir Prem "Bondhur Poth Cheye" Mansur Ahmed Nurul Islam Lal soloPatalpurir Rajkonya "Aji Patalpurite Uthal Pathal Uthechhe" Mansur Ahmed Nurul Islam Lal chorusShaheed Titumir (Urdu) "Laaye Hain Husn Ka" Mansur Ahmed Fayyaz Hashmi Sabina Yasmin 1970Anka Banka "Anuraage Gaane Gaane" Altaf Mahmud Gazi Mazharul Anwar soloBablu "Amar Chhotto Bhaiti" Karim Shahabuddin Gazi Mazharul Anwar soloBinimoy "Dekha Nei, Dekha Holo" Satya Saha Gazi Mazharul Anwar soloEkoi Ange Eto Roop "Jibone Rong Chirodin Robe Na" Ali Hossain Mohammad Moniruzzaman solo Koto Je Minoti "Ami Gaanke Bhalobeschhi" Anwar Parvez Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo "Amar Koto Gaan Chhilo Je" "Tumi Saat Sagorer Opar Hote" Abdul Jabbar Modhu Milon "Adhare Alo Hoye" Bashir Ahmed Syed Shamsul Haque, Masud Karim, Shahidul Islam Bashir AhmedNupur "Laaj Laage Mor Sokhi" Karim Shahabuddin S. M. Hedayet Sabina YasminPeech Dhala Poth "Phooler Kaane Bhromor Ese" Robin Ghosh Mohammad Moniruzzaman soloRong Bodlay "O Pakhi Re" Satya Saha Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo 1972Anowara "Allahumma Salli Aala Muhammad" Khandaker Nurul Alam Abdul Latif soloBahram Badshah "Hay Hay Mori Joubon Jaala Re" Gazi Mazharul Anwar, M A Kashem, Osman Khan solo Ehsaas (Urdu) "Ruk Jao, Abhi Mat Jao" Robin Ghosh Ahmad Rushdi 1973Abar Tora Manush Ho "Ek Nodi Rokto Periye" Khan Ataur Rahman Khan Ataur Rahman solo 1975 Aponjon "Slamalekum, Keno Eto Deri Holo?" Ali Hossain Gazi Mazharul Anwar Khurshid Alam 1977Kuasha "Bondhu Amay Rekho Shudhu" Azad Rahman Gazi Mazharul Anwar, Jebunnisa Jamal, Ahmed Zaman Chowdhury Mahmudun Nabi 1980Ghuddi "Ghum Ghum Chokhe" Lucky Akhand Kausar Ahmed Chaudhury solo 1983Sakkhi "Parina Bhule Jete" Alauddin Ali Gazi Mazharul Anwar solo 1990Chhutir Phande "Sagorer Soikote" Anwar Parvez Shahidul Haque Khan solo 1995 Muktir Songram "Ek Nodi Rokto Periye" (part 1) Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul Uttam Akash solo "Ek Nodi Rokto Periye" (part 2) "Phooler Kane Bhromor Ese"
Non-film songs Year Album Song Composer(s) Songwriter(s) Co-artist(s) N/ASingle "Sagorer Teer Theke" Anwar Parvez solo
Songs for television Year Show Song Composer(s) Songwriter(s) Co-artist(s) N/ASingle "Mayadore Bnadha Poira" Mansur Ahmed Nurul Islam Abdul Alim 1978Bangladesh Television "Prothom Bangladesh Amar Shesh Bangladesh" Alauddin Ali Moniruzzaman Monir solo N/AAnandamelaVery few composers are as lucky as me: Alauddin Ali "Je Chhilo Drishtir Simanay" Alauddin Ali Nazrul Islam Babu solo
Awards President's Pride of Performance Medal (1965) Ekushey Padak (1992) Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer (1990) Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award Bangladesh Chalachitra Sangbadik Samity Award
References
External links