Nighat Seema was a Pakistani radio and film singer during the era of 60s and 70s. She is known for singing semi-classical songs, ghazals, and playback singing. She was the mother of music composer Ahsan Ali Taj.
Early life and family
Seema was born in
Ajmer
Ajmer is one of the major and oldest cities in the Indian state of Rajasthan and the centre of the eponymous Ajmer District. It is located at the centre of Rajasthan. It is also known as heart of Rajasthan. The city was established as "''Aj ...
. She belonged to a
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
family that had settled in
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...
.
Singing career
Seema was a radio singer who used to sing at different radio stations of East and West Pakistan. She got her musical training from the classical singer
Tufail Niazi
Tufail Niazi ( Punjabi, ur, طفیل نیازی) (1916 – 21 September 1990) was a Pakistani folk singer whose songs include "Saada Chirryan Da Chamba Ae," "Akhiyaan Lagiyaan Jawaab Na Daindian," "Layee Beqadran Naal Yaari, Tay Tut Gai Tarak K ...
. Her career as a playback singer started with film ''Chhoti Behan'' that was released in 1964. She sang solo songs and also duets with
Irene Perveen
Irene Perveen also spelled as Irene Parveen is a Pakistani playback singer from the 1960s, who mainly sang for Pakistani films. She gained popularity for her film song, "''Tumhi ho mehboob mere''" for movie ''Aaina'' (1966).
Early life
Irene w ...
Masood Rana
Masood Rana
( ur, , 6 August 1941 – 4 October 1995) was a Pakistani film playback singer. He began his singing career in 1962 with the film ''Inqalab'', became one of the top male singers in both Urdu and Punjabi films for more than th ...
Punjabi
Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan
* Punjabi language
* Punjabi people
* Punjabi dialects and languages
Punjabi may also refer to:
* Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...
movies.
Seema recorded many semi-classical songs, ghazals, patriotic songs, and Kalam-e-Iqbal for
Radio Pakistan
Radio Pakistan serves as the national public broadcaster for radio in Pakistan. Although some local stations predate Radio Pakistan's founding, it is the oldest existing broadcasting network in Pakistan. The network was established on 14 August ...
and
Pakistan Television
Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore.
Background
Historical co ...
Punjabi
Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan
* Punjabi language
* Punjabi people
* Punjabi dialects and languages
Punjabi may also refer to:
* Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...
songs, she also vocalized songs in
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
Pashto
Pashto (,; , ) is an Eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family. It is known in historical Persian literature as Afghani ().
Spoken as a native language mostly by ethnic Pashtuns, it is one of the two official languages ...
languages.
Personal life
Seema was married to the folk singer Taj Multani who died in 2018. They both had a daughter named Sana Ali and a son named Ahsan Ali Taj who also adopted the singing career.
Death
Seema died on 4 April 2006 in
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...
. She was laid to rest in Wadi e Hussain Cemetery in Karachi.
Popular songs
Film
* 1964 (Film: Chhoti Behan - Urdu) ... ''Ashkon Kay Diye, Sadqay Tujh Peh A Chand'', Music:
Lal Mohammad Iqbal
Lal Mohammad Iqbal were a Pakistani composer duo, consisting of Lal Mohammad (1933 – 29 September 2009) and Buland Iqbal (1930 – 25 July 2013). They were among the leading musicians of Pakistan film industry belonging to the golden e ...
, Poet:
Sehba Akhtar
Sehba Akhtar (30 September 1931 – 19 February 1996) was a poet and a film songwriter in Pakistan.
Early life and career
He was born Akhtar Ali Rehmat to Rehmat Ali Rehmat, a poet and a contemporary of the renowned playwright Agha Hashar K ...
,
* 1964 (Film: Chhoti Behan - Urdu) ... ''Geet Gati Hayn Khawabon Ki Parchhaian, Pyar Lenay Lag Phir Say'', Singer(s): Nighat Seema, Masood Rana, Music: Lal Mohammad Iqbal, Poet: Masroor Anwar
* 1964 (Film: Chhoti Behan - Urdu) ... ''Kali Hasraton Ki Na Khil Saki, Tera Pyar Ras Na Aa Saka'', Singer(s): Nighat Seema,
Masood Rana
Masood Rana
( ur, , 6 August 1941 – 4 October 1995) was a Pakistani film playback singer. He began his singing career in 1962 with the film ''Inqalab'', became one of the top male singers in both Urdu and Punjabi films for more than th ...
, Music: Lal Mohammad Iqbal, Poet:
Masroor Anwar
Masroor Anwar (6 January 1944 – 1 April 1996) was a ghazal poet, film song lyricist and a film screenwriter. He wrote the lyrics for 'Ko Ko Korina', South Asia's first pop song, and working alongside Sohail Rana, film director Pervez M ...
* 1968 (Film: Mahal - Urdu) ... ''Awaz Jab Bhi Den Ham, Pehchan Jayie Ga'', Singer(s): Mehdi Hassan, Nighat Seema, Music: Rasheed Attray, Poet: Fyaz Hashmi
* 1970 (Film: Jalay Na Kyun Parvana - Urdu) ... ''Jab Bhi Tumharay Husn Kay Jalway Bikhar Geye'', Singer(s):
, Nighat Seema, Music: Nashad, Poet: Taslim Fazli
* 1971 (Film: Afshan - Urdu) ... ''Mili Hay Aaj Zamanay Ki Har Khushi Mujh Ko'', Singer(s): Ahmad Rushdi, Nighat Seema, Music: Nashad, Poet: Taslim Fazli
Radio
* Wo Keh Gaye Thay Keh Aaen Gey Hum, Poet: Innam Bakhsh Nasikh
* Baat Karni Mujhe Mushkil Kabhi Aisi To Na Thi, Poet:
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Bahadur Shah II, usually referred to by his poetic title Bahadur Shah ''Zafar'' (; ''Zafar'' Victory) was born Mirza Abu Zafar Siraj-ud-din Muhammad (24 October 1775 – 7 November 1862) and was the twentieth and last Mughal Emperor as well a ...
* Wo Harfe Raaz Keh Sikha Gaya Hai Mujh Ko Junoon, Poet:
Allama Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal ( ur, ; 9 November 187721 April 1938), was a South Asian Muslim writer, philosopher, Quote: "In Persian, ... he published six volumes of mainly long poems between 1915 and 1936, ... more or less complete works on philoso ...
* Tu Abhi Reh Guzar Mein Hai Qaid e Maqam Se Guzar, Poet: Allama Muhammad Iqbal