PRIDE OF PAKISTAN

PRIDE OF PAKISTAN, originally uploaded by www.first-pakistan.blogspot.com.

Madam Noor Jehan's name evokes countless articles, books, discussions but
strangely anecdotes and analysis don't reveal the real person. Some praise
her without knowing much about her while others vilify her on hearsay. Most
know of her seven decades of theatrics both on reel and in real life without
realising the struggle, dedication, perseverance and sacrifices she made to
get there. From a miserly past of poverty and ill-fame, she conquered the
subcontinent and rose to glory, wealth and undying stardom.
Fame-literate feminist, progressive, liberal, an iconoclast and not just a
singer, Noor Jehan was the last century's bona fide icon. Defying the '40s
specified norms, she broke every rule and not only stood up for herself as
emotionally self-reliant but made her personality such that people pined for
more of her. Affable in a coterie of silver screen actresses where all the
women were tarred with the same brush, Noor Jehan's witty retorts,
calculated intimacy, self-deprecating manner combined with the immense
self-confidence of a woman who had seen and experienced everything made her
flagrantly eclectic *In the early days before song-recording became
available, singers had to accompany actors on location and sing from behind
the camera. Later, when recording techniques became available, singers had
to start all over again if a musician made a mistake. Throughout the '40s
Noor Jehan continued making films and playback singing. Awaz De Kahan Hai,
1946 super-hit song from Anmol Ghari became synonymous with Noor Jehan. In
1959 Nigar Awards introduced the best singer category and the first award
went to Noor Jehan for the film Koel's Dil Ka Diya Jalaya composed by the
genius Khursheed Anwar and written by Tanveer Naqvi. She won again in 1967,
'69, '71, '90 and '91.*