Farida Khanum (Urdu: فرِیدہ خانُم) is a Pakistani classical singer. She is also known by her honorific title Malika-e-Ghazal (The Queen of Ghazal) in both Pakistan and India[2] and is widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of the ghazal genre of singing.[3][4] Khanum has been affectionately called Queen of Ghazal in Pakistan.

Farida Khanum
فرِیدہ خانُم
Farida Khanum rehearsing in December 2005
Born
Farida Khanum

(1929-05-16) 16 May 1929 (age 95)
Other namesQueen of Ghazal[1]
Occupations
  • Classical singer
  • Actress
  • Ghazal singer
Years active1948 - present
Known forGhazalDadraKhyalThumri
Notable credit(s)Coke Studio Pakistan
Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV)
Radio Pakistan
Children6
RelativesAgha Hashar Kashmiri (brother-in-law)
Mukhtar Begum (sister)
Sheeba Hassan (niece)
AwardsPride of Performance (1970)
Hilal-i-Imtiaz (2005)

Early life

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Khanum was born in 1929 in Amritsar, British India, into a Punjabi Muslim family.[5] She had four siblings — a sister and three brothers. Her sister is the famous singer, Mukhtar Begum. Their entire family moved from Amritsar, Punjab, to Lahore, Pakistan, when she was 18 years old.[6][7]

She started learning Khayal, Thumri, and Dadra from Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan of Patiala gharana.[8][6] As a child, her sister Mukhtar Begum would take her to the Khan's place for regular riyaaz (practice of classical music).[6] Her family moved to Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947.

Career

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Farida Khanum gave her first public concert in 1950 at the very young age of 21, and then joined Radio Pakistan, where she gained recognition for herself.[9][6] She became a star when Pakistan's president Ayub Khan invited her to a public recital in the 1960s. Farida also acted in films, and she also sang songs for films. She has been a frequent performer on Pakistan Television and other Pakistani TV channels.[6] The ghazal she is most associated with is Aaj Jaane Ki Zidd Naa Karo, written by the famous poet Fayyaz Hashmi.[6][8] In 2015, at the age of 86, she sang this ghazal in Coke Studio Season 8.[10]

Khanum's live concerts in India have been very popular.[6] She visited Kabul, Afghanistan, in the late 1960s and early 1970s for concerts where she collaborated with Afghan musicians and sang Persian-language ghazals.[11]

Personal life

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Farida Khanum lives in Lahore, Pakistan. She has five daughters and one son.[10] Her niece, Sheeba Hassan, is also an actress.

Filmography

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Television shows

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Year Title Role Network
1983 Silver Jubilee Herself PTV

Film

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Year Film Language
1953 Sailab Urdu
1961 Sher-e-Islam Urdu
1963 Baji Urdu
1967 Main Woh Nahin Urdu
1968 Pakeeza Urdu
1969 Qasm Us Waqt Ki Urdu
1970 Pardesi Punjabi
1972 Bazi Jit Lei Punjabi
1973 Pyasa Urdu
1973 Dukh Sajna Day Punjabi
1974 Rano Punjabi
1979 Nishani Urdu

Discography

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  • 1978 Farida Khanum in Concert Vol. 1
  • 1979 Farida Khanum in Concert Vol. 2
  • 1980 Farida Khanum in Concert Vol. 3
  • 1985 Taghazzul Farida Khanum Vol. 1
  • 1993 Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 1
  • 1993 Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 2

Studio releases

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Year Title Album details Track listing
1993 Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 1 Digital release date: 9 April 1993
  • Label: EMI Pakistan
  • Genre: World Music
  • UPC: 829410843775
  1. Voh Ishq Jo Humse
  2. Sham-E-Firaq Ab Na
  3. Main Ne Pairon Mein Payal
  4. Raat Jo Tum Ne Deep
  5. Kuchh Ishq Tha Kuchh
  6. Voh Mujh Se Huwe
  7. Yun Saja Chand[8]
  8. Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo[8][6]
  9. Bairi More Nainan
1993 Farida Khanum: Meri Pasand Vol 2 Digital release date: 9 April 1993
  • Label: EMI Pakistan
  • Genre: World Music
  • UPC: 829410843874
  1. Mangwa De Jhumka
  2. Be Chain Bohat Phirna
  3. Suey Maikade Na Jate
  4. Dil Pe Ik Turfa Qayamat
  5. Uzr Aane Main Bhi
  6. Chand Niklee Kisi Janib
  7. Naina Re Naina
  8. Na Rawa Kahiye
  9. Es Tarah Qissa Mera

