Nurjehan (b. 1929)'
Hindi-Urdu and Punjabi actress and singer born in Kasur village, Punjab. Studied music under Ghulam Mohammed Khan. Stage actress in Calcutta as a child, and introduced to films apparently by Sukhlal Karnani of Indra Movietone. Joined films when still a child in Punjabi productions of K.D. Mehra and featured prominently in Pancholi’s hit musical Gul-e-Bakavali. Married film-maker Shaukat Hussain and acted in many of his films, including Khandaan, Naukar and Jugnu, the latter co-starring Dilip Kumar and produced by their own Shaukat Art Prod. V.M. Vyas brought her to Bombay (1942) to act in Duhai. She returned to Lahore after Partition, acting in e.g. Imtiaz Ali Taj’s Gulenar and Shaukat Hussain’s Laila, both scored by Ghulam Haider; she also produced Chanway. Known as the Melody Queen, almost all her Bombay films were hits with extremely popular music, and she remained a leading playback singer in Pakistan, notably in Punjabi productions. Best remembered for her songs Awaaz de and Jawan hai mohabbat in Mehboob’s Anmol Ghadi and for Yahan badala wafa ka in Jugnu. As a singer, she is often considered Lata Mangeshkar’s predecessor. Recorded two parts of the musical series ‘Taranum’ in the 1980s/90s in Pakistan.
FILMOGRAPHY: 1935: Gaibi Gola; Misar Ka Sitara; Azadi; Sheila; 1936: Nariraj; 1937: Mr 420; Taranhar; Fakhr-e-Islam; Kiski Pyari; 1938: Heer Syal; 1939: Gul-e-Bakavali; Sassi Punnu; 1940: Yamla Jat; 1941: Choudhury; 1942: Khandaan; 1943: Naukar; Duhai; Nadaan; 1944: Dost; Lal Haveli; 1945: Badi Maa; Bhaijan; Village Girl; Zeenat; 1946: Anmol Ghadi; Dil; Humjoli; 1947: Jugnu; Mirza Sahiban; 1951: Chanway; 1952: Dupatta; 1953: Gulenar; 1955: Patey Khan; 1956: Lakht-e-Jigar; Intezaar; 1957: Nooran; 1958: Chhoo Mantar; Anarkali; 1959: Pardesan; Neend; Koel; 1961: Ghalib; 1963: Baji.