Veteran singer Begum faces poverty, no courtesy from B'wood

Mumbai, March 3: Who would have thought that the talent much admired once would be disgraced so badly that none would step forward to rescue it from sinking? Once renowned for her melodious vocal, Mubarak Begum who sang for famous composers like S D Burman, Salil Chowdhury, Khayyam and Kalyanji Anandji is today neglected and doomed by the Bollywood Industry such that she is falling short of everything essential for a normal living.In 1963, when Mubarak Begum sang ‘Mujko Aapne Gale Lagalo' from the movie Humarahi, she became an overnight sensation with fans queuing up to get her autograph. She has not stopped singing, but her current assignments do not fetch her more than a few thousand rupees. She says she needs the money desperately. Her 40year- old daughter has Parkinson disease and her son, who stays in the flat with his wife and children, earns a meager living in the tourism industry. Her only stable income is a scarce monthly government pension of Rs 700 and the rising cost of electricity, gas and medicines is making each day a struggle for Begum. After her father brought her to Mumbai from their native Rajasthan, she acquired a following as a top singer in the 1950s and 1960s, but offers started drying up in the 1970s. She has her followers in USA and they want her to perform there but she can't afford to fly so far. Still she loves Delhi and would be glad to perform for a handful of audience. She is hurt by the way major music directors ignored her for whom she sang during those times. Jogeshwari is a relatively new address for her, having shifted to the small flat from Charni Road eight years ago. Lyricist Javed Akhtar and actor Sunil Dutt helped her get the Jogeshwari flat under the chief minister's quota. The singer, now faded in oblivion, is known as the voice behind evergreen hits like Mujhko Apne Gale Lagaa Lo, O Mere Humrahi and Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Yun Hamari Yaad Aayegi, apart from Hum Haal-e-dil Sunaenge from Bimal Roy's classic Madhumati (1958).