Mehnaz Begum (, 1958 – 19 January 2013) was a Pakistani TV, radio, and film singer. She was well known as a film playback singer in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the recipient of several Nigar Awards.KARACHI: Some thoughts on All-Pakistan Music Conference’s Baithak, Dawn (newspaper), 10 April 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2020
Early life Mehnaz was born at Mahmudabad, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1958. Her family migrated to Pakistan in the late 1950s. She received her initial training in music from her mother Kajjan Begum who was also a singer.
Career Mehnaz started her career as a playback singer in the early 1970s. Saleem Gilani, the director general of Radio Pakistan, Karachi first spotted her doing a concert at her college and helped develop her singing career. Mehdi Hassan and his elder brother Pandit Ghulam Qadir trained her at the radio station for about a month. Her melodious voice, musical training and control over her voice made her popular among the Pakistani film music directors.
She sang a variety of genres but specialized in ghazal, thumri, dadra, khayal, drupad and reciting salam, noha and marsiya. She was the daughter of celebrated sub-continental singer Kajjan Begum. and the famous government officer Abdullah Abdullah Tasnim, but when she gained fame, she changed her name to simply Mehnaz or Mehnaz Begum. She also sang ghazals and light classical music for Pakistani television showsProfile: The songbird (Mehnaz Begum) Dawn (newspaper), Published 11 March 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2020
Personal life Mehnaz never married. Some of her favorite hobbies included bird-watching and admiring nature. Her favorite television show and movie were Franklin (life of a turtle named Franklin), and Bambi (1942 animated movie), respectively. Mehnaz loved to paint in her college days and wanted to choose painting as her career. She also delighted in drawing various flowers and birds.
Discography Film Song title Lyrics by Music by Film notes Mera Pyar Tere Jeevan Ke Sang Rahega Masroor Anwar Nisar Bazmi Pehchan (1975 film)Pyar Ka Waada Aisay Nibhaen, Koi Juda Karne Na Pai Taslim Fazli Khalil Ahmed Aaj Aur Kal (1976)Mujhe Dil Se Na Bhulana Taslim Fazli Robin Ghosh AinaTere mere piyar ka aisa naata hai Riaz Arshad Kamal AhmedSalakhein (1977)Jaisi Tasveer Banai Hai Mere Saajan Ne Taslim Fazli Wajid Nashad Parastish (1977 film)Mein Jis Din Bhula Doon Tera Pyar Sajna Masroor Anwar M. Ashraf Khushboo (1979)Do Pyaasay Dil Aik Huay Hain Aise Taslim Fazli Robin Ghosh BandishSachha Tera Naam, Tu Hi Bigre Banai Kaam Masroor Anwar Nisar Bazmi Biwi Ho Tau Aisi (1982 film) Radio Song title Lyrics by Ae Meri Sar Zameen e Watan Lutf Woh Ishq Mein Dagh DehlviHar Cheez Hai Mehve Khudnomai Muhammad Iqbal TV Song title Lyrics by Music Kajrari Ankhiyon Mein Nindya Na Aye Niaz Ahmed Bichray Meet Ab Aan Milay Hein (Co-singer: Muhammad Ifrahim) Shabi Farooqui Sohail RanaNaina Jaagte Rehna Hafeez Jalandhari Sohail RanaJayon Main Kahan Sohail Rana
Death She died on 19 January 2013 at a Bahrain hospital while transiting from Karachi to Miami, Florida for medical treatment of a respiratory ailment. Her condition worsened during the flight and during a stopover at the Bahrain airport, she was taken to a hospital where she died. Mehnaz was laid to rest at Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard in Sohrab Goth Karachi.
Awards and recognition She had won the Nigar Award for Best Female Playback Singer 13 times Lifetime Achievement Award by Lux Style Awards (2011)
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