Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan | |
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نور جہاں | |
Born | Allah Rakhi Wasai 21 September 1926 |
Died | 23 December 2000 | (aged 74)
Resting place | Gizri Graveyard, Karachi |
Nationality | British India (1926–1947) Pakistani (1947–2000) |
Other names | The Nightingale of The East Queen of Hearts[1] Daughter of Nation[2] The Nightingale of Punjab[3] |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1930 - 2000 |
Notable work |
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Style | |
Title | "Malika-e-Tarannum" (Queen of Melody) |
Spouses | |
Children | 6 , including Zil-e-Huma, Nazia Ejaz Khan |
Parents |
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Relatives |
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Awards | 15 Nigar Awards |
Honours |
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Noor Jehan, sometimes spelled Noorjehan[4][5] (born Allah Rakhi Wasai (Punjabi / Urdu: اللہ رکھی وسائی); 21 September 1926 – 23 December 2000[6][7]) also known by her honorific title Malika-e-Tarannum (Queen of Melody), was a Pakistani playback singer and actress who worked first in British India and then in the cinema of Pakistan. Her career spanned more than six decades. Considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers in the Indian subcontinent, she was given the honorific title of Malika-e-Tarannum in British India.[5] She had a command of Hindustani classical music as well as other music genres.
Along with Ahmed Rushdi, she holds the record for having given voice to the largest number of film songs in the history of Pakistani cinema. She recorded about 10,000 songs in various languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, and Sindhi.[8] She sang a total of 2,422 songs in 1,148 Pakistani films during a career that lasted more than half a century.[9] She is also considered to be the first female Pakistani film director.[10]