July 25th, 2010

Rajkumari – Profile

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Profile – Interview

Solo Song List | 1931 – 1940 | 1941 – 1950 | 1951 – Onwards |

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Rajkumari began her career as a singer on All India Radio, way back in 1934. HMV contacted her for an album in Gujarati. Initially she started working as an actress in Hindi films. Her first major role was in Balwant Bhatt’s Nai Duniya (1934) produced under the banner of Prakash Pictures. She played important roles in many films produced by Prakash Pictures including Bombay Mail (1935). Bombay ke Sethani (1935), Azad Veer (1936), and Snehlata (1936). In these films, she was paired opposite Jayant – father of famous villain Amjad Khan.

Later she switched to playback singing and sang for many leading composers including Anil Biswas, O.P Nayyar, Gyan Dutt, Shyam Sunder, S.D. Burman, Naushad and Roshan. she remained a particular favorite with Roshan, who used her voice in Bawre Nain (1950), Anhonee (1952), Raag Rang (1952) and Naubahar (1952). Her famous songs include Ghabra ke and Ek teer chala from Mahal (1949), Nazroun mein samane sai from Hyderabad ki Nazneen (1952), Kajrari matwali from Nau Bahar (1952), Mere roothe huwe chanda from Bawre Nain (1950). She also sang with K.L. Saigal in Bhakt Surdas (1942) and Noor Jehan in Naukar (1943). The last song she sang was a bhajan for Gulzar’s Kitaab (1977) composed by R.D. Burman. One of her last public performances was in 1996, when she received the Aashirwad Navratna Award. She also appeared in the popular music-based programme Sa Re Ga Ma – Ummer Siddique

Bollywood . Singing Stars