Daily Times

I have met Madam Jagjit Kaur a few times during my lifetime, twice in India and once in Pakistan when we were each other’s guests or call it a family. That is not the reason why I am writing this piece on her. It is because she created a niche for herself as a singer in the presence of giants such as Lata and Asha.

She sang less but whatever she sang was unique and of top quality. It is indeed amazing that Jagjit Kaur has immortalised herself by such small number of renderings. This fact makes one realise that it is the quality alone that matters and not the quantity. Her husband music composer par excellence Muhammad Zahur Khayyam once stated that had she sung not even a single song after singing Sahir Ludhiyanvi’s “Tum Apna Ranj-o-Ghum Apni Pareeshani Mujhe De Do” from the film ‘Shagun’, her name would have lived for times to come. The other woman Nivedita, who made a debut in this film, beseeches the hero Kanwaljit who is trying to drown his sorrow in alcohol, to give his entire pain and sorrow to her. Wahida Rahman looks on silently with puzzled looks wondering what right Nivedita had on her man to sing such a song. Jagjit rendered another fine dholak song “Gori Sasural Chali” in ‘Shagun’. Another sad wedding song is “Kahe Ko Beyahi Bides” in Muzaffar Ali’s hit film ‘Umrao Jan’. Similar sentiments are felt in the songs “Chale Aao Saiyan Rangeele Main Vaari Re” and “Daikh Lo Aaj Hum Ko Ji Bhar Ke” from Khayyam’s film ‘Bazaar’.

Jagjit Kaur has successfully played many roles in her life. She has been an excellent wife to Khayyam after opting to marry him who at that time was a struggling music composer. She has been an equally great mother to Pardip, her son who unfortunately expired in 2012. She has been a great chief assistant to Khayyam in most of his his movies after their wedlock starting with the film ‘Shola Aur Shabnam’. She sang two folk songs “Phir Wohi Sawan Aaya” and “Lari Re Lari Tau Se Aankh Jo Lari” for this film. A duet with Muhammad Rafi “Pehle Tau Aankh Milana” with lyrics by Kaifi Azmi is also from this film.

Jagjit Kaur has been a main supporter to Khayyam to stick to his melodious style of making music compositions despite many producers luring him with more money offers to change his style. This attitude made the couple suffer initially but paid its dividends after ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ onwards. The best Khayyam did was to use folk music in some of his compositions. Jagjit rendered a Punjabi wedding song “Sada Chiriyan Da Chamba Ae Babul Asaan Ud Jaana” with Pamela, Yash Chopra’s wife when this movie opens.

Jagjit Kaur was already a playback singer before she married Khayyam. These songs were filmed on Shayama, Peace Kanwal and Talat Mahmood. One of Jagjit’s songs “Nain Mila Ke Paya Jata Ke Aag Laga De” with Muhammad Rafi is from the film ‘Mera Bhai Mera Dushman’ in Khayyam’s music.

In their late ages now Khayyam and Jagjit Kaur have started a trust in their son’s name to help needy technicians and artists.