Surinder Kaur (1929-2006), popularly known as “The Nightingale of the Punjabi”, was an Indian singer and songwriter who was well known in the Punjabi music scene. Surinder Kaur is known for his super hits like “Maavan Te Dheeyan”, “Jutti Kasoori”, “Ek Meri Akh Kashni” and “Akhiyan Ch Tu Vassda”. Surinder Kaur is the younger sister of Prakash Kaur, the most famous Punjabi songstress in North India. Surinder Kaur died on June 14, 2006 at the age of 77 following a long illness.
Wiki/Biography
Surinder Kaur, known for winning the title of “Punjabi Nightingale”, was born on Monday 25 November 1929 in Mohala Bhattimun, Lahore (capital of Lahore) (walled city of Lahore) (aged 77; at the time of death) Punjab (undivided state of Punjab), Punjab, Pakistan. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. Surinder Kaur completed his studies and musical training in Lahore before moving to Ghaziabad in Delhi after the Partition of India in 1947.
Surinder Kaur Childhood Photos
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 5″
Hair Color: Natural Black
Eye color: dark brown
family
parents and siblings
Surinder Kaur’s father Bishan Dass is a daily gambler in Lahore and Surinder Kaur’s mother Maya Devi is a family member housewife. Surinder Kaur has eight siblings, including her younger sister, Prakash Kaur. Prakash Kaur is a distinguished singer known as “the most famous Punjabi female singer in North India”.
Surinder Kaur (right) and Prakash Kaur (left)
husband and children
Surinder Kaur married Professor Joginder Singh Sodhi in 1948. Professor Joginder Singh Sodhi is Lecturer in Punjabi Literature at Delhi University. He died in 1975. The couple has three daughters: Rupinder Kaur Sodhi (popularly known as Dolly Guleria), Nandini Singh and Promodini Jaggi. Dolly Guleria is a famous Punjabi folk singer who is continuing her mother’s legacy.
Surinder Kaur and daughter Dolly Guleria (left)
Surinder Kaur’s granddaughter (Dolly Guleria’s daughter) Sunaini Sharma is also a professional singer and musician.
Surinder Kaur (middle) with Dolly Guleria (right) and Sunaini (left)
Religion/Religious Views
Surinder Kaur believes in Sikhism.
Profession
punjabi songs
Duet with Prakash Kaur
In 1943, Surinder Kaur made her singing debut with her sister Prakash Kaur in a duet song “Mawan Te Dhiyan”. Released by His Master’s Voice Music Label (HMV), the song created a huge buzz across the Indian subcontinent. The sister duo sang many famous songs together such as “Kaala Doria”, “Sarke Sarke Jaandiye Mutiyare Ni”, “Suhe Ve Chirreya Waleya”, “Bajre Da Sitta” and “Ajj Di Diharhi Rakh Doli Ni Maa”.
singles
Surinder Kaur has released many hit Punjabi solo songs like “Juti Kasoori”, “Akhiyan Ch Tu Vassda”, “Mainu Heere Heere Aakhe”, “Agg Paaniyan Ch” and “Daachi Waleya”. The song “Ni Main jaana rabb de kol” has been written and composed by Surinder Kaur.
the album
In 1970, Surinder Kaur collaborated with Punjabi singer Asa Singh Mastana for an album. The album “Surinder Kaur & Asa Singh Mastana” is a folk album containing a total of 10 tracks.
Surinder Kaur’s collaborative album “Surinder Kaur & Asa Singh Mastana”
In 1980, Surinder Kaur released a cassette album titled “Vehrhe Sajna De” with singer Jasbir Kaur. Side A of the tape contains 4 songs by Surinder Kaur and side B contains 4 songs by Jasbir Kaur.
Surinder Kaur and Jasbir Kaur’s collaborative album “Vehrhe Sajna De”
In 1995, Surinder Kaur released a collaborative cassette album “3 Generations” with her daughter Dolly Guleria and granddaughter Sunaini. The cassette contains 10 tracks by three singers. The album was a huge hit.
