HELLO
SANGEET KA SAFAR HAVE REQUEST TO MUSIC LOVER PLEAS PLEAS

HELP TO SINGER MUBARAK BEGUM JI. SHE NEED HELP FROM ALL
MUSIC LOVER. THIS STORY IS THERE NOW.
Begum’s despair


Yesteryear singer Mubarak Begum's sorry condition only highlights the unpredictable nature of life


Back to Section Stories Posted On Friday, January 18, 2008

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Deeptiman Tiwary

For about two decades Mubarak Begum was the voice for music directors who looked for singers with depth and range in rendition. The singer, who breathed life into eternal songs such as 'Kabhi tanhaiyon mein hamari yaad aayegi' and 'Mujhko apne gale lag lo ae mere humrahi', is today living a hand-to-mouth existence in the cramped bylanes of Jogeshwari.

Her small house with paint peeling off its walls in Sultanabad Society in Jogeshwari tells the tale of a journey that has been more painful than glorious. Saddled with a daughter suffering from Parkinson's disease and her own daily need of medicines owing to old age, Begum lives on the paltry earnings of her son who drives two taxis and Rs 700 a month pension from the government. “Sometimes my fans send money, which provides some relief,” says a dejected Begum.

Begum was one of the most sought after singers in Bollywood during the '50s and '60s. Artistes of her time believed that Begum was a far better singer than Suraiya, who she idolised. In 1956 when she recorded 'Kabhi Tanhaiyon mein hamari yaad aayegi' for Kidar Sharma's Hamari Yaad Aayegi, Sharma listened to the entire song with closed eyes. He then rewarded her with 25 paise. “It was a great honour. I still have the coin. I was first hesitant to take it, but as people said it was a sign of luck, I took it,” remembers Begum fondly.

Sharma's lucky coin, however, did not help Begum for too long. In the early '70s, Begum's work load nose-dived and ultimately stopped. Begum blames the death of her career to internal politics in the film industry. “I was a victim of politics. There were a couple of singers who appropriated all singing contracts for themselves and ruined not only my career but of several others like Vani Jairam and Suman Kalyanpur. I refused to bootlick as I had a lot of self-respect. That's what cost me my career,” says an angry Begum.

A career in the dumps was not the only problem for Begum. Her husband Jagannath Sharma too had left her after dabbling in film production. From '70s till late '90s, Begum was supported by her younger sister Mumtaz after which her son took care of her. “I used to feel bad that my sister had to support me, but I had no choice. I once went to a record company asking for work. They asked me to come with 5,000 blank cassettes and then they would release my music. That was so humiliating. Industry people and former colleagues would sometimes send humiliating cheques of Rs 500 out of pity. I didn't need all that. I wanted work,” adds Begum.

Today, Begum can barely make ends meet. “My son earns little and has his own family to care of. I can't keep asking him for money. My expenses are ever increasing because I have to take care of my health as well as my daughter's. I need over Rs 5,000 every month for our medicines alone,” says Begum.

Reminiscing a sad incident she says, “Once I didn't have money and I desperately needed medicines. I called up a yesteryear star for help, who promised to help only when I furnished a doctor's prescription.”

Although Begum has turned bitter after struggling for years, she still smiles with the zeal of a child when appreciated for her singing talents. She doesn't think twice when asked to sing. “It is because of my fans that I am surviving. Some of them organise shows for me once in a while and I get to earn Rs 1000-1500.”

The house that she lives in presently was also due to the benevolence of people like late Sunil Dutt and lyricist Javed Akhtar who helped her get a flat allotted in her name from the government after family squabbles left her almost homeless when she had to sell her Grant Road house four years ago.

Her youthful melody is still intact in her voice but notes of happiness are still evading Mubarak Begum as she sums up her life in these words- 'Kya kahen sham-e-gham ka haal shaiji / Waqt guzara nahi guzaara hai.'

VOICES


Lata Mangeshkar

Mubarak Begam had a very good voice and had her own style of singing. We have sung many duets together, some for Shankar-Jaikishan as well. In the past, I had very good relations with her and we would often sit and chat after recordings. She is also a very good human being.

Her song Kabhi Tanhayion Mein Humari Yaad Aaegi was a big hit and still rings in the head. It's sad that she is living a life in penury. Unfortunately we haven't been in touch for the past few years.

Asha Bhonsle

The best thing about Mubarak Begam was her Urdu diction. It was flawless. She also had a very good voice and had a unique style of singing. People say she copied Suraiya, but I disagree. Suraiya was a very simple singer; Begam was far more accomplished. She had a greater range and sustained high pitched renditions beautifully.

She could sing everything from ghazals to qawwalis to simple semi-classical songs too. We have sung many songs together for Iqbal and Madan Mohan. I feel sad to hear she has been living in such bad conditions. But that's how this industry is; you never know when you will fall out of favour. I would personally like to meet her and help her in whatever way I can.

Javed Akhtar

It is sad that once an artist with great talent, skill and fame has to suffer like this in her last years. But this is the story of most artistes in our industry. Every performing artiste has a limited career after that the voice starts giving way and fingers become numb. There are only a handful of artistes, who keep going on even in their old age. Not everyone is blessed with such strength. Artistes are pride of a nation and the government should do something about their welfare.

There should be an insurance policy that covers artistes and provides them financial security in their old age. The industry should also come together and organise charity shows to help build funds that will help waning artistes. It's really unfortunate that many luminaries of the industry like Begum are living a life of penury during their old age. It is a social responsibility that we must all take up.



