This is a list of songs recorded or performed by Begum Akhtar (1914–1974), an Indian singer of Hindustani classical music. Akhtar, who was also an actress, was proficient at dadra, thumri, and ghazals. Cited as "one of India's finest ghazal singers", she was referred to as Mallika-E-Tarannum or Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals). Akhtar's first recording was a combination of ghazals and dadras for the His Master's Voice label. She recorded or performed a total of 167 songs during her career, among which twenty were for films.
Akhtar's performances were in the nature of a classical presentation, with the accompaniment of the tabla, sitar, and harmonium. Her rendering of Ghalib's ghazals made her a household name.
Born Akhtaribai Faizabadi, she begaan her career as a mehfil singer and became famous when she sang at the Bihar earthquake music conference in 1934. On the basis of her popularity, she received offers to appear in films, starting her career with Ek Din Ka Badshah and Nal Damayanti (1933), produced by the East India Company, in Calcutta. In 1942, Akhtar was cast by Mehboob Khan in the film Roti, in which she both sang and acted. In 1945, she married Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, Nawab of Kakoli, putting her career on hold for five years. She returned to film with Dana Pani (1953) and Ehsan (1954). After 1956, Akhtar stopped working in film but continued performing on stage. Her repertoire included the ghazals of Mirza Ghalib, Momin, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Jigar Moradabadi, Shakeel Badayuni, Mir Taqi Mir, Sauda, and Shamim Jaipuri.
Non-film Poets AkhtarAzmiBadayuniBarabankviBehzadDaaghFaizFakirFiraqGhalibJaipuriJaleeliJasdanwalaKanpuriMirMinaiMoradabadiMominQazalbakshTaskeenSaeedShazSaudaZauq
Poet No. Song Notes Composer ref Jan Nisar Akhtar 1 "Bujhi Hui Shama Ka Dhuan" Traditional Murli Manohar Swarup Kaifi Azmi 2 "Itna To Zindagi Me Kisi Ki Khalal Pade" Traditional Shakeel Badayuni 3 "Ae Mohabbat Tere Anjaam Pe Rona Aaya" Traditional Murli Manohar Swarup 4 "Door Hain Manzil Raahein Mushkil" Raga Pilu Mohammed Zahur Khaiyyam 5 "Mere Humnafas Mere Humnawa" 6 "Ye Maikhana Hai" Khaiyyam 7 "Khush Hoon Ke Mera Husn-E-Talab Kaam Toh Aaya" 8 "Sahabae Garaj Thi Shola Phish" 9 "Sharab-E-Naab Ko" Ghazal Khaiyyam 10 "Zindagi Ka Dard Lekar" Traditional Khaiyyam Khumar Barabankvi 11 "Jhunjlae Hain Lajaaye Hain" Murli Manohar Swarup Behzad Lucknavi 12 "Diwana Banaana Hai To Diwana Bana De" Traditional Begum Akhtar 13 "Kash Itna Mere Naalon Mein Asar Ho Jaaye" Ghazal 14 "Un Aankhon Ka Aalam Gulabi Gulabi" Ghazal Daagh Dehlvi 15 "Rasm-e-Ulfat Sikha Gaya Koyi" Ghazal 16 "Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Hai