Daily Times

The moment the news of actress Sabiha Khanum’s demise became viral on June 13, 2020, hundreds of condolence messages started pouring in the social media. Every fan especially who are fifty plus and have grown with watching her performances on silver screen were nostalgic about their experiences. Messages poured in from within country and abroad. Arif Waqar, veteran journalist, writer and media person who has been associated with NCA and studied from the University of Punjab and had worked for BBC, wrote to me ‘Sabiha Khanum was an important pillar of our film industry in 1950s and 1960s and had the rare ability to speak both Urdu and Punjabi at the same level of comfort and fluency. Look at her movie Rahguzar in which she is lower middle class burqa clad refugee and speaks Urdu in typical ‘Bhaiyya’ accent and compare it to her contemporary release ‘Naji’ where she is care free Punjabi mutiyaar’. In 1950s when Punjabi films were being made, it was thought that Musarrat Nazir was a perfect answer but Sabiha Khnaum dispelled this impression when she appeared in the film ‘Dullah Bhatti. This was Sabiha’s first Punjabi film and it turned out to be a blockbuster. The film also starred Sudhir, Alauddin and Zeenat. It was directed by MS Dar. She later did another Punjabi film with Santosh called Mukhra which was also a hit.

Engineer Mushtaq Bhatti, retired Vice President Nespak and an art lover who had gone to console Sabiha Khanum on her husband’s demise observed “Santosh Kumar died on June 11, 1982. His wife Sabiha Khanum also died in June around the same dates. What an eternal love between the two!” My cousin Engineer Humanyun Aslam and musicologist Dr. Hassan Bukhari posted me her song ‘Na Chura Sako Gei Daman’ from the film ‘Daman’ simultaneously as their perfect choice of Sabiha’s songs. This film had music by Khalil Ahmad and song was melodiously sung by Nurjehan. Sabiha Khanum’s delicacy in body movements and facial expressions were exquisite.

Everybody agrees that Sabiha was an amazing heroine and also a fantastic character actress but I add that she was an equally good singer. She sang ‘Sohneya Oei Mujh Tera Sajari Saver Aei’ in the film ‘Sharabi’ with music by Bukhshi Wazir. The same song was rendered by Ghulam Ali as well. On the invitation of producer Rafiq Warraich she sang motivational songs ‘Jug Jug Jiye Mera Pyara Watan’ and ‘Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhe Qadam Qadam Abaad’ for Pakistan Television with music by Khalil Ahmad. Veteran actor Naeem Tahir observed “God bless Sabiha Khanum Sahiba. She was a great artist. Sabiha Khanum and I acted as Jodha Bai the Queen and I acted Akbar the King in Anarkali drama on Alhamra Stage”.

As far as acting prowess of Sabiha Khanum is concerned many examples can be quoted. I have started revisiting her films in which she acted since she expired on June 13, 2020. The way she acted on her sitting Mujra-based song ‘Aaj Mehfil Sajjane Ko Aai’ from composer Hassan Latif’s 1963 film ‘Shikwa’ reminded me of similar but a little bolder filming of Lata’s ‘Yun Haraton Kei Dagh’ by Nargis from music composer Madan Mohan’s film ‘Adalat’. These two top heroines of their time were not professional dancers but they danced well in their films when they were young. Sabiha Khanum did that in 1962 film ‘Mausiqar’s dance song ‘Raseele More Rasiya’ based on Raag Aimen. A fan Tufail Heera commented that Madam Noor Jehan has sung this song with magic voice for Madam Sabiha Khanum and the performer has done justice with this song. She has placed the same at Top Level in Classical Music Gem. Her performance on the song ‘Tum Jug Jug Jiyo Maharaj Re Hum Teri Nagaria Main Aaye’ from the same film was immaculate. Even Santosh Kumar didn’t believe his ears and had to bite his hands when he heard Nurjehan rendering Alaap at his Piano Chords. She did that in films like ‘Mukhra’ as well. Rasheed Attre’s prowess as music composer was its best in these films.

