Sitara of Kanpur
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Sitara of Kanpur (aka Sitara Bai Kanpurvaali or Sitara Kanpuri) was born around 1920s. Sitara was introduced as playback singer by director W.Z. Ahmed in his film Man Ki Jeet (1944), who heard her singing on radio and noticed her attractive voice. According to W.Z. Ahmed “She was called to our studio and after her audition, a contract was signed with her. From then on she would sing exclusively for our company Shalimar Pictures. I was delighted with my new find”. Sitara sang for Neena (W.Z. Ahmed’s wife) in Man Ki Jeet (1944), Prithviraj Samyukta (1946), and Meera Bai (1947), all of them produced under the banner of Shalimar Pictures.
After partition, W.Z. Ahmed and Neena migrated to Pakistan and Sitara was free to sing for other banners. She sang for Pugree (1948), Apradhi (1949), and Rasheed Dulhan (unreleased film) and then disappeared into oblivion.
Note
Sitara of Kanpur is often confused with Sitara Devi (noted actress and Kathak dancer). There is also some confusion regarding another singer – Tara Bai of Lucknow. Some sources say that Sitara of Kanpur and Tara Bai of Lucknow were one and the same person and Tara was Sitara’s birthname. However, W.Z. Ahmed insists that Tara was Sitara’s sister and was way behind Sitara as far as singing capabilities were concerned. If you have any further information, please contact us at cineplot@yahoo.com or leave a comment – Ummer Siddique
(Information provided by Ashok Dhareshwar and Urzung Khan)
Listen!
Dil ki mayusi, Singer – Sitara of Kanpur, Music – Ghulam Mohammed, Film – Rasheed Dulhan, Year – Unreleased film – probably composed around mid to late 40s
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I think Rasheed Dulhan songs were in late 1940s.
In fact, I think Tarabai Ji was a singing star (though not very popular – she sang quite a small number of songs).
Her discoverer (composer) was S. K. Pal Ji, a popular name in the 1940s, and she was very dear to him, since he made mass use of her in many of his films. She sang all 13 (!) songs of Meerabai (1947) and also most (perhaps all) songs of Saajan Ka Ghar (1948).
Wasn’t the main singer of Prithviraj Samyukta (1946) Neena Ji herself (acoording to Geet Kosh)? Or did she actually get playback from Sitara Kaunpuri Ji?
She was sometimes addressed as Sitarabai, like some other popular singers of her period.
There was a discussion on Sitara and Tara on RMIM few years ago and if I remember correctly, no one was able to reached a definitive conclusion. Therefore, I posted the information as is.
I haven’t heard the songs of Prithviraj Samyukta.. but if Geet Kosh lists the singer as Neena.. then it might be Neena.
As far as Man Ki Jeet songs are concerned… they were sung by Sitara, but a special record version was also released in the voice of Neena.
Oh, I see….uou’re right, it is best left as it is.
Because Neena Ji even sang ~5 songs in Ek Raat (1942) which co – starred Prithviraj Kapoor Ji.
I know she was the singer of Man Ki Jeet songs and rendered them fabulously. It was a famous film and she had 5/7 songs. Interesting to know the version record of Neena Ji. BTW, as far as the list of films she sang in is concerned, she sang in just 7 films (not including Prithviraj Samyukta – 1946). We have mentioned, together, almost all: Man Ki Jeet (1944), Meerabai (1947), Pagdi (1948), Saajan Ka Ghar (1948), Apradhi (1949), Rangila Rajasthan (1949 – we missed this) and Rasheed Dulhan, unreleased film of 1940s (records released in 1950). This is in accordance to Geet Kosh.
She truly one of my favourite singers.