Aur Bulate Bhi Nahin" Traditional Khaiyyam 17 "Ulti Ho Gain Sab Tadabiren" Ghazal Faiz Ahmed Faiz 18 "Sham-E-Firaq Ab Na Poochh" Traditional Khaiyyam 19 "Aaye Kuchh Abr Kuchh Sharab Aaye" Ghazal 20 "Donon Jahan Teri Mohabbat Mein Haar Ke" Ghazal Sudarshan Fakir 21 "Apanon Ke Sitam Ham Se Bataae Nahin Jaate" Ghazal Begum Akhtar 22 "Ishq Mein Ghairat-e-Jazbat" Ghazal Khaiyyam 23 "Koyalia Mat Kar Pukar" Raga Manj Khamaj Khaiyyam 24 "Kuchh Toh Duniya Ki Inaayat Ne Dil Tod Diya" Traditional 25 "Laila Majnu Ke Misaalon Pe Hansi Aati" Ghazal Khaiyyam Firaq Gorakhpuri 26 "Sar Mein Sauda Bhi Nahin" Traditional Murli Manohar Swarup Mirza Ghalib 27 "Aah Ko Chahiiye Ek Umar Asar Hone Tak" Traditional 28 "Bas Ke Dushwar" 29 "Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Par" Traditional 30 "Dard Minnat Kash-E-Dawa Na Hua" Traditional 31 "Dil Hi To Hai Na Sung-O-Khisht" Traditional 32 "Ibn-E-Mariyam Hua Kare Koi" Traditional Khaiyyam 33 "Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati" Traditional 34 "Phir Mujhe Deeda-E-Tar Yaad Aaya" Traditional 35 "Rahiye Ab Aisi Jagah Chalkar Jahan Koi Na Ho" 36 "Sab Kahan Kuchh Laal-o-Gul" 37 "Taskin Ko Hum Na Royein" Traditional Khaiyyam 38 "Yeh Na Thi Hamari Kismet" Traditional Khaiyyam 39 "Zikr Us Parivash Ka" Traditional Khaiyyam Shamim Jaipuri 40 "Bazm Se Unki Ham Kya Laaye" Traditional 41 "Ilahi Kash Ghum-E-Ishq" Ghazal 42 "Nao Saahil Pe Dagmagai Hai" Ghazal 43 "Na Socha Na Samjha" Ghazal 44 "Sakht Hai Ishq Ki Rehguzar" Ghazal 45 "Zameen Pe Rah Kar Dimaag Aasman Pe Rehta Hai Ghazal Ali Ahmed Jaleeli 46 "Ab Chhalakte Hue Sagar Nahin Dekhe Jaate" Ghazal Begum Akhtar 47 "Khushi Ne Mujhko Thukraya" Ghazal Khaiyyam Fana Nizami Kanpuri 48 "Jab Bhi Nazam-E-Maikada Badla Gaya" Ghazal Murli Manohar Swarup 49 "Mere Chehre Se Gham Aashkara" Murli Manohar Swarup Mir Taqi Mir 50 "Ulti Ho Gayin Sab Tadbirein" Ghazal 51 "Dil Ki Baat Kahin Nahi Jaati" Traditional Amir Minai 52 "Haalaat Maikade Ke Karwat" Ghazal Jigar Moradabadi 53 "Koi Yeh Keh De Gulshan Gulshan" Ghazal Begum Akhtar 54 "Duniya Ke Sitam Yaad" Traditional 55 "Hum Ko Mita Sakay Yeh Zamanay May Dam Nahin" 56 "Is Ishq Ke Haathon Se Hargis" Khaiyyam 57 "Kya Cheez Gham-E-Ishq Ki" 58 "Saqiya Chhod Na Khaali" Khaiyyam 59 "Tabiyat in Dinon Begana-E-Gam Hoti Jaati Hai" Momin 60 "Woh Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qarar Tha" Khaiyyam Amir Qazalbash 61 "Unki Berukhi Mein Bhi" Ghazal Murli Manhar Swarup Taskeen Qureshi 62 "Ab Toh Yehi Hain Dil Ki Duaayein" Traditional 63 "Kis Se Poochhein' Ghazal 64 "Khayal-E-Kaba-Otaiba" Ghazal Khaiyyam Saeed 65 "Abhi Josh-e-Baharaan Dekhna Hai" Traditional 66 "Phoolon Ki Rut Hai Thandi Hawaaen" Shaz Tamkanat 67 "Mere Naseeb Ne Jab Mujh Se" Traditional Murli Manhar Swarup Mirza Rafi Sauda 68 "Gul Phenke Hain" Ghazal Zauq 69 "Laayi Hayaat Aaye Qaza Le Chali Chale" Traditional Khaiyyam
