Munni Begum

Munni Begum (Bengali: মুন্নী বেগম, Urdu: منی بیگم‎) is a famous Pakistani ghazal singer. Her real name is Nadira (Bengali: নাদিরা; Urdu: نادرہ‎).

Munni Begum was born in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. The fifth child of seven children, she first started taking music lessons from the famous singer Ustad Khwaja Ghulam Mustafa Warsi. Subsequently, she studied in the school of music for three years, and thereafter she launched her career.

Her parents migrated from India to East Pakistan in the early 1950s. East Pakistan later became independent Bangladesh. She studied in BAF Shaheen School, Dhaka; however, she moved to Pakistan before graduating from high school, due to Bangladesh Independence War of 1971.

Munni Begum began her career as a singer in Karachi in the 1970s. Begum released her first album of ghazals in 1976. Then she sang many more hit ghazals and thus became a renowned ghazal singer of Pakistan.

On March 23, 2008, Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan conferred the Pride of Performance award upon legendary female singer Munni Begum at a simple ceremony held at Governor's House in Karachi.

Munni Begum is married, and has two daughters, Muniba Hasnain and Minara Umer, and a son Syed Muhammad Asad Ali.

As for Munni Begum’s hit ghazals, the list is very long. Some of these are:

• Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Sharabi
• Har Qadam Zehmatein…
• Tumhare Sheher Ka Mausam Bada Suhana Lage
• Ek Bar Muskura Do
• Awaargi Mein Had Se Guzar Jaana Chahiye
• Bewafa Se Bhi Pyar Hota Hai
• Bhoolne Wale Se Koi Kehde]
• Dil Ko Hale Karar Mein Dekha
• Idhar Zindagi Ka Janaza Uthey Ga
• Bhujhi Hoi Shama Ka Dhuaan Hun
• Mareez-e-Mohabbat Unhi Ka Fasana]

• ^ http://www.pakistanimusic.com/search.php?artistid=108&sortby=1&perpage=20&category=ANY, Munni Begum's 'hit' ghazal on Pakistan Music website, Retrieved 27 July 2016

• Munni Begum Khoobsurat Ghazlein Vol 1
• Awagi Vol-28
• Meri Pasand Vol. 1
• Meri Pasand Vol. 2
• Masti Mein Surahi Jhoomti Hai Vol. 1
• Masti Mein Surahi Jhoomti Hai Vol. 2
• An Evening With Munni Begum
• New Ghazals Vol. 26
• Munni Begum Vol-21
• Munni Begum Vol-20
• Sham-E-Ghazal
• Meri Pasand
• Munni Begum
• Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 4
• Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 3
• Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 2
• Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 1

• Pride of Performance Award (2008) by the Governor of Sindh on behalf of the President of Pakistan.

• http://tribune.com.pk/story/893434/melodious-treat-munni-begums-ghazals-captivate-audience/, Munni Begum's Pride of Performance Award info listed on The Express Tribune newspaper, Published 28 May 2015, Retrieved 27 July 2016