Legendary playback singer Mubarak Begum dies at 80
Picture Courtesy- Yahoo
Legendary Bollywood playback singer and ghazal maestro Mubarak Begum Shaikh passed away after prolonged illness at her residence late Monday night.
Often referred to as ‘Mubarak Begum’, the Rajasthan-born singer breathed her last at 80. She is survived by her son Hussain, daughter-in-law Zarina and granddaughter Sana.
“She breathed her last around 10 p.m. on Monday night at her Jogeshwari home. She had been ailing and hospitalised frequently since over a year with various health problems,” her daughter-in-law Zarina Shaikh said on Tuesday.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday around 11 a.m. at the Oshiwara Muslim Kabrastan, Zarina added.
Born in Sujangarh, with proficiency in both Hindi and Urdu, Mubarak Begum launched her career with the All India Radio (AIR) with singing programmes and light musical recitals. She sang her first playback song in 1949 for the film ‘Aaiye’ for which the music was composed by the late music director Nashad. Her career spanned over 110 films across four decades.
Among her most memorable numbers were ‘Kabhi tanhaiyon me, hamari yaad ayegi’ (1961), ‘Mujhko apne gala laga lo, ai mere hamrahi’ (1963), ‘Neend udd jaye teri, chainse sone wale’ (1968), ‘Wada humse kiya, dil kisiko diya’ (1968).
Over the last few years, Mubarak Begum was faced with financial difficulties and her family had to appeal for monetary help to take care of her medical bills.
A few people, including Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and Bollywood superstar Salman Khan helped her out in times of dire need. In 2011, the Maharashtra government had sanctioned a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh for the singer’s treatment.
