Noor Jehan: The supreme soprano

By Anis Ahmed Shakur

Jigar ki Aag say is dil ko jalta dekh tay jaa O
Miti jaati hai armano ki duniya dekh tay jaaO
Esee din kay liye bolo tumhay kya hum nay chaha tha
Keh hum barbaad hoan aur tum tamasha dekh tay jaaO

With the passing away of Noor Jehan, an entire generation of Pakistani female playback singers has now become history.

It is hard to imagine that the pantheon of female singers, who made the Pakistani movie music industry a great form of entertainment is now a bygone era.

First to cross over was Naseem Begum, in 1973, then we lost Mala in 1990 and now Noor Jehan, too, is gone.

Perhaps, the very facade of popular Pakistani music has ended with the demise of Noor Jehan.

These are changing times and trends. Just think of the music we hear nowadays, which is so different to the classic music which our ears were accustomed to hearing, during the grand era of Pakistani film music.

The legendary performer who delivered flawless lyrics was none other than Noor Jehan, who, in keeping with her temperament, passed over quietly on December 23, 2000, at the age of 74.

Born in Kasur, nurtured in the lap of the music world in Calcutta and exposed in her teens, to the artistic atmosphere of Bombay film industry, Noor Jehan embarked upon a singing/acting career in 1935 with total confidence and know-how.

Noor Jehan received hundreds of awards, numerous titles and world-wide recognition in her sixty year music career.

Presented here below are one hundred and one selected songs of the supreme soprano, about whom Pakistan's renowned composer, Nisar Bazmi, had said:

Noor Jehan is unrivaled
Noor Jehan is incomparable

1. 'Lang Aaja pattan chana da yaar' (film: Sheela as pind di kurri,Punjabi, 1935,the first film song of Noor Jehan)
2. 'Sohna desaan wichoon des punjab'(film: Heer Sayyal, punjabi,1938)
3. 'Shala jawaniyaan manay' (film: Gul Bakawli, punjabi, 1939)
4. 'Pinjray wichh qaid jawani' (film:Gul Bakawli, punjabi, 1939)
5.'Kankaan diyaan pakki yaan' (film:Yamla jutt, punjabi 1940)
6. 'Aa sajna we dil dey challiyay (film:Yamla jutt, punjabi, 1940)
7. 'Babul we chal pind noo challiyay (film: Yamla jutt, punjabi, 1940)
8. 'Bas bas we dholna, teray naal ki bolna (film: Chowdhary, punjabi, 1941)
9. 'Tu kon si badli mein meray chand hai Aaja' (film: Khandaan, urdu, 1942)
10. 'Badnaam mohabbat koan karay' (film: Dost, 1944)

