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One of the most popular musicians in the
Indian subcontinent, Begum Akhtar was an eminent ghazal, thumri, dadra
and bhajan singer. She had a distinctive, easily identifiable style of
singing. The notes which she produced were so limpid, so hauntingly
sweet, that the audience was immediately captivated. She would render it
so endearingly that her every note would grip the hearts of the
audience. During her recitals, whenever she reached a high note her
voice would crack, considered by connoisseurs the highlight of her
recital. The audience would wait eagerly for that pleasing crack in her
voice!
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Begum Akhtar, called the Queen of Ghazals, has also composed some
ghazals. She gave her first performance at a charity show in aid of
Bihar flood victims in 1921. Though only seven years old at that time,
she sang continuously for six hours. Begum Akhtar possessed all the
qualities that are so vital for a good ghazal singer. She had the
uncanny ability of choosing the right kind of ghazal and adorning it
with a befitting tune.
Begum Akhtar was born in 1914 in Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh. Her
musical training began under Atta Ahmed Khan of Patiala. She was not
very keen on learning classical music but learnt it in order to sing the
lighter forms, like ghazals, bhajans, thumris and dadras. Her art was a
vivid portrayal of the pure Lucknowi traditions of the nawabs dating
back to the 18th and 19th centuries. She died in August 1974.
Begum Akhtar acknowledged Ramzan Khan, Ata Mohammad Khan, Abdul Wahid
Khan and Barkat Ali as her gurus.
She was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1972.
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