Sabiha Khanum was born as Mukhtar Begum on October 16 October 1935 in Gujrat. She was daughter of Mohammad Ali from Delhi and Iqbal Begum from Amritsar, Punjab, British India. She was raised in a old-fashioned rural environment by her grandparents, but got her first acting opportunity on stage in Lahore, after moving there to be with her father. It has been reported in the media, “a cultural delegation visited a cinema house in Sialkot, Pakistan in 1948. Mukhtar Begum, who was part of the delegation, sang the Punjabi song “Kithhay Gaye Aun Pardesia Vai” from the film Sassi Punnoon. Her performance was praised, and soon Mohammad Ali introduced his daughter to a stage drama writer and poet, Nafees Khaleeli. Noting her determination, Khaleeli offered her a role in the drama Buut Shikan, which she accepted. Nafees Khaleeli gave her the screen name of Sabiha Khanum. On Nafees Khaleeli’s request, the film director Masood Pervez offered her a role in the film Beli, giving Sabiha her debut as a film actress in 1950. Beli was also the first film of Masood Pervez as a director; the cast was Santosh Kumar, Shaheena and Sabiha Khanum”.

In her acting film career from 1950 to 1989, she worked in many films showing her hard work and ambition. Apart from her films already mentioned, her films include 1950 Hamari basti, 1951 Ghairat, 1951 Pinjra, 1953 Barkha, 1953 Ghulam, 1953 Sailab, 1953 Aaghosh, 1954 Raat ki baat, 1955 Inteqam, 1955 Mehfil, 1955 Shararay, 1955 Sohni, 1955 Toofan, 1956 Chhoti Begum, 1956 Dulla Bhatti. 1956 Hameeda, 1956 Hatim,1956 Sarfarosh, 1957 Bholey Khan, 1957 Daata, 1957 Ishq-e-Laila, 1957 Pasban, 1957 Sardar, 1957 Saat Laakh, 1957 Waada, 1957 Aankh ka Nasha, 1957 Aas Paas , 1958 Darbar, 1958 Dil Mein Tuu, 1958 Hasrat, 1958 Mukhra, 1958 Sheikh Chilli, 1959 Muskarahat, 1959 Naghma-e-Dil, 1959 Naaji, 1959 Tere Baghair, 1959 Aaj Kal, 1960 Ayaz, 1960 Rahguzar, 1960 Saltanat, 1960 Sham Dhalay, 1963 Rishta, 1964 Deevana, 1964 Ishrat, 1965 Kaneez, 1966 Sawaal, 1966 Tasveer, 1967 Devar Bhabi, 1967 Sitamgar, 1967 Aag, 1968 Commander, 1968 Naheed, 1968 Shehnshah-e-Jahangir, 1969 Ladla, 1969 Maa Beta, 1969 Pakdaaman, 1970 Anjuman, 1970 Matrai Maa, 1970 Mohabbat Rang Laaey Gi, 1970 Sajna Door Daya, 1971 Banda Bashar, 1971 Bhain Bhara, 1971 Garhasti, 1971 Jaltey Sooraj Ke Neechay, 1971 Tehzeeb, 1971 Yaar Des Punjab De, 1972 Ek Raat, 1972 Mohabbat, 1972 Sirr Da Saiin, 1972 Aao Pyar Karein, 1973 Khawab Aur Zindagi, 1974 Deedar, 1974 Miss Hippy,1974 Pyar Di Nishani, 1974 Qismat, 1974 Rangi, 1974 Sayyo Ni Mera Mahi, 1975 Bikhrey Moti, 1975 Dhan Jigra Maa Da, 1975 Farz Te Aulaad, 1975 Isar, 1975 Neki Badi, 1975 Pehchaan, 1975 Roshni, 1975 Watan Iman, 1975 Zanjeer, 1976 Aulad, 1976 Rastey Ka Pathar, 1976 Wardat, 1976 Zubaida, 1977 Kalu, 1977 Mere Hazoor, 1977 Aag Aur Zindagi, 1978 Abhi Tau Mein Jawan Huun, 1978 Haidar Ali, 1978 Shera, 1978 Tamashbeen, 1979 Do Raastey, 1979 Raja Ki Aaye Gi Barat, 1979 Waday Ki Zanjeer, 1980 Badmashi Band, 1980 Rishta, 1981 Anokha Daaj, 1981 “Chan Suraj”, 1981 Parvah Nahin, 1982 Sangdil, 1982 Wohti Jee, 1984 Ishq Nachawey Gali Gali, 1984 Kamyabi, 1985 Deewane Do, 1985 Mehak, 1989 Mohabbat Ho Tau Aisi and 1994 Saranga.