Other No. Song Notes Composer ref70 "Aaye Balam Karam More Jaage" Dadra in Mishra Khamaj, Tal Kaharwa 71 "Ab Kaisi Kati Mori Sooni Sejariya" Thumri in Mishra Pilu Kafi, Tal Chaanchar 72 "Ab Ke Sawan Ghar Aa Ja" Thumri (Sawan) 73 "Ada-e-Naaz Ko Zaalim" Qawali 74 "Ashkon Mein Koi Husn Hi Paya Nahin Jaata" Ghazal 75 "Badar Dekh Dari" Dadra 76 "Bahut Din Beete" Thumri 77 "Balamwa Tum Kya Jaano Preet" Dadra in Mishra Madhukauns, Tal Kaharwa 78 "Balamwa Tum Kya Jaano Preet" Dadra in Mishra Kirwani, Tal Kaharwa 79 "Chahe Kachhu Hoye" Thumri 80 "Chha Rahi Kali Ghata" Dadra in Gaud Malhar 81 "Dil Mein Teri Nisan" Ghazal 82 "Donon Pe Hai Sadqe Dil-E-Shaida Madina" 83 "Farza Hai Mehafile" 84 "Ghir Kar Aayi Badariya Ram" Kajri 85 "Hamar Kahin Mano Rajaji" Thumri 86 "Hamko Nazar Se Apani" Ghazal 87 "Hum Pachatane Sajanaba" Thumri 88 "Hum Raunak-e-Hasti Ka" Ghazal 89 "Humri Atariya Pe Aao" Thumri 90 "Hungama-E-Gham Se" 91 "Is Darja Bad Guman Se Hum" Thumri 92 "Jab Se Shayam Sidhare" Thumri 93 "Ja Re Ja Kaaga" Thumri in Mishra Pahari, Tal Chaanchar 94 "Kahun Kaise SharamKi Hai Baat" Dadra Raga Bhihag 95 "Kal Nahi Aaye" Thumri in Mishra Bhairavi, Tal Deepchandi 96 "Kaisi Bansiya Bajai" Thumri Raga Pilu 97 "Kaisi Yeh Dhoom Machayi" Hori Thumri 98 "Katte Na Birha Ki Raat" Thumri in Mishra Talang, Tal Chaanchar 99 "Kaun Kase Sharam Kia Hai Baat" Dadra : Raga Bihag 100 "Kaun Tarah Se Tum Khelat Hori Re" Hori Raga Kafi 101 "Khoone Dil Ka Jo Kuchh" Ghazal 102 "Khudaki Shan Hai" Ghazal 103 "Khushi Ne Mujhko Thukraya Hai, Dard O Gham Ne Paala" 104 "Kya Soje Mohabbat Mein" Ghazal 105 "Lagi Beriya Piya Ke Avan Ki" Thumri 106 "Main Tere Sang Na" Pat Manjri 107 "Main Voh Badnasib Hoon" Ghazal 108 "Mat Kar Preet Hum Pacchtaye" Dadra in Mishra Kafi, Tal Kaharwa 109 "Mere Jahan Mohabbat Par" Ghazal 110 "Mora Balam Pardesiya" Thumri 111 "Mori Toot Gai Aas" Poorvi Dadra 112 "Muft Huye Badnaam Saanwariya Tere Liye" Dadra 113 "Na Ja Balam Pardes" Raga Mishra Khamaj Khaiyyam 114 "Najaraya Kahe Phere Re Balama" 115 "Nanadiya Kahe Mare" 116 "Nihur Nihure Balam" Thumri 117 "O Bedardi Sapne Mein Aa Ja" Dadra 118 "Papiha Dheere Dheere Bol" Dadra in Mishra Talang, Tal Kaharwa (Sawan) 119 "Pirai Mori Akhiyan" Dadra Raga Pilu 120 "Piya Nahi Aaye" Thumri in Mishra Gara, Tal Chaanchar 121 " Sajadon Ka Jabin Par Hai Nisha" Ghazal (Shaukat Tanvi) 122 "Sajani Ke Liye Tan Man Dhan" Geet 123 "Saqiya Chhod Na Khali" 124 "Shyam Na Aabtak Aaye" Dadra 125 "Sundar Sari Mori" Traditional 126 "Sunle Sajani Dilki Baat" Geet 127 "Tasveer Ban Gaya Hun" Ghazal 128 "Tu Hi Bharosa" 129 "Tum Jao Jao Jao Mose Na Bolo" Dadra Raga Khamaj 130 "Tune Bute Harjai" Ghazal 131 "Tum Jao Jao Mose Na Bolo" Dadra Raga Khamaj 132 "Unse Jab Tyori Badalkar" 133 "Usay Kis Taraha Se Sakun Ho" Ghazal 134 "Wafa Nahin Na Sahi" Ghazal 135 "Wafaon Ke Badle" Ghazal 136 "Woh Aa Rahein Hain" Ghazal 137 "Yun To Chahe Yahan Saheb" Ghazal
