Naseem Begum (

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

, ; 9 November 1942 – 5 March 1990), known professionally as Mala (), was a

Pakistani Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...

playback singer A playback singer, as they are usually known in South Asian cinema, or ghost singer in Western cinema, is a singer whose performance is pre-recorded for use in films. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and the performers lip-sync the ...

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

and

films. In the 1960s, Mala was one-half of the 'hit pair for singing duet film songs' with famous playback singer

Ahmed Rushdi Ahmed Rushdi (; 24 April 1934 – 11 April 1983) was a versatile Pakistani playback singer and was "an important contributor to the Cinema of Pakistan#The Golden Era (1959–1977), golden age of Pakistani film music". Regarded as one of the gr ...

and they gave numerous hits to Pakistan film industry. She was also called ''Princess Mala Begum'' as she provided the singing voice for actresses who portrayed roles of royal and upper-class families in films. She sang many popular film songs during a singing career spanning almost three decades in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Early life

Mala's given name was Naseem Begum. She was born on 9 November 1942 in Faisalabad, Punjab. She was the younger sister of music composer '' Shamim Nazli''.

Career

Mala was interested in singing and music from a young age. Her elder sister ''Shamim Nazli'' happened to be her first music teacher and Naseem learned the basics of music from her. On her sister's request, music composer, Baba Ghulam Ahmed Chishti recorded two songs for the

film ''Aabroo'' (1961) in Mala's voice. However, the film flopped. Despite the fact that her elder sister got her a break in films, it was the film producer

Anwar Kamal Pasha Anwar Kamal Pasha (), (23 February 1925 – 13 October 1987) was the pioneer in the Pakistan film industry and an early Pakistani film director and producer from Lahore, Pakistan. Life and career Pasha was a graduate from the Forman Chri ...

who persuaded Naseem to try her luck and not give up on the

Pakistani film industry The film industry of Pakistan, consisting of motion pictures, has had a large effect on Pakistani society and culture since the nation's independence. Pakistani cinema is made up of various sub-industries, including Lollywood, which mak ...

. Her first hit in films came in 1962. She changed her name to Mala and sang a simple Urdu composition, ''Aaya re dekho'' for the film ''Sooraj Mukhi'' (1962). The music was composed by

Master Abdullah Master Abdullah ( Punjabi, ), (1930 – 31 January 1994) was a Pakistani film music composer. He is known for his music in movies like, "''Badla''" (1968), "''Commander''" (1968), " Ziddi" (1973), and "''Sheeshay Ka Ghar''" (1978). Early life a ...

. In 1962, Mala rendered her voice to a tragic Urdu composition, for the film (1962). The music was composed by ''

Master Inayat Hussain Master Inayat Hussain (Punjabi language, Punjabi, ; 1916 – 26 March 1993) was a Pakistani film music composer. Early life and career Inayat Hussain was born in the Bhati Gate area of Lahore in 1916. He also lived in the Lohari Gate, Laho ...

''and the song was picturised on actress Yasmin and this film song ended up being a popular song of 1962. The film song lyrics were written by

Qateel Shifai Muhammad Aurangzeb or Qateel Shifai (; 24 December 1919 – 11 July 2001) was a Pakistani Urdu poet and lyricist. Early life and career Qateel Shifai was born in Haripur District as Muhammad Aurangzeb in 1919 in British India (now Pakistan).< ...

. Additionally, Mala's greatest accomplishment was the film song 'Akele Na Jaana' in the film

Armaan (1966 film) Armaan () is a 1966 Pakistani black-and-white film produced by Waheed Murad and directed by Pervez Malik. It was the first Pakistani film to complete 75 weeks in cinemas and, thus, became the first Pakistani (Urdu) "Platinum Jubilee" film. The ...

. Mala teamed up with music director

Sohail Rana Sohail Rana (born 31 March 1938) is a Pakistani music composer for films and television. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi sang his compositions in such films as ...

and film songs writer

Masroor Anwar Masroor Anwar (6 January 1944 – 1 April 1996) was a ghazal poet, film song lyricist and a film screenwriter. He wrote the lyrics for 'Ko Ko Korina', South Asia's first pop song, and working alongside Sohail Rana, film director Pervez Mal ...

.
Besides

Urdu language Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

film songs, she also sang many memorable popular film songs for films in the

Punjabi language Punjabi, sometimes spelled Panjabi, is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. It is one of the most widely spoken native languages in the world, with approximately 150 million native sp ...

