Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born 26 September 1956) is 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. She is tagged as the "''Nightingale of Pakistan''". She was the top
Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She is one of the most popular and successful singers of Pakistan. She won 3
Nigar Awards and a
Pride of Performance
The Pride of Performance (), officially known as the Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sp ...
in 2007.
Early life and family
Naheed was born on September 26, 1956, in
Multan,
Punjab. She has 3 sisters and 4 brothers. A sister of hers, ''Hamida Akhtar'', was also a singer.
Singing career
Naheed's career began in 1970 when she sang a duet with Khalid Asghar in "
Raag Malhar" at
Radio Pakistan Multan. She has recorded songs in a range of styles, including Pakistani film music,
pop,
Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
, traditional Pakistani
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
,
Punjabi folk songs,
Qawwalis,
Naat & Hamds and others. She was first discovered for films in the mid-1970s by veteran music director
M. Ashraf who pursued her to sing in films. She had no well-known person as ''ustad'' (teacher) to train her musically but music director M. Ashraf played a key role in grooming her talent. Her inaugural film "Nanha Farishta" was released in 1974 and in the same year she sang songs in film ''Shama'' (1974). Initially it was said in the film circles that she was introduced to fill the vacuum of
Runa Laila who had migrated to
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
. But later people realized that she had her own original singing style. She was active in the Pakistani film industry all the way through the 1980s.
As a playback singer, Naheed has given her voice to 590 songs in 436 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 Punjabi films.
Personal life
Naheed left singing in 1986. Later, she married a journalist ''Asif Ali Pota'' in 1994. Both had a daughter and a son together. Pota died of cardiac arrest in 2017.
Later appearances
Naheed Akhtar made an appearance on stage in 2013, after repeated requests of the management of a TV show, where active and popular singers like Shabnam Majeed, Humaira Channa, Humaira Arshad, Fariha Pervez, Saira Naseem, A. Nayyar, Hamid Ali Khan and Saima Jehan sang her songs to pay tribute to her.
Popular songs
A list of Naheed's popular songs includes:
Film
Television
* ''Main Noo Soda Water Le De We Roz Baalma Kehndi ( Folk music of Punjab)''
* Shikar Dopehre Wangan Waala Aa Ni Gaya ( Folk music of Punjab)
* Aap Sass Palange Lait Dee (Folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...
)
* Sui We Sui Tanghi Saarhaane Meri Sass (Folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...
)
* Pehron Aas Na Paas Hai Koi Aisi Bhi Kya Veerani Ho (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
* Rut Rangeeli Aayi Kalli Kali Muskhayi (Pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Street, eds, ''iarchive:cambridgecompani00frit, The Cambridge Companion to Pop ...
)
* Nazar Se Nazar Kya Mili Zindagi Mil Gayi Ajnabi Ajnabi (Pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Street, eds, ''iarchive:cambridgecompani00frit, The Cambridge Companion to Pop ...
)
* Jaaneman Jaane Jaahan Bolo Na Kahan Ho Tum Bin Laage Sooni Sooni Shaam (Pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Street, eds, ''iarchive:cambridgecompani00frit, The Cambridge Companion to Pop ...
)
* Kuch Din To Basoo Meri Aankhon Main Phir Khwaab Agar Ho Jaao To Kya (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
* Aankhain Jhin Ko Dekhna Paayen Sapnon Mein Bikhra Dena (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
* Kyoon Dekhoon Main Aur Kissi Ko Woh Hain Jab In Aankhon Main (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
* Bohat Dinon Sey Mujhe Tera Intezar Hai Aa Jaa Aur Ab To Khaas Wahi (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
* ''Aati Hai Pawan Jaati hai Pawan (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)''
* ''Hamara Parcham Ye Piyara Parcham (National Song)''
* Tujh Sey Hum Mansoob Hain Aise Aasman Se Taare Jaise (National Song)
* Jug Jug Jiye Mera Pyara Watan Lab Pe Dua Hai Dil Main Laagan (National Song)
* Zindagi Apni Watan Ki Zindagi Ka Naam Hai (National Song)
* ''Kabhi Bindiya Hanse Kabhi Nain Hanse Geet (song)''
* Urtey Lamhon Ne Pehni Hai Dhanak Rang Ki Maala Geet (song)
* Ab Ke Saawan Bhichde Saathi Dil Ki Nagri Aana Waada Bhool Na Jaana Geet (song)
* ''Shabe Gham Mujh Se Mil Kar Aise Royi (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)''
* ''Tumse Ulfat Ke Takaze Na Nibhaaye Jaate (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)''
* ''Jahan Tera Naqsh e Qadam Dekhtay Hein (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)''
* ''Chaap Tilak Sab Chheen Li Re Mosay Naina Milaaike ( Sufi music)''
* ''Mere Roothe Sanam Tujhe Meri Kasam Na Jaana Dil Thor Ke, Music Composer ( Nisar Bazmi)''
* Thak Gayi Hai Nazar Chale Aao Chale Aao Hogayi Hai Saahar Chale Aao
* Ghannan Ghannan Ghann Gaarje Baadarwa (Classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
)
* Kat Hi Gayi Judaai Bhi Kab Yeh Hua Ke Mar Gaye (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
Radio
* ''Phir Chiraghe Lala Se Roshan Huye'', (Kalam e Iqbal)
* ''Ik Kiran Muskhurati Huyi Ik Kiran''
* Saawan Rut Main Tujhe Pukaaron Geet Milan Ke Geet (song)
* Jutti Kasuri Pehri Na Poori ( Folk music of Punjab)
* Kaala Doriya Kunde Naal Ariya ( Folk music of Punjab)
* Yeh Haadsaate Mohabbat Jahan Jahan Guzare (Ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
)
* Kahiye To Kiya Sunaon Afsana Zindagi Ka (Ghazal)
* Saat Rangee Meri Odhani Ka Ek Ek Rang Nirala Geet (song)
* Sajna Noon Kadi Jhutaa Laara Nai Laai Da ( Punjabi Music)
Television programmes
Awards and honors
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhtar, Naheed
Living people
Pakistani playback singers
People from Multan
Radio personalities from Lahore
Nigar Award winners
Recipients of the Pride of Performance
Pakistani radio personalities
20th-century Pakistani women singers
20th-century Pakistani singers
1956 births
PTV Award winners
21st-century Pakistani women singers
21st-century Pakistani singers