If one choses to talk of Sabiha’s films one by one, there is no end to it but some films are remembered by their songs like Munawar Sultans singing ‘Wastai Rub Da Tun Javeen Vei Kabootra’ for Sabiha Khanum in the Punjabi film Dulla Bhatti. Her 1950 film Do Aansoo was remake of 1945 Nurjehan film Bhaijan in which a man inadvertently ruins the lives of his wife and daughter. The film was remade as Punjabi film Dillan Dei Saude and Urdu film Anjuman later on. For the film Ishq-e-Laila she continued with the shooting despite appendicitis pain, she mentioned in one of her interviews. 1957 films Waada and Saat Lakh were milestone in Sabiha’s career. She filmed the song ‘Ghunghat Utha Loon’ from Saat Lakh admirably well, this movie being a remake of Indian film Mr. and Mrs. 55 where an heiress can get Rs 700,000 inheritance only if she gets married. Sabiha had knack of filming a song well like ‘Gaye Gi Duniya Geet Mere’ in Mausiqar and ‘Lut Uljhi Suljha Ja Re Balam’ from the film ‘Sawal’.

Sabiha Khanum’s powerful character in her film ‘Ik Gunah Aur Sahi’ as Mummy is outstanding based on Saadat Hassan Manto’s short story ‘Mummy’. Her repeated confrontations with Asif and other men far more powerful than she, is amazingly exercised by Director Hassan Tariq. Mummy’s character is to be of a woman of great strength, resilience and ultimately, morality. In the end, she proves the powerful Asif and his society to be the real sinners. This film is remembered due to Sabiha Khanum’s powerful delivery of dialogues as Mummy is a doting mother, ambitious for her daughter’s future. She is also a madam, procuring and providing call girls, including her daughter Afsha, to well-to-do clients. Sabiha is also remembered due to her performances of mentally derailed characters in ‘Gumnam’.

Santosh Kumar was already married to Jamila Begum when he married Sabiha Khanum in late-nineteen fifties and it is reported that both wives lived happily in each other’s’ company. Much later Sabiha Khanum, who has been in the public eye for four decades, finally retired, and lived with her eldest daughter in the US. Before she left I saw her once outside EMI Studios, Shahdin Building, The Mall, Lahore. She seemed in a bad shape with eye infection. Her son and the youngest daughter are also settled in USA. She lived with her daughter in Leesburg, Virginia until her death on 13 June 2020 at the age of 84. Saarish Khan is Sabiha-Santosh’s granddaughter. She came to limelight as the 2015 Miss Pakistan USA winner. Sarish came to Pakistan a few years ago to make an appearance in Fashion Week Pakistan and shared the ramp with activist Mukhtaran Mai who also made a ramp walk for the cause of women empowerment. Sarish was born in Lahore and shifted to the US with her family after she lost her father Santosh Kumar. Sarish is a Lawyer by Profession. Sarish is now pursuing her dream of becoming an actor. She recently took summer acting course from the prestigious New York Film Academy and was in Karachi to kick-start her acting career.

The writer is the recipient of the prestigious Pride of Performance award. He can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com