The vibrant life of one of Pakistan’s most iconic figures and one of the most recognisable and legendary voices Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan is set remembered on her 95th birth anniversary on Thursday. The entertainment industry and her fans alike will pay tribute to her trailblazing services for the country’s entertainment industry that transcended borders and continues to withstand the test of time.
In a career spanning over six decades, Madam Noor Jehan ruled the film industry and recorded about an astonishing ten thousand songs for Urdu, Punjabi, and Sindhi films. Madam Jehan was not more than just a playback singer as she continues to entertain thousands with her melodious ghazals long after her death.
In 1957, at the age of 31, Noor Jehan was awarded President’s Award in recognition of her acting and singing prowess.
She was born Allah Wasai into a family of musicians in Kasur, Punjab on September 21, 1926. After the independence, Madam Noor Jehan moved to Lahore from Bombay and continued her career in Pakistan. She worked in Pakistan’s film industry as an actress, singer and the first Pakistani film director, with “Chann Wey” in 1951.
Noor Jehan is still revered as one of the greatest and most influential singers of South Asia, even 21 years after her death. She was given the title of Malika-e Taranum by the music fraternity. During the Indo-Pak war of 1965, her moving voice not only enthralled the soldiers on the front but also raised the spirit of patriotism among the common citizens to stand behind their armed forces.
She was later honoured with Tamgha-e Imtiaz from the Pakistan Army for raising the morale of the forces during the 17-day long war.
Madam Noor Jehan died at 74 years of age on December 23, 2000, due to heart failure. She is buried in the Gizri Graveyard in Karachi.