11. 'Aahein na bhareen shikwa na kiya' (film: Zeenat, 1945, first female qawwali with Zohra Bai Anbalay wali and Kalyani).
12. 'Aandhiyaan gham ki yoon chali keh baagh ujar key reh gaya' (film: Zeenat, 1945)
13. 'Bulbulo muth ro yahan par Aansoo bahana hai mana' (film:Zeenat, 1945)
14. 'Naacho sitaro ab chand nikal nay wala hai'(film:Zeenat,1945)
15. 'Baithi hoon teray khayal mein'(film: Gaon ki gori, 1945)
16. 'Kis tarah bhoolay ga dil' (film: Gaon ki gori, 1945)
17. 'Sajan pardesi, balam pardesi'(film:Gaon ki gori, 1945)
18. 'Diya jala kar Aap bojhaya' (film:Bari Maan, 1945)
19. 'Aa intezar hai tera' (film: Bari Maan, 1945)
20. 'Tum hum ko bhula baithay'(film: Bari Maan, 1945)
21. 'Aa baad-e-saba kuchh tu nay suna' (film:Bhai Jaan, 1945)
22. 'Chup kay say dil mein' (film: Bhai Jaan, 1945)
23. 'Apnay na ho sakay jo' (film: Bhai Jaan, 1945)
24. 'Aawaz dey kahan hai,duniya meri jawan hai' (film:Anmol ghari, 1946,Noor Jehan-Surindar)
25. 'Jawan hai mohabbat, haseen hai zamana' (film: Anmol ghari, 1946)
26. 'Kiya mil gaya Bhagwan tujhay dil ko dukha kay'(film: Anmol ghari, 1946)
27. 'Aaja meri barbaad mohabbat kay saharay (film: Anmol ghari, 1946)
28. 'Meray bachhpan kay saathi mujhay bhool na jana' (film: Anmol ghari, 1946
29. 'Aaja tujhay gham ka fasana sunaoon' (film:Mirza Sahiban, 1946)
30. 'Kiya yehe tera pyar tha' (film:Mirza Sahiban, 1946)
31. 'Yahan badla wafa ka bay wafai kay siwa kiya hai' (film:Jugnu,1947,Noor Jehan-Rafi)
32. 'Aaj ki raat saaz-e-dil-e-pur dard na chhair' (film: Jugnu, 1947)
33. 'Hamain tou sham-e- gham mein kaatni hai zindigi apni' (film:Jugnu, 1947)
34. 'Tum bhi bhula dou main bhi bhula doon' (film: Jugnu, 1947)
35. 'Umangein dil ki muchleen' (film: Jugnu, 1947)
36. 'Chandni raatain, ho chandni raatain' (film: Dopatta, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1952)
37. 'Chun chun nachoon gee' (film:Dopatta, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1952)
38. 'Tum zindigi ko gham ka fasana bana gaye' (film: Dopatta, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1952)
39. 'Zindigi hai ya kisi ka intizaar' (film:Gulnar,1953)
40. 'Jis din say piya par dase gaye' (film: Intizaar, picturised on Noor Jehan,1956)
41. 'O janay walay ray tehro zara ruk jaa o'(film: Intizaar, picturised on Noor Jehan,1956)
42. 'Jaltay hain armaan mera dil rota hai'(film:Anarkali, picturised on Noor Jehan,1958)
43. 'Sada hoon apnay pyar ki' (film:Anarkali, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1958)
44. 'Baanwari chakori karay duniya say chori, chori' (film: Anarkali, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1958)
45. 'O bay wafa mein nay tujh say pyar kyon kiya' (film:Koel, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1959)
46. 'Rim jhim, rim jhim paray phooar' (film: Koel, picturised on Noor Jehan, 1959)
47. 'Gaaye gee duniya geet meray'(film: Mauseqar, picturised on Sabiha Khanum, 1962)
48. 'Ja ja ray ja ja ray ja mein tou say naahi boloon' (film:Mauseqar,picturised on Sabiha Khanum,1962)
49. 'Na chora sako gey daman'(film: Daman, picturised on Sabiha Khanum, 1963)
50. 'Jo hum nay pyar say dekha tou tum nay kyon bura mana'(film:Honehar,1966)
51. 'Aray o bay murawwat aray o bay wafa (film:Sawaal, picturised on Sabiha Khanum,1966)
52. 'Sunn saajna dukhi munn ki pukar (film:Lakhon mein aik, picturised on Shamim Ara, 1967)
53. 'Chalo achha hua tum bhool gaye (film: Lakhon mein aik, picturised on Shamim Ara, 1967)
54. 'Bari mushkil say hua tera mera saath piya' (film: Lakhon mein aik, picturised on Shamim Ara, 1967)
55. 'Lay Aaye phir kahan par' (film:Saalgira, picturised on Shamim Ara, 1969)
56. 'Meri zindigi hai naghma' (film: Saalgira, picturised on Shamim Ara, 1969)
57. 'Kuchh loag root kar bhi' (film: Andaleeb, picturised on Shabnam, 1969)
58. 'Pyar kar kay hum bohuth pushtaye' (film:Andaleeb, picturised on Shabnam.1969)
59. 'Abhi dhoond he rahi thee' (film:Bay wafa, picturised on Shamim Ara, 1970)
60. 'Zamanay ki nazroan mein (film: Insaan aur Aadmi,picturised on Zeba, 1970)
61. 'Tu jahan kaheen bhi jaye'(film: Insaan aur Aadmi, picturised on Zeba, 1970)
62. 'Izhar bhi mushkil hai' (film:Anjuman, picturised on Rani, 1970)
63. 'Nain wa chalaye baalma' (film:Anjuman, picturised on Rani, 1970)

