Nur Jehan
(1925–2000), South Asian singer. A singer of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent, Nur Jehan was a symbol of beauty and sensuousness for five decades. Born in the village of Damsel in Pakistan, she began her singing career at the age of five on a stage in Calcutta (Kolkata) and acted in a Punjabi movie at the age of nine. Her first film, Umeed (Hope), was made in 1941 and she migrated to Pakistan six years afterward. She achieved fame with the films Chaudhri (Village Chief), in Punjabi, and Khandaan (Family), in Urdu. Her dramatic talent, charming face, and resonant voice made her the heartthrob of South Asia.
Nur Jehan had remarkable stamina and could sing for hours. Her personal life was equally colorful. She was involved with such figures as Hassan Rizvi, Ejaz Durrani, and Yusuf Khan. Her death on 23 December 2000, after a protracted illness, created a void that will be difficult to fill. Future generations will continue to enjoy her films, such as Bari Maa (Elder Mother), Dost (Friend), Anomal Gharri (Priceless Time), Koel (Cuckoo), Lal Haveli (Red Palace), Mirza-Sahiban (Sir), Gaon Ki Ghori (Village Damsel), and Jugnu (Glow Warm), and will be captivated by her mellifluous voice.
Further Reading
Gazdar, Mushtaq. (1998) Pakistan Cinema: 1947–1997. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.
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