Bengali No. Song Composer Lyricist ref138 "Chupi Chupi Chole Na Giye" Robi Guha Mazumder Robi Guha Mazumder 139 "Jochona Koreche Aari" Robi Guha Mazumder Robi Guha Mazumder 140 "Ei Mousume Paradeshe" Robi Guha Mazumder Robi Guha Mazumder 141 "Koyelia Gaan Thama Ebar" Jnanprakash Ghosh Jnanprakash Ghosh 142 "Phiraye Diyo Na More Shunya Haate" Jnanprakash Ghosh Pulak Banerjee 143 "Phire Ja Phire Ja Bone" Robi Guha Mazumder Robi Guha Mazumder 144 "Phire Keno Ele Na" Jnanprakash Ghosh Jnanprakash Ghosh 145 "Piya Bholo Abhiman" Jnanprakash Ghosh Jnanprakash Ghosh
Gujarati No. Song Notes ref146 "Me Kari Tari" Ghazal 147 "Sun Jalun Ke Kooi Ni Jaaho Jalaali Thaaey Chey" Ghazal
Film 193319341935193619421945195319541956
+Key Denotes films that have no record of Begum Akhtar songs Film No. Song Composer Lyricist Director Notes/ref Nal O Damyanti (1933) 1 Naach Rang (1933) 2 Ek Din Ka Badshah (1933) 3 "Woh Asire-Daame-Bala Hoon" Moti Babu, N. R. Bhattacharya Shivshankar Shastri Rajhans Ameena (1934) 4 Mumtaz Begum (1934) 5 Jawani Ka Nasha (1935) 6 "Koyalia Mat Kar Pukar" Ramzan Khan Agha Jani Kashmiri Manjur Ahmad, Nazar Ajimabadi Jahanara (1935) 7"Paayi Fokat Ki Daulat Apni Khul Gayi Kismat" Master Chhailaram Solanki F. R. Irani8 "Ae Mere Khaibar Shakan Aka Madda Farmaiye" Master Chhailaram Solanki Naseeb Ka Chakkar (1936) 9 "Kaljug Hai Jabse Aaya Maya Ne Jaal Bichhaya" Brijlal Verma Munshi Haider Hussain Lucknowi Pesi Karani Roti (1942) 10 "Phir Faasle Bahar Aayi" Anil Biswas Safdar AahMehboob Khan 11 "Char Dinon Ki Jawani" Anil BiswasSafdar Aah 12 "Rahne Laga Hai Dil Mein Andhera Tere Bagair" Anil BiswasBehzad Lucknowi 13 "Ae Prem Teri Balihari Ho" Anil BiswasSafdar Aah 14 "Ulajh Gaye Nainwa" Anil BiswasArzu Lucknavi 15 "Wo Hans Rahe Hain Aah Kiye Ja Raha Hun Main" Anil BiswasArzu Lucknavi Panna Dai (1945) 16 "Fasle Gul Aayi Hame Yaad Teri Sataane Lagi" Gyan Dutt D. N. Madhok Ram Daryani 17 "Main Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke Rahungi" Gyan Dutt Diwan Sharar Daana Pani (1953) 18 "Ae Ishq Mujhe Aur Toh Kuch" Mohan Junior Kaif Irfani V. M. Vyas Ehsan (1954) 19 "Hamein Dil Mein Basa Lo Yeh Kehte Hain" Madan Mohan Kaif IraniR. Sharma Unreleased song Jalsaghar (1956) 20 "Bhar Bhar Aaye" Vilayat Khan Satyajit Ray
References
External links
Selected discography – 78 RPM records of Begum Akhtar (1914–1974)