Mai Bhagi | |
|---|---|
| مائي ڀاڳي | |
 Mai Bhagi in the 1970s | |
| Born | Bhagbhari c. 1906[1] |
| Died | 7 July 1986 (aged 80)[1] |
| Occupation | Folk Singer |
| Years active | 1958 - 1986 |
| Awards | Pride of Performance Award (1981) |
Mai Bhagi (Sindhi:مائي ڀاڳي) (c. 1906 – 7 July 1986) was a Sindhi folk musician, born Bhag Bhari in Mithi in Thar, Sindh. Mai Bhagi grew up in a village in the Thar Desert. Her father was Wanhyun Fakir and her mother was Khadija Maganhar. Both her parents were known singers in their region at that time.[1]
Mai Bhagi's birth name was Bhag Bhari (which means 'a lucky person'). She was married to folk singer Hothi Fakir at the age of 16 in Islamkot Therparker. She shifted to Mithi Therparker in 1950 Permanently.[2] Record producer Sheikh Ghulam Hussain, husband of Pakistani folk singer Abida Parveen, offered her the opportunity to record at the Radio Pakistan studios, and her records were played on the radio. She started singing on Radio Pakistan Hyderabad from 1960.[2] Her folk song ‘Kharee neem kay neechey’ (underneath a neem tree) and 'Saman Sai Maan Ta Goli Ghulam Tohinji Dar Ji' became a super-hit among the Pakistani people and secured her stardom, her Lok Geet Song 'Murli Wari Man Mohiyo so popular in Rural area of Sindh. The government of Pakistan provided financial support for her to tour overseas, and she continued her career in music until her death in 1986.[1] You can read complete documentary of Mai Bhagi on popular Sindhi Music Website Media Music Mania.[3] Further Complete detailed Biography and selected best songs of Mai Bhagi listen on.[4]