Reshma (1947 – 2013) was a famous Pakistani folk singer popular for her charming voice. She received Pakistan’s third highest honor and civilian award Sitara-e-Imtiaz, also known as the Desert Nightingale. She recorded many folk songs for Radio Pakistan and is still remembered in the Pakistani and Indian film industry for her legendary songs. People still remember her famous song “Lambi Judai”.
Wiki/Biography
Reshma was born in 1947 in a Banjara family in Bikaner district, Rajasthan, India (she died at the age of 66). She was just one month old when her tribe moved to Karachi after the partition of India. Her family did not attach much importance to her education. She had no musical training and no family background. Nonetheless, she spent her early years singing at sacred sites in Pakistan’s Sindh province. In 1965, at the age of 17, she made her singing debut.
singer reshma
family and race
Reshma comes from a Muslim family.
Parents and siblings
Her father, Haji Muhammad Mushtaq, was a horse and camel trader. Her father is from Malachi, Iran, and they belong to a tribe that converted to Islam. She also has a sister named Kaneez Reshma.
husband and children
Reshma has three children: Umair (son), Sawan Ali (son) and Khadija (daughter). Her son Sawan Ali was married to Mehru Reshma, who performed in Lok Virsa as the son and daughter-in-law of a famous singer.
Reshma’s sons Sawan Ali and Mehru Reshma perform at Lok Mela event
Profession
Local producer Saleem Gilani discovered her while she was singing at the Lal Shahbaz Qalander shrine. He invited her to record a song for Radio Pakistan. The first song she recorded, “Laal Meri Pat Rakhio”, was a huge hit and the song paved the way for her singing career.
Singer Reshma when she was young
She gained fame and worked in Pakistani and Indian film industries. She is the voice of many popular songs including Ankhiyaan Nu Rehn De, Sada Chidiyaan Da Chamba Vey, Oh Laal Meri and Haaye Oh Rabba. Her famous song Ankhiyan nu rehen de ankhyan de kol kol was used by Raj Kapoor in his movie Bobby as Ankhyon ko rehne de ankhyon ke aas pass and was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The depth and quality of her voice influenced filmmaker Subhash Ghai to use her voice in the popular song Lambi Judai in his film Hero. She also performed live in India when India and Pakistan allowed artist exchanges. In 2004, she recorded the song Ashkan Di Gali Vich Mukaam De Gaya for the Bollywood film Woh Tere Naam Tha. She was the voice of peace and became the first passenger on the Lahore-Amritsar bus.
Singer Reshma becomes first passenger on Lahore-Amritsar bus
Reshma once said,
Boundaries don’t matter to me…because, artists belong to everyone. ”
As a result of her legendary work, she was invited to meet Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Reshma suffered from throat cancer, which was the reason she stopped singing for a long time.
die
Reshma had been suffering from throat cancer for a long time and was in a coma for a month when she died. On April 6, 2013, she was admitted to Lahore Doctors Hospital. She lost all her property until her death and the Pakistani government decided to pay all her medical expenses. But unfortunately, she could not be rescued.
Singer Reshma was hospitalized in the last few days of her life
After her death, her friend and famous folk singer spoke about her to the media, saying:
Reshma is a magician who can kill people with her voice. She is the first lady of Pakistani folk music.
Awards and Honors
- In 1982, she received the Pride of Acting Award from the Government of Pakistan.
- In 2008, she received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award, also known as the Star of Excellence Award, from the President of Pakistan.
Singer Reshma in her later years
Favorites
- Food: Reshma likes vegetarian food and likes to eat saag and makai roti and Missi roti.
- Song: Qawwali Shehbaaz Qalandar and Rasik Balma
- Singer: Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar
Facts/Trivia
- Contrary to her culture, she chose to eat vegetarian food.
Singer Reshma is a vegetarian
- She started singing when she was 12 years old.
- She is a famous singer also known as Bubule Sehra.
- She always wears Salwar Kameez and always covers her head with a dupatta. She is a talented singer who always avoids artificiality in her performances.
- She always sang in public and when she first saw the studio she was really scared. Sarvat Ali Khan, producer of Radio Pakistan, said,
She refused to enter the studio, saying a man was standing inside, referring to the columnar structure that was actually a microphone.
- After recording her first song for Radio Pakistan, she and her family ran away out of fear and could not be traced. After hearing how popular the song was, they came back for Reshma’s career.
- During her health crisis, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf came to her aid and provided financial assistance of Rs. 1 Crore to repay bank loan.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education