Noor Jehan was the biggest singing star of them all - the diva of Bollywood in the 1940s till Independence. Born in the Kasur area of Punjab in 1926, she was fascinated by singing since the age of six. She idolized Akhtari Begum and Kajjanbai and the former advised her to first learn classical music. Thus she first perfected her classical singing under Ghulam Mohammed Khan.
She entered films as a child artiste in small roles before being seen prominently in the Punjabi film Gul-e-Bakavali (1939). However she was first noticed in a big way in Khandaan (1942) where her song Tu Kaunsi Badli Mein Mere Chand Hai Aajaa became a huge hit. She married her Khandaan director Shauqat Hussain Rizvi and worked in many of his films.
Following Khandaan's success Noor Jehan shifted to Bombay. She soon conquered India's film capital with her vibrant voice. She had that unusual combination of a good voice, a style that could perhaps be compared to those of good classical thumri singers and the striking stage presence of a good performer. Hit followed hit - Dhuai (1943), Naukar (1943), Nadaan (1943), Dost (1944), Badi Maa (1945), Village Girl (1945) and Noor Jehan was the number one female star in India.
Fortunately for her, her timing was perfect. The uninhibited culture of the heroines of the 1930s was drawing to a close and a more conservative heroine was coming to the fore. In Zeenat (1945) she popularized the qawali as never before with Aahein Na Bhari Shikwein Na Kiye sung with another famous singer of those days, Zohra Ambala.
Noor Jehan reached her peak in India the following year with Mehboob Khan's Anmol Ghadi (1946) which boasted of three singing stars cast together - Noor Jehan, Surendra and Suraiya. The result was a musical feast composed by maestro Naushad and Noor Jehan's duet with Surendra Aawaaz De Kahaan Hai and her solos Jawaan Hai Mohabbat, Mere Bachpan ke Saathi, Kya Mil Gaya Bhagwan and Aaja Meri Barbad Mohabbat ke Sahare are hummed and remembered till today. In fact, Lata Mangeshkar's early singing style was inspired by Noor Jehan even though the latter's weighty vocals were a far car from Lata's thin voice.
Following Mirza Sahibaan (1947) and Jugnu (1947) with Dilip Kumar, Noor Jehan migrated to Pakistan following Partition. Though India's top star and despite much pleading from close friends in the Indian Film Industry to stay back in India, she opted for the newly formed smaller nation as she wanted to be with the country where her birthplace, Kasur, was. Jugnu, was in fact the breakthrough film for both Dilip Kumar and Mohd Rafi whose duet with Noor Jehan - Yahaan Badla Wafaa Ka established him as a leading male playback singer in Bollywood.
However the Pakistani Film Industry was in tatters following Partition. It took Noor Jehan till 1951 to come out with her first film there, Chan Wey, in Punjabi. She was also credited as Director (since husband Shauqat Hussain Rizvi was 'ashamed' to direct a Punjabi film) thus becoming Pakistan's first woman director. Chan Wey was a box office smash on both sides of the border in Punjab with the Wey Mundiya Sialkotia song fondly recalled by nostalgic old-timers even today. Followed Dopatta (1952), an even bigger success.
The music for Dopatta, as for Jugnu and Chan Wey was composed by Feroz Nizami. Songs like Chaandni Raatein, Tum Zindagi ko Gham ka Fasana, Sanwaria Tohe Koi Pukare, Jigar ki Aag and Main Ban Patang Ud Jaaoon are some of the most memorable songs in Noor Jehan's career and was a hat-trick of hits with her and Nizami. Her following film Gulnar (1953) disappointed at the box office though it did re-unite her with mentor Ghulam Haider and produced lilting songs like Bachpan ki Yaadgaron and Lo Chal Diye Woh.
Noor Jehan remained a singing star till 1961 in both Punjabi and Urdu. Some of her well known films included Patay Khan (1955), Intezar (1956), Anarkali (1958), Chhoomantar (1958), Neend (1959) and Koel (1959) before doing her last film as an actress, Ghalib (1961). Of these special mention must be made of Intezar and Koel which are still considered among the all time great musicals in the history of Pakistani Cinema.