Compilations and live albums

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Year Title Album details Track listing
1978 Farida Khanum In Concert Vol. 1 Digital release date: 1 December 1978
  • Label: EMI Pakistan
  • Genre: World Music
  • UPC: 829410393676
  1. Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo[8][6]
  2. Mohabbat Karne Wale
  3. Dil Jalane Ki Baat
  4. Uzr Aane Mein Bhi
  5. Mere Hamnafas Mere
  6. Tum Aur Faraib Khao
  7. Sajan Lago Toori
  8. Kuch Ishq Tha
1979 Farida Khanum In Concert Vol. 2 Digital release date: 1 October 1979
  • Label: EMI Pakistan
  • Genre: World Music
  • UPC: 829410503570
  1. Chand Nikle Kisi Janib
  2. Wo Kabhi Mil Jayen To
  3. Chand Day Mora
  4. Na Aate Hamen
  5. Ashiq Ke Liye Yaksan
  6. Na Rawa Kahiye
  7. Mit Gaya Zoq-E-Yaqeen
  8. Tere Pyar Mein Ruswa
1980 Farida Khanum In Concert Vol. 3 Digital release date: 1 January 1980
  • Label: EMI Pakistan
  • Genre: World Music
  • UPC: 829410503679
  1. Dayar-E-Dil Ki Raat Mein
  2. Yeh Kya Ke Ek Jahan Ko
  3. Ab Na Sahoon Tori
  4. Naina Re Naina
  5. Dil-E-Muztar Ko
  6. Ya Rab Gham-E-Hijran Mein
1985 Taghazzul Farida Khanum Vol 1 Digital release date: 1 July 1985
  • Label: EMI Pakistan
  • Genre: World Music
  • UPC: 884385348106
  1. Dil Pe Ik Turfa Qayamat
  2. Asar Us Ko Zara Nahin
  3. Voh Ehad Ehad Hi Kya
  4. So Raha Tha To Shor
  5. Voh Kabhi Mil Jaen To
  6. Garmi-E-Shauq-E-Nazara
  7. Le Ke Voh Teghe Jafa
  8. Dil Mein Hamare
  9. Kis Ko Dhoondne Ghar
  10. Ki Wafa Ham Se To
  11. Lutf Voh Ishq Mein
  12. Chand Meri Tarah

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Result Title Ref.
1970 Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan Won Herself [11]
1974 EMI Silver Disc Awards Best Ghazal Singer Won Herself [11]
1980 Amir Khusrau Award Best Ghazal Singer Won Herself [12]
2000 PTV Award Best Singer Won Herself [13]
2005 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan Won Herself [10]
2005 Hafiz Ali Khan Award Best Singer Won Herself [10]
2007 The Times of India Malika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazal) Won Herself [14][10]
2017 5th Hum Awards Hum Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award Won Herself [15]
2021 20th Lux Style Awards Unilever Chairman's Lifetime Achievement Award Won Herself [16]

References

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  1. ^ "Farida Khanum: The Queen of Ghazal". Youlin Magazine. 24 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Khawaja Najamul Hassan Remembers Farida Khanum: The Queen of Ghazal: Part III". Youlin Magazine. 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ Shuaib, Haroon (2 February 2022). "Khawaja Najamul Hassan Remembers Farida Khanum: The Queen of Ghazal". youlinmagazine.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Farida Khanum sings Aaj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo on Instagram live". The Indian Express. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Farida Khanum loves coming to India". The Times of India. 23 May 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Song Sung True (Farida Khanum interview)". Indian Express (newspaper). 4 May 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Farida Khanum: Memories New and Old". ALL THINGS PAKISTAN website. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e Rajan, Anjana (13 November 2006). "When mood and melody merged". The Hindu (newspaper). Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  9. ^ Lahore : a musical companion. Lahore : Baber Ali Foundation. p. 75.
  10. ^ a b c d e Profile of Farida Khanum on Coke Studio (Pakistan) website Retrieved 13 July 2021
  11. ^ a b c "Farida Khanum: The Queen of Ghazal". Youlin Magazine. 18 January 2022.
  12. ^ Who's Who: Music in Pakistan. Xlibris Corporation. p. 87.
  13. ^ "PTV World Awards", PTV (News), archived from the original on 18 January 2022, retrieved 22 February 2022
  14. ^ "Fareeda Khanum: Made in India, queen of Pak music". The Times of India. 14 December 2005. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Farida Khanum given lifetime achievement award at 5th Hum Awards". Dunya News. 23 December 2021.
  16. ^ "20th LSAs dazzle and reward stars in fashion, TV and music". Daily Times. 17 October 2021.
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