Contents
Noor Jehan
Her expressive playback singing across Indian and Pakistani cinema, earning the title Queen of Melody.
Anmol Ghadi · Chann Wey
- Born
- 21 September 1926
- Birthplace
- Kasur, present-day Pakistan
- Died
- 23 December 2000
More people
Noor Jehan
Noor Jehan was a singer and screen star whose career crossed the partition of British India. Her voice carried classical training into popular film songs, ghazals and patriotic music.
Early life
Musical family
Born Allah Wasai in Kasur and began performing as a child.
Vocal training
Studied classical singing while developing a career in theatre and film.
Career
- 1930s
Child performer
Sang and acted in Punjabi films made in Calcutta.
- 1940s
Leading star
Became a prominent singer and actor in Bombay cinema.
- 1947–1950s
Move to Pakistan
Settled in Lahore and continued acting, singing and directing.
- 1960s onward
Playback career
Concentrated increasingly on recording songs for other screen performers.
Selected work
Anmol Ghadi
Sang songs including Awaaz De Kahan Hai while playing a leading role.
Chann Wey
Starred in and co-directed a Punjabi film in Pakistan.
Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat
Her interpretation brought Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poem to a wide musical audience.
Beyond music
National recognition
Received Pakistan’s Pride of Performance in 1965.
Musical family
Her daughter Zille Huma also became a singer.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Radio Pakistan: birth anniversary ↗Ministry of Information: film history ↗Photo: FilmIndia. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
