MUMBAI: It’s the end of an era in Hindi cinema as the music industry has lost its priceless gem. Veteran playback singer Shamshad Begum, who was the voice behind classics like ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’, ‘Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar’ and ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala’, passed away on 23 April in Mumbai after prolonged illness.

The funeral was conducted yesterday night with friends and admirers in Andheri east. "She was not keeping well for past few months and was admitted to the hospital. She passed away on Tuesday night. The funeral was a solemn affair with a few friends present," Begum's daughter Usha said.

The singer, aged 94,  was living with her daughter Usha Ratra and son-in-law in Mumbai, ever since her husband Ganpat Lal Batto died in 1955.

Begum, who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry, was a big fan of KL Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times. She made her debut on Peshawar Radio in Lahore on 16 December 1947, captivating hearts of millions of her listeners with her enchanting voice. She had of course rendered songs in the pre-Partition days from Peshawar and Lahore radio stations.

She earned 15 rupees per song and was awarded 5,000 on the completion of the contract on Xenophone, a renowned music recording company. She promised her father that she would never appear before the camera, and so forged a long and successful camera in the recording studio. Until the end of the 1970s, nobody knew her face at all, though everybody could recognise her melodious voice as it was used by the great maestros like Naushad Ali and OP Nayyar.

Begum became a national rage between the early 1940s and the early 1960s, having a voice different from her peers like Noorjehan, Mubarrak Begum, Suraiya, Sudha Malhotra, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt and Amirbai Karnataki.

Even today, her songs from the 1940's, 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s are popular and continue to be remixed. Without any formal lessons in music, she had a distinct inimitable voice.

In 2009, Begum received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour. The same year, she also received the OP Nayyar award for her contribution to the world of film music.

Condoling the death of Begum Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister Manish Tewari today said, "The film industry has lost one of its most versatile singers. Shamshadji's style of singing set new benchmarks. Her melodious voice with powerful lyrics gave us songs that have remained popular even today.”

"Her death is an irreparable loss, a void which will be difficult to fill," he added.

In their first song together Lata Mangeshkar was a part of the chorus while Begum was the main singer!  She tweeted: "Aaj subha mujhe pata chala ki mashhoor playback singer shamshad begumji humare beech nahi rahi, ye sunke mujhe bohot dukh hua, maine unke saath kafi filmo mein gaane gaaye, wo bohot acchhi hasmukh aur sidhi saadhi shakhsiyat thi, main unko shraddhanjali arpit karti hun."

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted: "The golden voice of Shamshad Begum, playback singer of great eminence in some of the most historic film songs... now silent...RIP."

Some of her memorable songs:-

• Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar, (CID 1956)

• Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana (CID)

• Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar (Aar Paar)

• Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon (Patanga)

• Chod Babul Ka Ghar (Babul)

• Kajra Mohabbatwala Ankhiyon Mein Aisa Dala (Kismat)

• Mehfil Mein Qismat (Mughal-E-Azam)

• Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re (Bahar)

Radioandmusic salutes the legend  for her remarkable contribution to the Indian music industry.  Undoubtedly, we will miss her existence but she will live in the hearts of her aficionados with her soulful and everlasting melodies.