Woman who sang in Bollywood films for 60 years dies in Mumbai after suffering ill health, says daughter
The singer Shamshad Begum, whose lilting voice charmed fans of Bollywood films for more than 60 years, has died at the age of 94. The singer's daughter, Usha Ratra told local media that Begum died in Mumbai on Tuesday after a period of declining health.
"The golden voice of Shamshad Begum, play back singer of great eminence in some of the most historic film songs âĶ now silent âĶ RIP," the Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan wrote on Twitter.
Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab, and started her career on radio in 1947 before singing for the movies. Her most memorable songs include Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon from the 1949 film Patanga and Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar from the 1956 hit "CID".
Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat, her duet with India's most famous playback singer Lata Mangeshkar in the 1960 blockbuster Mughal-E-Azam is still often played on Indian radio.
"I am saddened to hear of the death of Shamshad Begum. I have sung with her in several films and she had a pleasant and simple personality," Mangeshkar wrote on Twitter.
Begum received the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards, in 2009.
