Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born 26 September 1956) is a Pakistani playback singer. She is tagged as the "Nightingale of Pakistan". She was the top Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She is one of the most popular and successful singers of Pakistan. She won 3 Nigar Awards and a Pride of Performance in 2007.[1]
Naheed Akhtar | |
|---|---|
| ناہید اختر | |
 | |
| Born | 26 September 1956 |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1970–1992 |
| Awards | 3 Nigar Film Awards for Best Singer |
| Honours | Pride of Performance (2007) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Playback singing, Ghazal |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | |
Early life and family
editAkhtar was born on September 26, 1956, in Multan, Punjab. She has 3 sisters and 4 brothers. A sister of hers, Hameeda Akhtar, was also a singer.[2][3]
Singing career
editNahid's career began in 1970 when she sang a duet with Khalid Asghar in "Raag Malhar" at Radio Pakistan Multan. She has recorded songs in a range of styles, including Pakistani film music, pop, Ghazal, traditional Pakistani classical music, Punjabi folk songs, Qawwalis, Naat & Hamds and others. She was first discovered for films in the mid-1970s by veteran music director M. Ashraf who pursued her to sing in films. She had no well-known person as ustad (teacher) to train her musically but music director M. Ashraf played a key role in grooming her talent. Her inaugural film "Nanha Farishta" was released in 1974 and in the same year she sang songs in film Shama (1974). Initially it was said in the film circles that she was introduced to fill the vacuum of Runa Laila who had migrated to Bangladesh. But later people realized that she had her own original singing style. She was active in the Pakistani film industry all the way through the 1980s.[1][4]
As a playback singer, Naheed has given her voice to 590 songs in 436 Urdu and Punjabi films.
Personal life
editNahid left singing in 1986. Later, she married a journalist Asif Ali Pota in 1994. Both had a daughter and a son together. Pota died of cardiac arrest in 2017.[1]
Later appearances
editNaheed Akhtar made an appearance on stage in 2013, after repeated requests of the management of a TV show,[5] where active and popular singers like Shabnam Majeed and Saima Jahan sang her songs to pay tribute to her.[6] She stays busy with her family and children, and as of 2016[update], is not actively pursuing a singing career.
Popular songs
editA list of Nahid's popular songs includes:[1]
Film
edit| Song | Year | Film | Music composer | Poet | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aisay Mousam Mein Chup Kyun Ho | 1974 | Shama | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | |
| Kisi Mehrban Nay Aa Kay Meri Zindagi Saja Di | 1974 | Shama | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | |
| Lal Lal Honto Peh, Piya Tera Naam Hay | 1975 | Dil Nasheen | M. Ashraf | Masroor Anwar | |
| Main Ho Gei Dildar Ki, Honay Lagi Chubban Pyar Ki | 1975 | Teray Meray Sapnay | Kamal Ahmed | Younis Hamdad | |
| Allah Hi Allah Kia Karo Dukh Na Kisi Ko Dia Karo | 1975 | Pehchan | Nisar Bazmi | Masroor Anwar | |
| Tut Turo Tara Tara | 1975 | Mohabbat Zindagi Hai | M. Ashraf | Masroor Anwar | |
| Likh Di Ham Nay, Aaj Ki Sham, Aap Ki Khatir, Aap Kay Naam | 1975 | Neik Parveen | A. Hameed | Riaz ur Rehman Saghar | |
| Yeh Dunya Rahay Na Rahay Meray Hamdam | 1975 | Mera Naam Hay Mohabbat | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | co-singer with Mehdi Hassan |
| Dekha Jo Mera Jalwa To Dil Tham Lo Gay | 1976 | Talash | Nisar Bazmi | Masroor Anwar | |
| Bijli Bhari Hay Meray Ang Ang Mein | 1976 | Koshish | M. Ashraf | ||
| Pyar To Ik Din Hona Tha, Hona Tha, Ho Geya | 1976 | Kharidar | M. Ashraf | Kaleem Usmani | co-singer with A. Nayyar |