64. 'Sunn wanjani di mithi mithi taan way' (film:Heer Ranjha, 1970)
65. 'Bas gaya tu sautaniya kay dwar sajna'(film:Dosti,picturised on Shabnam, 1971)
66. 'Chitthi zara sayyan jee kay naam likh dey' (film: Dosti, picturised on Shabnam, 1971)
67. 'Ye waadiyaan, ye parbatoan ki shahzadiyaan'(film:Dosti, picturised on Shabnam, 1971)
68. 'Khuda karay kay mohabbat mein wo' (film:Afshan, picturised on Shabnam, 1971)
69. 'Sayyoni mera mahi meray' (film:Mastana mahi,punjabi, picturised on Aaliya, 1971)
70. 'Laga hai misar ka bazaar dekho' (film: Tehzeeb, 1971)
71. 'Tan tou pay waroon, mun tou pay waroon' (film: Naag muni, picturised on Rani, 1972)
72. 'Munn mein uthi nai tarang' (film: Naag muni, picturised on Rani, 1972)
73. 'Sunn pagli pawan sunn urti hawa'(film: Salam-e-mohabbat, picturised on Zeba, 1972)
74. 'Salam-e-mohabbat bara khoobsurat' (film: Salam-e-mohabbat, picturised on Zeba, 1972)
75. 'Ye ghar mera gulshan hai' (film:Baharo phool barsao, picturised on Rani,1972)
76. 'Chanda ray chanda kuchh tu he bata'(film:Baharo phool barsao, picturised on Rani,1972)
77. 'Baanwara munn aisay dharka na tha' (film:Mohabbat,picturised on Zeba,1972)
78. 'Jo kiya hai Aaj wada' (film:Bandagi, picturised on Shabnam,1972)
79. 'Kis nay bajaye hai ye baansariya' (film: Ik raat)
80. 'Dase paraye janay walay' (film: Daman aur chingari, picturised on Zeba,
81. 'Tumhara pyar na milta tou mar gaye hotay (film:Aurat ik paheli,picturised on Zeba)
82. 'Na janay kaisa safar hai mera' (film:Banjaran)
83. 'Taqdeer ki gardish pay na ro' ( film: Bahu Rani, picturised on Zeba)
84. 'Dukha ye dil jo kisi ka' (film: Adalat, picturised on Zeba)
85. 'Gham kay liye hain' (film:Adalat, picturised on Zeba)
86. 'O ray sanam dil kaisay bataye (film:Tauba, picturised on Zeba)
87. 'Jo bacha tha wo lutanay kay liye Aa ye hain" (film: Umrao Jaan Ada, picturised on Rani)
88. 'Aaj hai mehfil geet kay qabil' (film: Shama aur parwana, picturised on Shabnam)
89. 'Ye mera Aashiyaan, mera ghar' (film:Mera ghar meri jannat,picturised on Sabiha Khanum)
90. 'Muddad huee hai yaar ko mehmaa kiye huay' (film:Mirza Ghalib)
91. 'Sab daagh-e-dil hum nay jala diye.
92. 'Chand hansay duniya hansay roye mera pyar'
93. 'Nigahain mila kar badal janay walay'.
94. 'Jigar ki Aag say is dil ko jalta dekh tay jaa o'.
95. 'Ja apni hasratoan par Aansoo baha kay soja'
96. 'Hamari saansaun mein Aaj tuk wo hina ki khushbu mehek rahi hai.'
97. 'Ho tamanna aur kya jaan -e-tamanna Aap hain' (film: Aisa bhi hota hai, picturised on Zeba)
98. 'Nigahain neechee kiye sar jhukae baithay hain.'
99. 'Qudmoan mein teray geena marna'.
100. 'Shikwa nahi kisi say, kisi say gila nahi.'
101. 'Ye na thi hamari qismat keh wesaal-e- yaar hota'.