• I can't keep asking my son for money. My expenses are ever increasing because I have to take care of my health as well as my daughter's – Mubarak Begum

1-Mubarak Begum (left) with her daughter, Shafaque Bano
2- lata JI
3- asha JI
4-javed akhter JI


DHALL

ThIS is very sad no music lover says any words to MUBRAK BEGUM.\
bhgwan hi malik hai jo duniya ko chala raha hai, bad day come to evry body any time -
Waqt din aur hai, waqt se dar ke rahan chey pata nahi bura time kab kis per aa jaye.

dhall

see here what about to her>>>>Your Comments


Some of the articles written for the glory days of 1950s and 1960s are including too much hype and less of facts. For example, the author of this articles states that "Begum was one of the most sought after singers in Bollywood during the
'50s and '60s. Artistes of her time believed that Begum was a far
better singer than Suraiya, who she idolised."

NOT TRUE! Mubarak Begum's songs can be counted on the fingertips! She was not much sought after artist! Sought after artist was Lataji and when she refused the MDs went to others! Even Ashaji who sang maximum number of songs than anybody, could not be considered "much sought after artist!"

Only song that clearly comes to mind in the 1950s (actually 1958) was Madhumati's song composed by Salil Da "Hum hale dil sunayenge" But this song will probably be the last one remembered amongst all Madhumati songs!

Then this writer has audacity to state that Mubarak Begum being "FAR BETTER THAN SURAIYA" Give me a break! MB never enjoyed the mega star status of Suraiyaji! People used to crowd around and completely block traffic for hours whereever Suraiya went in her heydays. You never heard of any fans of MB anywhere in Mumbai! You want to compare the voices of the two? Go ahead and you will find of songs of Suraiya where MB can't match. In Mirza Ghalib "Yeh na thi hamari kismat" or her last song in 1963 in Rustom Sohrab (1963) "Yeh kaisi ajab dastaan ho gaye hai" are mind boggling!Suraiya had dozens of other songs that are classics. MB doesn't even come close!

The writer of the article needs to check his/her facts carefully. It is stated that " In 1956 when she recorded 'Kabhi Tanhaiyon mein hamari yaad aayegi' for Kidar Sharma's Hamari Yaad Aayegi" This film and the song was not in 1956 but in 1961! This film was not known for anything except that great Kidar Sharma introduced his son as a hero and this was his first and last film! Even from this film the songa that became popular than the MB song was Mukesh-Lata beautiful duet "Sochta hoon yeh kya kiya meine" and Mukesh songs "Ankho mei teri yaad liye" and a chorus song with MB "Farishto ki nagari mei mein aa gaya hoon"

Many have accused MB of manipulating some of these facts and that is other side of the story! I would not be surprised if this writer listened to MB and wrote the piece. The fact is rather than being "highly sought after artist" - that is, using this phrase quite loosely there were more successful female PB singers in 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, MB fits at the tail end of popularity, this is from someone who imbibed in all Hindi Film Music and enjoyed all singers and all composers for that period.

Poverty of these artists is real and MB and others definitely need help. But let us not mix their economic needs with their stature as artists. Saira Banuji has been quite active for years helping these senior and retired artists and there a few others but not many of the same stature as Sairaji. Ignoring the plight of these artists in Bollywood was happening in 1940s, 50s, and 60s. During partition in the 1940s many MDs suffered immense pain and difficulty without any support. In 1950s many of the stars of 1940s died in miserable poverty. It was and is industrywide problem and quietly Sairbanuji is helping but there are not many like her.

Chander Mehta
- Contributed by Chander Mehta , csmhouston@hotmail.com on Saturday, January 19, 200809:17 AM



It would be good if you give her address in the article where help could be sent with her dignity intact!Other solutions are longterm that would not help her!
- Contributed by Sudhir Trivedi , sudee123@hotmail.com on Friday, January 18, 200810:45 PM



i personally am in no position to comment on such luminiaries as i dont know them. but its really sad and heartning to see such a state of them.

but its an accepted fact that artists behind the camera are not paid as much as the ones in front of them. though they are the ones who actually make them what they are.

however things are rapidly changing no and am happy for that.

as for begum sahiba, MM i hope you do the little you can do by helping them in any possible way.

god bless her with happy times.
- Contributed by Bhavdeep Singh Chadha , bhavdeep@aol.in on Friday, January 18, 200809:18 PM



if such big people say such big things about the singer then why cant they help her

- Contributed by Tanvi , amitashinde@hotmail.com on Friday, January 18, 200808:59 PM

The important thrust of the article appearing in Mumbai Mirror today has been ignored above, and it points out the fact of machination and rampant commercialisation of Bollywood in the Seventies - the decade to which even a legendary singer such as Rafi Sahaab was sought to be sacrificed though very unsuccessfully.
The minor ones naturally fell by the way side and these included Suman Kalyanpur, Sudha Malhotra, and Mubarak Begum. This is what she has pointed it out.

It was the title song of the Begum by which the flop movie HAMARI YAAD AAYEGI is chiefly remembered. Her song: BEMURAWWAT BEWAFA BEGAANA-E-DIL AAP HAIN... (from SUSHILA) is simply rapturous and enough to immortalize her. She cannot be just wished away. There were her songs in such movies as DAERA, ARZOO, HAMRAHI, and others. Yes, unfortunately in MADHUMATI (Hamm Haale Dil..)and DEVDAS (Woh Na aayenge Palatkar) were unwarrantedly truncated.

True she idolised Suraiya but then don't forget that Asha Bhonsle has termed the latter only as a "simply singer" in comparison to the Begum. In terms of stardom of course Suraiya is the heaven and Mubarak begum at nadir. That's about it.

Personally, I've had the pleasant experience of being her audience at the Liberty Cinema when she was young and I a kid.

NASIR.