Munni Baji (Urdu: منی باجی) of Radio Pakistan (1929 – 14 May 2007) was a Pakistani artist who remained associated to the radio for almost 45 years and retired in 1993, but worked on contracts till 1998. She received Ilyas Rashidi's Nigar Award for her services.[1][2]
Munni Baji | |
|---|---|
| منی باجی | |
| Born | Parveen Akhtar 28 February 1929 |
| Died | 14 May 2007 (aged 78) |
| Other names | Munni Baji[1] |
| Years active | 1942 – 2007 |
| Relatives | Maqsood Hassan (brother)[1] |
| Awards | Ilyas Rashidi Lifetime Achievement Gold Medal[1] |
Early life
editShe was born Parveen Akhtar in Shimla, Punjab, British India in 1929.[3] Even as an adult, she was just 50 inches tall and had a child-like voice.[1] She started her career as a comedian in Delhi as a radio artist on All India Radio in the early 1940s.
Career
editShe migrated to Pakistan with her family in 1947. Munni Baji first lived in Lahore in order to claim the lost property through the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Government of Pakistan. She was introduced to Radio Pakistan, Karachi by the poet Behzad Lucknavi who was a family friend and was already working for Radio Pakistan.[1] While there, she worked for two years on radio in Lahore, as a drama artist with the help of Zia Jullundri, another radio personality.[1][4]
In 1955, after receiving the lost property, she shifted to the Ratan Talao area in Karachi along with her family. Her residence was just behind the Radio Pakistan building. In Karachi, she had people that she knew from Delhi. Veteran broadcaster Z. A. Bokhari was a friend of her grandfather and helped her a lot. Her grandfather who was allotted a canteen at the government offices, handed over the canteen to her brother Maqsood and her.[1]
She temporarily left the Radio work in order to run the canteen. However, she later returned to Radio Pakistan in 1958.[1]
She accepted the kid roles in dramas for Radio Pakistan due to her child-like voice. She did many drama serials including Qaid-e-Havas and Zanjeer Bolti Hai. She also did children programme Naunehaal, for more than 30 years whose name was later changed to Bachchon Ki Duniya.[5] Bachchon Ki Duniya is still remembered by the young-ones of the 1970s and 1980s.[6] During the same period, she regularly voiced in children's radio program called "Tot Batot" from Radio Pakistan Karachi. Bachon ki Duniya and Tot Batot were produced by Syeda Naz Kazmi (producer at Radio Pakistan Karachi).[7] She once did a TV programme Badon Ke Liye for a private company.[1]
Her poor health forced her to retire in 1993 but she worked on contracts till 1998 and 2007.[1]
Personal life
editMunni did not marry and had devoted all her life to raising her two brothers and sister and her younger brother Maqsood Hassan was also an actor.[1]
Illness and death
editShe died from heart failure on 14 May 2007 in Karachi and was laid to rest at Milk Plant graveyard.[1][2]
Tribute
editQazi Wajid paid tribute to her calling her a big sister and supporter.[1] Talat Hussain described her a great artiste that she inspired many generations who also said that he was an admirer of her work.[1]
Awards and recognition
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | Title | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Nigar Award | Ilyas Rashidi Lifetime Achievement Gold Medal | Won | Herself | [1] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Hasan Mansoor (15 May 2007). "KARACHI: Radio legend Munni Baji dies". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ a b Munni Baji dies at 75 Business Recorder (newspaper), Published 15 May 2007, Retrieved 26 October 2021
- ^ "A nostalgic look back at Radio Pakistan". The News International. 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Munni Baji of Radio Pakistan". getpakistan.com website. 1 August 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "ARTSPEAK: EDUTAINMENT FOR CHILDREN". Dawn Newspaper. 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Radio Pakistan The Forgotten Jewel of Bunder Road". Mag - The Weekly. 23 June 2022.
- ^ "The History of Radio in Pakistan". DESIblitz. 12 February 2022.