Personal life

''Mala'' married twice but both of her marriages failed miserably. She had a daughter from husband ''Muhammad Ashiq Butt'' who was a film producer and she named her daughter after her musical iconic film,

Naila Naila is a town in the Hof district of Bavaria, Germany. It lies in the Franconian Forest. Naila is from the larger city of Hof, on both banks of the Selbitz river. History The earliest documentation of Naila was recorded on 9 January 1343. ...

Death

Mala died on 5 March 1990 and was laid to rest at

Miani Sahib Graveyard The Miani Sahib Graveyard ( Punjabi, ) is the largest graveyard in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. It is in the centre of Lahore. Its origins date back to the Mughal era, making it one of the oldest graveyards in the region. Miani Sahib Graveyard ...

, Lahore. Later her sister was also buried near her grave.Pakistani playback singer Mala remembered
Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 7 March 2013, Retrieved 27 September 2022

Popular film songs

* "Sapnon mein urri urri jaaoon", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by

Rasheed Attre Abdul Rasheed Attray (15 February 1919 – 18 December 1967), also known as Rasheed Attre, was a Pakistani film score composer. Early life and career Rasheed Attre was born in Amritsar, Punjab Province (British India), Punjab, British India in ...

in film ''Mehboob'' (1962) * "Dil deta hai ro ro duhai kisi se koi pyar na kare", Sung by Sain Akhtar Hussain and Mala, lyrics by

, music by ''

'' in film ''Ishq Par Zor Nahin'' (1962) * "Mein nein tau pareet nibhai, saanwaria re nikla tu harjai", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

Himayat Ali Shair Himayat Ali Shair (; 14 July 1926 – 15 July 2019) was an Urdu poet, writer, film songwriter, actor and radio drama artist from Pakistan. He received the 2002 Pride of Performance Award for his literary services in Urdu literature from the pres ...

, music by

Khalil Ahmed Khalil Ahmed (3 March 1936 – 22 July 1997) was a Pakistani composer for radio, television, and films. He started his career with film ''Aanchal (1962)'' and remained one of the leading music directors in Pakistan in the 1960s. He compos ...

in film ''Khamosh Raho'' (1964) * "Taangay walia sawari aan mein teray haan dee", Sung by Mala, lyrics by ''Hazeen Qadri'', music by

Ghulam Ahmed Chishti Ghulam Ahmed Chishti (Punjabi, ), (often abbreviated to G.A. Chishti) (Punjabi, ), (17 August 1905 – 25 December 1994) was a Pakistani music composer, attributed as being one of the founders of Indian and Pakistani film music. He is also some ...

in film ''Daachi'' (1964) * "Jaa re bedardi tu nein kahin ka hamein na chhorra", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

Fayyaz Hashmi Fayyaz Hashmi (; 1920 2011) was a Pakistani poet and screenwriter who worked both in the Indian and Pakistani film industry. He penned some memorable songs such as the famous nazm Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo and ''Tasveer teri dil mera behel ...

, music by ''A. Hamid'' in film '' Ashiana'' (1964) * "Chunni kaisri tay gottay dian dhaarian", Sung by Mala, Naheed Niazi and

Irene Perveen Irene Perveen also spelled as Irene Parveen is a Pakistani playback singer from the 1960s, who mainly sang for Pakistani films. She gained popularity for her film song, "''Tumhi ho mehboob mere''" for movie ''Aaina'' (1966). Career In the beg ...

, lyrics by ''Tanvir Naqvi'', music by ''Master Inayat Hussain'' in film ''Lai Lag'' (1964) * "Reham karo ya shah-e-do-aalam" Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by ''A. Hamid'' in film ''

Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak () is an Arabic phrase that means "blessed feast or festival". The term is used by Muslims all over the world as a greeting to celebrate Eid al-Fitr (which marks the end of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (which is in the month of Dhu al-H ...

'' (1965) * "Chhadd challi babula terian mein gallian", Sung by Mala, lyrics by ''Hazeen Qadri'', music by

in film ''Malangi'' (1965) * "Ballay ballay wai lokaan paahnay phull uddia", Sung by Mala and others, lyrics by ''Hazeen Qadri'', music by

in film ''Malangi'' (1965) * "Mujhe arzoo thi jiski who paigham aa gaya hai", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by ''Master Inayat Hussain'' in film ''