The music for these films was composed by Khwaja Khursheed Anwar. Lata Mangeshkar rates Intezar as her favourite Pakistani film, musically. Noor Jehan was at the peak of her vocal talents in these films with songs like Jis Din se Piya, O Jaanewaale Re, Saawan ki Ghanghor in the former and Dil ka Diya Jalaya, Rhim Jhim Rhim Jhim Pade Pohar, Tere Bina Sooni Sooni, O Bewafaa, Sagar Roye Lehrein Shor Machaayein and Mehki Fizaayein in the latter. Koel was her last big success as an actress and she was presented at her glamorous best. In fact Noor Jehan even appeared in a swimsuit in the film!
By now Noor Jehan's marriage to Shauqat Hussain Rizvi was over and she married actor Ejaz Durrani, nine years younger than her in 1959. In between she did hit the headlines several times with her 'affairs' ,in particular with cricketer Nazar Mohammed. Durrani was not keen for her to act and so Noor Jehan quit acting. And got into playback singing with Salma (1960).
Some great Urdu musical films Noor Jehan sang for include Qaidi (1962) - Mujhse Pehlisi Mohabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang (considered the greatest Urdu song ever and poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz was so impressed of her rendition, he gifted her the poem!), Baji (1963) - Dil ke Afsaane, Lakhon Mein Ek (1967) - Chalo Achcha Hua, Salgirah(1969) - Le Aayi Phir Kahaan Pe. In particular she made a great voice for Shamim Ara, Pakistan's leading actress in the 1960s.
Noor Jehan's Punjabi hits of the period include Mirza Jat (1967) and Heer Ranjha (1970), considered one of the finest films to come out of Lollywood and without doubt one of the all time great musicals from across the border. The latter's music composed by Khursheed Anwar contains divine compositions like Chan Mahiya, Sun Wanjhli di Mithri Taan Wey, Chham Chham Nachaan and Zulfaan di Thandi Thandi among others. And when the India-Pak war of 1965 broke out, Noor Jehan braved curfew and sang the soul stirring Ae Watan ke Sajeele Jawan and Mariya Dhol Sipaaya to boost the morale of the troops.
Her second marriage too broke up in 1971 as Ejaz got involved with his Heer Ranjha heroine, Firdaus. This led to Noor Jehan boycotting Firdaus and not singing for her, thus effectively ending Firdaus's career. In the 1970s and 80s Noor Jehan cut down on her Urdu films and concentrated more on Punjabi songs. Some well known songs of this period include Saanu Nehar Waaley Pul te Bulaake, Tu Weh Mahi Chaila, Neendar Nahin Aandi, Jaa Ajj Tu Main Teri etc. In fact, no Punjabi film was complete if Madam Noor Jehan had not sung in it!
In 1982 at a function held to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Indian Talkie, the Mallika-e-Tarranum (Queen of Melody) came back to India and enthralled audiences as she sang Awaaz De Kahaan Hai…
In 1996, Noor Jehan recorded her last song in Pakistan which was Ki Dam Da Bharosa for the film Sakhi Badshah (1996) and stopped singing due to failing health and newer trends in music. She stayed away from the limelight for four years during which she received treatment at various hospitals. She passed away in Pakistan on December 23, 2000 due to heart failure. She is survived by six children, three from each marriage. Quoting a report on her death,
"She died in the arms of her loving daughters in Karachi - the daughters she had brought up as a single parent. Leaving behind millions in gold and cash for her children and thousands of immortal melodies for her fans, she had embarked on her last journey. The falling night of December 23, 2000, was the holiest night of the month of Ramadaan, a night when sins are forgiven and when the doors of heaven are flung wide open. Noor Jehan, who never sang in her life without advance payment, was leaving for the Hereafter with booked promises."
Noor Jehan received many awards, including with the highest Pakistani honour in entertainment, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (The Pride of Performance) in 1966, Pakistan's top civil award and countless cultural awards.