| Teray Siva Dunya Mein Kuch Bhi Nahin | 1976 | Shabana | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | |
| Jis Tarf Ankhon Uthaun, Teri Tasvira Hay | 1976 | Surraya Bhopali | Nashad | Saifuddin Saif | co-singer with Mehdi Hassan |
| Sathi Mujay Mil Geya, Mil Geya Mil Geya, Rasmon Ko Toren Gay | 1977 | Jasoos | Tafu | Fayyaz Hashmi | |
| Baant Raha Tha Jab Khuda, Sare Jahan Ki Naimten | 1978 | Nazrana | M. Ashraf | Qateel Shafai | |
| Sahalie Ni Piar, Pyar Meinu Hoya | 1985 | Mehndi | Wajahat Attre | co-singer with Noor Jehan |
Television
edit- Main Noo Soda Water
- Aati Hai Pawan Jaati hai Pawan
- Hamara Parcham Ye Piyara Parcham
- Kabhi Bindiya Hanse
- Shabe Gham Mujh Se Mil Kar
- Tumse Ulfat Ke
- Jahan Tera Naqsh e Qadam Dekhtay Hein
- Chaap Tilak Sab Chheen Li
- Do Nain Kanwal
- Zinda Rahein To kiya Hai
Radio
edit- Phir Chiraghe Lala Se Roshin Hue, (Kalam e Iqbal)
- Ik Kiran Muskhurati Huyi Ik Kiran,
Television programmes
edit| Name | Produced By | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Lok Tamasha (PTV)[4] | Uxi Mufti and Tufail Niazi[4] | 1972 |
| Sukhanwar (PTV) | Akhtar Waqar Azeem (Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV))[4] | 1972 |
| Sangat (PTV) | Rafique Ahmed Warraich | 1973 |
| Sur Sangeet (PTV) | Khawaja Najam ul Hasan | 1978 |
| Sukhan Fahem (PTV) | 1978 | |
| Mauseeqar (PTV) | Khawaja Najam ul Hasan | 1979 |
| Meena Bazar | 1979 | |
| PTV Awards | 1980 | |
| Meri Pasand (PTV) | Khawaja Najam ul Hasan | 1982 |
| PTV Awards | 1983 | |
| Neelam Ghar (PTV) | 1983 | |
| Rim Jhim (PTV) | Farrukh Bashir | 1984 |
| Jal Tarang (PTV) | Farrukh Bashir | 1985 |
| Sur Bahaar (PTV) | Farrukh Bashir | 1986 |
Awards and honors
edit| Award name | Category | Film | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigar Film Awards | Best Singer | Shama | 1974 | [7][8] |
| Nigar Film Awards | Best Singer | Pehchan | 1975 | [7][8] |
| Nigar Film Awards | Best Singer | Humse Hai Zamana | 1985 | [7][8] |
| Alami Urdu Conference New Delhi (India) | Best Ghazal Singer Award | |||
| PTV Award | Best Singer | Sur Bahaar (Musical programme) | 1997 | |
| Melody Queen Noor Jehan Award | Music | PBC | 2006 | [9] |
| Lux Style Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | 2007 | ||
| Pride of Performance Award | Arts | 2007 | [10] | |
| PTV Lifetime Achievement Award | Music | 2010 | ||
| Kemal-e-Fun Medal | Music | Lifetime Achievement | 2013 | [11][4][12] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Nahid Akhtar — the nightingale of Pakistan". Daily Times (newspaper). 7 November 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "معروف گلوکارہ ناہید اختر آج اپنی 64 ویں سالگرہ منارہی ہیں". express.com.pk. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "ناہید اختر -- دل کے تاروں کو چھو لینے والی آواز". Duniya News. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e She still has a lot to offer (Naheed Akhtar) Pakistan Press Foundation website, Published 16 June 2013, Retrieved 20 April 2020
- ^ "Naheed Akhtar to perform after two decades". Dawn. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "'Naheed Akhtar singing again after 22 years'". showbizpak.com. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards". Desi Movies. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Nigar Awards (1972 - 1986)". The Hot Spot Online website. 5 January 2003. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "National Excellence Awards 2006 distribution ceremony of PBC at Jinnah Convention Center". Pakistan Tribune. Pakistan News Service. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Civil awards given". Dawn (newspaper). Karachi. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "Down the memory lane with Naheed Akhtar". Pakistan Press Foundation website. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ Rs10 million cheque given to singer Naheed Akhtar Dawn (newspaper), published 14 February 2018, Retrieved 20 April 2020