Legendary singer Mubarak Begum Shaikh dead at 80

Legendary Bollywood playgback singer and ghazal maestro Mubarak Begum Shaikh passed away after prolonged illness at her residence late Monday night, a family member said.

Known simply as ‘Mubarak Begum’, the Rajasthan-born singer was a widow and breathed her last at 80.

She is survived by her son Hussain, daughter-in-law Zarina and granddaughter Sana with whom she was living for many years.

“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 moved to Mumbai 70 years ago and sang her first playback song in 1949 for the film “Aaiye” for which the music was composed by the late music director Nashad.

That was the launch of a notable singing career spanning over 110 films over four decades till the early 1980s.

Besides playback singing, she used to give regular stage performance and musical concerts.

Among her most memorable numbers were “Kabhi tanhaiyon me, hamari yaad ayegi” (Mahari Yaad Aayegi-1961); “Mujhko apne gala laga lo, ai mere hamrahi” (Hamrahi – 1963); “Neend udd jaye teri, chainse sone wale” (Juaari – 1968); “Wo na aayegi palat ke” (Devdas – 1955); “Wada humse kiya, dil kisiko diya” (Saraswatichandra – 1968).

Over the years, Mubarak Begum was beset 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, while recently Education Minister Vinod Tawde sanctioned her hospitalisation expenses.