By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
यह कैसी अजब दास्ताँ हो गयी है
छुपते छुपाते बयान हो गयी है
Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh earned the epithet of “Singing Sensation” when she was barely a teenager. She indeed was a prominent singer- cum- actress who ruled & bewitched her fans & co-stars alike including Dev Anand. Dev Anand could not marry Suraiya because of pressure and protest from her family. Anand later married co-star Kalpana Kartik in 1954. Suraiya who did seven films with her ‘heart throb’, remained unmarried.
Suraiya ruled the roost both as a singer and actress in 1940s & 1950s. She rendered her voice for most of her films starting it at the age of twelve. “Tere Nainon Ne Chori Kiya” (Pyar Ki Jeet-1948), “Tu Mera Chand Mein Teri Chandni (Dillagi-1949), “Woh Paas Rahe Ya Door Rahe” & “Ho Likhnewale Ne Likh Di likh Di Meri Taqdeer Main Barbadi” (Badi Behan-1949) & “Dhadkte Dil Ki Tamanna” (Shyama-1961) were some of her notable songs.She rendered more than 300 songs and acted in over 60 films. Later Nargis, Madhubala & Meena Kumari took over the reign as actresses.
“Mirza Ghalib” (1954) starring Bharat Bhushan, Nigar Sultana, Durga Khote & Suraiya was one of her much acclaimed films. The film had some of the loveliest songs like- “Dil – E – Nadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai”- Suraiya and Talat Mahmood, “Nukta Cheen Hai Game Dil” & “Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat” both rendered by Suraiya.The last two were my father’s favourite songs. It was the first film to win President’s Gold Medal. The function was attended by Jawahar Lal Nehru who is said to have told Suraiya that “Tumne Mirza Ghalib Ki Rooh Ko Zinda Kar Diya”.
“Yeh Kaisi Ajab Dastaan Ho Gayi Hai” (Rustom Sohrab-1963) featuring Prithviraj Kapoor, Prem Nath,Mumtaz & Suraiya was one of her few last songs. She plays Shehzadi Tehmina while Kapoor & Prem Nath play Rustum & Sohrab respectively.
