An icon looks back
SYEDA FARIDA
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Many songs, many more awards and a recent feather added to her cap. Padma Bhushan Shamshad Begum in an exclusive tête-À-tête.
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Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Fond memories: Reminiscing the past.
A peaches and cream complexion dotted with a few gemstones for finger rings and an elegant demeanour is what greets you for a first impression of the popular singer of the pre 70s era. Known for her unique style of rendition, Shamshad Begum has had a
line of hits and blockbusters to her credit. A racy ‘Kajra mohabbat wala’ from Biswajeet-Babita starrer “Kismat”, the title track ‘Chod babul ka ghar’ and ‘O gadiwale’ from Nargis Dutt’s “Mother India” did get her a tremendous fan following and laurels.
Talking of an era where there was “competition with the self” and where each artist had his/her niche, and when directors were unbiased, Shamshad Begum takes us down memory lane and back to the now with the same chutzpah.
When you look back, how interesting was playback singing then, in terms of remuneration and as art?
There were amazing and thorough professional music directors then who directed you through the song. There was a lot of respect for the artist. In terms of remuneration you were paid anywhere between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 4,000 if you were a popular singer. Then the fee varied based on the grade of the artist.
Weren’t you interested in acting?
I had offers back when I started with the radio. I even attended a screen test for Panjoli Art and was selected as theheroine in one of their films. I approached my father with the news. He was very upset and threatened to stop my playback singing as well. That is the reason I did not have my pictures taken or splashed in newspapers for 50 years.
The scenario seems different today…
The changes that have happened in the past 40-50 years have been most remarkable when it comes to women’s emancipation. Girls have gone ahead in various fields and are doing well for themselves. It was difficult for us back then even to opt for playback singing.
You have worked with noted music directors and had a very good equation with Prithviraj Kapoor, Kishore Kumar… Tell us about those times.
It was interesting working with the doyens. I sang for various music directors Ghulam Haider, O.P. Nayyar, S.D. Burman and others. I did over 22 hit songs for Naushad. In fact I sang for 12-20 of his films that celebrated Silver Jubilee. Ditto for C. Ramchandra’s films that played for over 25 weeks in cinema halls then.
You sang the
‘Meri jaan….Sunday ke Sunday’
composed by C. Ramchandra.
(Smiles) Yes it was a fusion song then and had a newness in its style. The other day on television I heard the NECC commercial where it says ‘
Roz khao anday’. It was an unusual parody but at the same time I felt happy to hear the song in the new perspective.
Talking about new forms, most of your songs such as ‘Mere piya gaye Rangoon’, ‘Kabhi aar kabhi par’ and ‘Leke pehla pehla pyar’ have been remixed today.
Bada acha lagta hai. (It feels very good). These are the songs that I sang with a lot of lagan. That they are still going strong is a great thing. I am told by television houses that 75 per cent of my songs have been remixed.
Do you watch a lot of television?
I have made Mumbai my home. And here I watch a great deal of television. The serials are quite nice. My favourites are “Kasamh se” and “Saath phere”. I don’t like melodrama. Whenever there is a sad scene I close my eyes.
While on television, the reality shows today offer platform to singers. How is it justified they being good or bad as singers?
The Reality Show is a very good trend. Artists today took the television route to playback singing. It is not like the earlier times when we had to pass the auditions and then wait for a call from the studio. Today it is the aam junta that listens to the singer and votes. Eventually they are the people who will buy the albums from the shelves.
How much of current cinema have you seen?
There was one film that caught my imagination for its sets, acting and music, “Jodhaa Akbar”. A well made film. I have seen few films but my memory fails me with the titles and cast. I don’t seem to remember much at 90 now!
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