LONG LIVES THE QUEEN

These reminiscences of Begum Akhtar show that her personality sparkled as much as her voice

- Partho Datta

AKHTARI

The Life and Music of Begum Akhtar

by Yatindra Mishra (editor) HARPERCOLLINS

Begum Akhtar never lacked patrons, and her fan following was legendary—it included aspiring poets, teachers, impresarios, clerks, corporate types, ex-cricketers. Only a few were musically inclined; some had a nodding acquaintance with Urdu verse. Connecting with her was a vicarious way to partake in the shadowy world of pleasure and abandon courtesans represented. Musicians, too, were drawn, envious of her magic, the attractive patti (break) in her voice, the dignity and charm in her performance style. Siddheshwari Devi, a contemporary, complained about the competition but remained in awe of her musical values.

In Hai Akhtari!, the marvellous documentary by music critic S. Kalidas, Sheila Dhar comments insightfully on Begum Akhtar’s ability to generate complex musical meaning from the relatively narrow ground of the thumri and the ghazal and how her music was inseparable from her sparkling personality. Kumar Gandharva was a keen admirer and never failed to visit her when he was in Lucknow. Senior vocalist Anjanibai Malpekar of the Bhendi Bazar gharana called her home and lovingly taught her a dadra (a fragment of this session is available on YouTube). Film composer Madan Mohan, who drew inspiration from her, was teased by her endlessly about lifting her tunes. Bengalis persuaded her to re-record her famous tracks with Bengali lyrics.