Naheed Akhtar
ناہید اختر
Born (1956-09-26) 26 September 1956 (age 67) S
Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
OccupationSinger
Years active1970–1992
Awards3 Nigar Film Awards for Best Singer
HonoursPride of Performance (2007)
Musical career
GenresPlayback singing, Ghazal
Labels

Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born September 26, 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 won 3 Nigar Awards and a Pride of Performance in 2007.[1]

Early life and family

Akhtar was born on September 26, 1956, in Multan, Punjab. She has 3 sisters and 4 brothers. A sister of her, Hameeda Akhtar, was also a singer.[2][3]

Singing career

Nahid'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.[5]

Personal life

Nahid 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

Naheed Akhtar made an appearance on stage in 2013, after repeated requests of the management of a TV show,[6] where active and popular singers like Shabnam Majeed and Saima Jahan sang her songs to pay tribute to her.[7] She stays busy with her family and children, and as of 2016, is not actively pursuing a singing career.

Popular songs

A list of Nahid's popular songs includes:[1][5]

Film

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

Radio

Television programmes

Television programmes List
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

Awards and honors list
Award name Category Film Year Ref.
Nigar Film Awards Best Singer Shama 1974 [8][9]
Nigar Film Awards Best Singer Pehchan 1975 [8][9]
Nigar Film Awards Best Singer Humse Hai Zamana 1985 [8][9]
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 [10]
Lux Style Awards Lifetime Achievement Award 2007
Pride of Performance Award Arts 2007 [11]
PTV Lifetime Achievement Award Music 2010
Kemal-e-Fun Medal Music Lifetime Achievement 2013 [12][4][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Nahid Akhtar — the nightingale of Pakistan". Daily Times (newspaper). 7 November 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  2. ^ "معروف گلوکارہ ناہید اختر آج اپنی 64 ویں سالگرہ منارہی ہیں". express.com.pk. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ^ "ناہید اختر -- دل کے تاروں کو چھو لینے والی آواز". Duniya News. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ^ 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
  5. ^ a b "Naheed Akhtar Songs". Pak Film Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Naheed Akhtar to perform after two decades". Dawn. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ^ "'Naheed Akhtar singing again after 22 years'". showbizpak.com. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards". Desi Movies. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "National Excellence Awards 2006 distribution ceremony of PBC at Jinnah Convention Center". Pakistan Tribune. Pakistan News Service. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Civil awards given". Dawn (newspaper). Karachi. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Down the memory lane with Naheed Akhtar". Pakistan Press Foundation website. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  13. ^ Rs10 million cheque given to singer Naheed Akhtar Dawn (newspaper), published 14 February 2018, Retrieved 20 April 2020

External links

Recipients of the Pride of Performance for Arts
Nigar Award for Best Female Playback Singer
Authority control databases: Artists
Categories