Farida Khanum (Urdu: ) is a Pakistani classical singer. She is also known by her honorific title Malika-e-Ghazal (The Queen of Ghazal) in both Pakistan and India and is widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of the ghazal genre of singing.
Early life Khanum was born in 1934 in Calcutta, British India, into a Punjabi Muslim family. She had four siblings — a sister and three brothers. Her sister is the famous singer, Mukhtar Begum. Their entire family moved from Amritsar, Punjab, to Lahore, Pakistan, when she was 18 years old.
She started learning Khayal, Thumri, and Dadra from Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of Patiala gharana. As a child, her sister Mukhtar Begum would take her to the Khan's place for regular riyaaz (practice of classical music). Her family moved to Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947.
Career Farida Khanum gave her first public concert in 1950 at the very young age of 15, and then joined Radio Pakistan, where she gained recognition for her singing talent. She became a star when Pakistan's president Ayub Khan invited her to a public recital in the 1960s. Farida also acted in films, and also sang songs for films. She has been a frequent performer on Pakistan Television and other Pakistani TV channels. The ghazal she is most associated with is Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Naa Karo, written by the famous poet Fayyaz Hashmi. In 2015, at the age of 80, she sang this ghazal in Coke Studio Season 8.
Khanum's live concerts in India have been very popular. She visited Kabul, Afghanistan, in the late 1960s and early 1970s for concerts where she collaborated with Afghan musicians and sang Persian-language ghazals.
Personal life Farida Khanum lives in Lahore, Pakistan. She has five daughters and one son. Her niece, Sheeba Hassan, is also an actress.
Filmography Television shows YearTitleRoleNetwork1983 Silver Jubilee Herself PTV
Film Year Film Language 1953 Sailab Urdu 1961 Sher-e-Islam Urdu 1963 Baaji Urdu 1967 Main Woh Nahin Urdu 1968 Pakeeza Urdu 1969 Qasm Us Waqt Ki Urdu 1970 Pardesi Punjabi 1972 Bazi Jit Lei Punjabi 1973 Pyasa Urdu 1973 Dukh Sajna Day Punjabi 1974 Rano Punjabi 1979 Nishani Urdu
Discography 1978 Farida Khanum in Concert Vol. 1 1979 Farida Khanum in Concert Vol. 2 1980 Farida Khanum in Concert Vol. 3 1985 Taghazzul Farida Khanum Vol. 1 1993 Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 1 1993 Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 2
Studio releases Year Title Album details Track listing1993Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 1Digital release date: 9 April 1993 Label: EMI Pakistan Genre: World Music UPC: 829410843775Voh Ishq Jo Humse Sham-E-Firaq Ab Na Main Ne Pairon Mein Payal Raat Jo Tum Ne Deep Kuchh Ishq Tha Kuchh Voh Mujh Se Huwe Yun Saja Chand Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo Bairi More Nainan1993Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 2Digital release date: 9 April 1993 Label: EMI Pakistan Genre: World Music UPC: 829410843874Mangwa De Jhumka Be Chain Bohat Phirna Suey Maikade Na Jate Dil Pe Ik Turfa Qayamat Uzr Aane Main Bhi Chand Niklee Kisi Janib Naina Re Naina Na Rawa Kahiye Es Tarah Qissa Mera
Compilations and live albums
Year Title Album details Track listing1978Farida Khanum In Concert Vol. 1Digital release date: 1 December 1978 Label: EMI Pakistan Genre: World Music UPC: 829410393676Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo Mohabbat Karne Wale Dil Jalane Ki Baat Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Mere Hamnafas Mere Tum Aur Faraib Khao Sajan Lago Toori Kuch Ishq Tha1979Farida Khanum In Concert Vol. 2Digital release date: 1 October 1979 Label: EMI Pakistan Genre: World Music UPC: 829410503570Chand Nikle Kisi Janib Wo Kabhi Mil Jayen To Chand Day Mora Na Aate Hamen Ashiq Ke Liye Yaksan Na Rawa Kahiye Mit Gaya Zoq-E-Yaqeen Tere Pyar Mein Ruswa1980Farida Khanum In Concert Vol. 3Digital release date: 1 January 1980 Label: EMI Pakistan Genre: World Music UPC: 829410503679Dayar-E-Dil Ki Raat Mein Yeh Kya Ke Ek Jahan Ko Ab Na Sahoon Tori Naina Re Naina Dil-E-Muztar Ko Ya Rab Gham-E-Hijran Mein1985Taghazzul Farida Khanum Vol 1Digital release date: 1 July 1985 Label: EMI Pakistan Genre: World Music UPC: 884385348106Dil Pe Ik Turfa Qayamat Asar Us Ko Zara Nahin Voh Ehad Ehad Hi Kya So Raha Tha To Shor Voh Kabhi Mil Jaen To Garmi-E-Shauq-E-Nazara Le Ke Voh Teghe Jafa Dil Mein Hamare Kis Ko Dhoondne Ghar Ki Wafa Ham Se To Lutf Voh Ishq Mein Chand Meri Tarah
Tribute In April 2012, a special music concert "Malika-e-Ghazal" was held by Radio Pakistan, Lahore to pay tribute to her. It was attended by several notable personalities and broadcast from various stations.
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1970 Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan Herself 1974 EMI Silver Disc Awards Best Ghazal Singer Herself 1980 Amir Khusrau Award Best Ghazal Singer Herself 2000 PTV Award Best Singer Herself 2005 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan Herself 2005 Hafiz Ali Khan Award Best Singer Herself 2007 The Times of India Malika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazal) Herself Profile of Farida Khanum on Coke Studio (Pakistan) website Retrieved 13 July 2021 2017 5th Hum Awards Hum Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award Herself 2021 20th Lux Style Awards Unilever Chairman's Lifetime Achievement Award Herself
References
External links
Farida Khanum's 2015 performance at Coke Studio (Pakistan)