Noor Jehan

Noor Jehan
نور جہاں
Noor Jehan in the film Humjoli, c. 1946
Born
Allah Wasai

(1926-09-21)21 September 1926
Kasur, Punjab Province, British India
Died23 December 2000(2000-12-23) (aged 74)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Resting placeGizri Graveyard, Karachi
Other namesThe Nightingale of The East
Queen of Hearts
Daughter of Nation
The Nightingale of Punjab
Occupations
  • Playback Singer
  • Music Composer
  • Actress
  • Director
Years active1930 – 2000
Notable work
Style
Title"Malika-e-Tarannum" (Queen of Melody)
Spouses
(m. 1941; div. 1953)
(m. 1959; div. 1971)
Children6, including Zil-e-Huma, Nazia Ejaz Khan
Relatives
Awards15 Nigar Awards
Honours

Noor Jehan (21 September 1926 – 23 December 2000) was a Pakistani playback singer and actress. Her six-decade career spanned both British Indian and Pakistani cinema. Jehan had proficiency in Hindustani classical music, as well as in other genres including ghazals. She made her directorial debut with the film Chann Wey in 1951, becoming the first female film director in Pakistan. She is recognized for her contributions to music in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan. She was given the title of Malika-e-Tarannum ("Queen of Melody") in Pakistan.

Along with Ahmed Rushdi, she holds the record for having given voice to the largest number of film songs in the history of Pakistani cinema. She recorded about 10,000 songs in various languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, and Sindhi. She sang a total of 2,422 songs in 1,148 Pakistani films during a career that lasted more than half a century.