'' (1965) * "Gham-e-dil ko inn aankhon sey chhalak jana bhi aata hai", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by

in film ''Naila'' (1965) * "Dil ke veraanay mein ik shama hai roshan kab se", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by ''Master Inayat Hussain'' in film ''Naila'' (1965) * "Ab thandi aahein bhar pagli, jaa aur mohabbat kar pagli", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by ''Master Inayat Hussain'' in film ''Naila'' (1965) * "Saaz-e-dil chhaira hai humne, hukam tha kuchh gaaeay" Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by ''Safdar Hussain'' in film '' Pardah'' (1966) * "Yeh samaan pyaara pyaara, yeh hawaain thandi thandi", Sung by Mala, lyrics and music by ''Bashir Ahmed'' or (B. A. Deep) in film ''

Darshan Darshan, a Sanskrit word meaning "sight" or "viewing", may refer to: Ceremony and religion * Darshan (Indian religions), the auspicious sight of a divine image or holy person; also a school of Hindu philosophy * Darshan (Judaism), a Scriptural ...

'' (1967) * "Shama ka shola bharak raha hai", Sung by Mala, lyrics by ''Mushir Kazmi'', music by

Nisar Bazmi Nisar Bazmi (1 December 1924 – 22 March 2007) was a composer and music director of Indian and Pakistan film industry. Nisar Bazmi was known as one of the accomplished musician of South Asia. He also introduced new singers like Alamgir and Me ...

in film ''Aadil'' (1966) * "Akelay na jaana hamein chorr kar", Sung by Mala, lyrics by ''Masroor Anwar'', music by

in film '' Armaan'' (1966) * "Chanda se milnay chali hai chakori", Sung by Mala and Firdausi Begum, lyrics by ''Akhtar Yousuf'', music by

Robin Ghosh Robin Ghosh (, ; 13 September 1939 – 13 February 2016) was a Pakistani-Bangladeshi playback singer and film music composer, best known for singing and composing music for Lollywood films from 1961 to 1986. Robin Ghosh had a notable contributi ...

in film ''

Chakori ''Chakori'' ( ), is a Pakistani Urdu feature film. This film was released on 22 March 1967 on Eid-ul-Azha Day in Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The film was directed by Captain Ehtesham. It was Nadeem's and Shabana's debut film. The ...

'' (1967) * "Ni lang jaana assaan dilaan te paer dhar ke", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

Ahmad Rahi Ahmad Rahi (12 November 1923 – 2 September 2002) was a Punjabi people, Punjabi poet and writer from Pakistan. Early life He was born 12 November 1923 in Amritsar, British India. His real name was Ghulam Ahmad, a name given by his spiritual ...

, music by ''Rehman Verma'' in film ''Sassi Punnun'' (1968) * "Tujhay piyar ki qasam hai", Sung by Masood Rana/Mala, lyrics by Suroor Barabankvi, music by Karim Shahabuddin in film ''Chand Aur Chandni'' (1968) * "Mohey aaii na jag se laaj, mein itna zor se naachi aaj, ke ghunghroo tuut gai", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

, music by

in film ''Naaz'' (1969) * "Kisne torra hai dil hazoor ka", Sung by Mala, lyrics by

Khawaja Pervez Khawaja Pervez (; 28 December 1930 – 20 June 2011) was a prominent Pakistani film composer- lyricist and film songwriter for both Urdu and Punjabi language, Punjabi language films. His birth name was Khawaja Ghulam Mohiuddin. His professional ...

, music by ''Kamal Ahmad'' in film ''Rangeela'' (1970) * "Chalo kahin duur, yeh samaj chorr dein", Sung by Mala and

Mehdi Hassan Mehdi Hassan Khan (; 18 July 1927 – 13 June 2012), known as Mehdi Hassan, was a Pakistani ghazal singer and playback singer of great renown. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of ghazal singing, ...

, lyrics by

Habib Jalib Habib Jalib (; 24 March 1928 – 13 March 1993) was a Pakistani revolutionary poet and left-wing political activist who opposed martial law, authoritarianism, military dictatorship and state oppression. He wrote several poems in Punjabi and ...

, music by ''A. Hamid'' in film ''Samaaj'' (1974)

Awards and recognition

References

External links

* (Mala's filmography at the Internet Movie Database website) {{DEFAULTSORT:Begum, Mala 1942 births 20th-century Pakistani women singers 20th-century Pakistani singers Pakistani ghazal singers Pakistani radio personalities Nigar Award winners 1990 deaths Pakistani playback singers People from Faisalabad Urdu-language singers Punjabi women Singers from Faisalabad Pakistani classical singers Punjabi-language singers Women ghazal singers Radio personalities from Lahore People from Punjab Province (British India)

Early life

Career

Personal life

Death

Popular film songs

Awards and recognition

See also

References

External links