Sound
Begum Akhtar
Born — Died
1914-10-07 — 1974-10-30
Known for
Sound
Credits
3 titles
Begum Akhtar was born Akhtari Bai Faizabadi. She belonged to an aristocratic family of Lucknow that had fallen on hard times. Later in life she claimed that her father Asghar Hussein had been a judge, and that he had objected strongly to her taking up singing. However, the truth was her mother, Mushtari Begum, sang for a living, and was technically a tawaif. Mushtari Begum soon realised her daughter had the talent to reach the top. Begum Akhtar sang with her mother on stage when she was thirteen, and gave her first public performance at fifteen, where the head of HMV records became an instant fan and persuaded her to cut a record. Her face and eyes were very expressive, and she knew perfectl…
Known for
7.5An aging, decadent landlord’s passion for music becomes the undoing of his legacy as he sacrifices his wealth in order to compete with the opulent music room of his younger, richer neighbour.
The Music Room
1958
7.0Roti made in the early 1940s inspired by the German Expressionism, is a real critique of Indian society with prophetic insight. It deals with two models - one of a millionaire, possessed by money and power in an industrial civilisation, the other of a tribal couple living in a primeval state of nature. The millionaire is saved by the couple after an air crash, the tribal couple emigrate to the city, do not find happiness and return. The millionaire is ruined in the city, tries futilely to find salvation among the tribal.
Roti
1942
NRThe film discusses the various aspects of Begum Akhtar’s life. She was also known as the “Gazal and Thumri Queen”. An intimate portrait, the film presents her in the domestic set-up of her home and as a formidable performer.
Begum Akhtar
1971