Collaboration album 3 Generations with Surinder Kaur
bollywood replay singing
Surinder Kaur moved to Bombay (now Bombay) with her husband in 1948, where she made her debut in the film Shaheed, starring Dilip Kumar and others, singing the songs “Badnaam Na Ho Jaaye” and “Hum Kahan Aur” Sung in Hindi movie playback. and Kamini Kaushal. In 1948, Surinder Kaur sang two songs, “Han Main Apne Dil Ke Haathon” and “Itne Door Hain Huzoor Kaise Mulaqat” for the film “Pyar Ki Jeet” starring actors like Suraiya and Rehman. In 1950, Surinder Kaur sang several songs such as “Meir Galiyon Ki Nishani Woh Paani” and “Saanwra Salona Koi Meri Gali Aaya Hai” in the film “Khamosh Sipahi” starring actress Nigar Sultana.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 1984, Surinder Kaur received the ‘Sangeet Natak Akademi Award’, also known as the ‘Akademi Puraskar’ Punjab Folk Music Award.
- In 2002, Surinder Kaur was awarded a PhD degree from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.
- In 2006, Surinder Kaur was awarded the prestigious ‘Padma Shri’ award, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Government of India, in recognition of her contribution in the field of arts.
Surinder Kaur receives the Padma Shri from APJ Abdul Kalam (left)
die
Surinder Kaur suffered a heart attack on December 22, 2005 and gradually recovered. However, a heart attack seriously affected her health, and her family decided to take her to the United States for further treatment. Surinder Kaur and her daughter Dolly Guleria were flying from India to the United States when they contracted pneumonia during the flight due to the cold air conditioning. Once they arrived in the United States, Surinder Kaur was rushed to a hospital in New Jersey, where her health deteriorated. She was in a coma for several days and died on June 14, 2006, after 40 days in the hospital.
Favorites
- Dessert: Gulab Jamun and Ras malai.
Facts / Trivia
- The title “Nightingale of Punjab” was bestowed upon Surinder Kaur by Dr. Manmohan Singh.
- After Surinder Kaur’s death in 2006, Doordarshan launched a documentary “Punjab Di Koyal” that focused on the singer’s musical journey and achievements. The documentary won the Doordarshan National Award in 2006.
- Surinder Kaur gave her first live performance at Radio Lahore on August 31, 1943, when she was just 13 years old.
- Initially, Surinder Kaur’s parents were strongly against her decision to sing, but one of her brothers supported her and took charge of her singing.
- Surinder Kaur’s mentors (mentors) were Guru Inayat Hussain (nephew of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan) and Pandit Mani Prasad, from whom she received training in Indian classical music at the age of 13.
- Prof. Joginder Singh Sodhi, Surinder Kaur’s husband, selected the lyrics for Surinder Kaur’s songs. The couple once wrote many songs together. Surinder Kaur attributes her career success to her husband.
- Surinder Kaur is committed to learning different languages to be able to sing in them. Surinder Kaur is fluent in Chinese and Uzbek songs.
- Surinder is most fond of singing works of famous Punjabi writers such as Baba Bulleh Shah, Amrita Pritam, Nand Lal Noorpuri, Mohan Singh and Shiv Kumar Batalvi.
- Surinder Kaur collaborates with Asa Singh Mastana to sing a duet song. In 1954, she traveled to Russia, where the two of them first met.
Surinder Kaur and Asa Singh Mastana (left)
- Surinder Kaur left Bollywood playback singing after working in Mumbai for 5 years as she was more interested in stage performance and wanted to focus fully on her roots, which was Punjabi music.
- Surinder Kaur has sung more than 2000 songs in her career spanning over 50 years.
- Surinder Kaur is India’s first folk singer to perform on the China-India border.
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru insisted that Surinder Kaur perform for the Indian Army on the Ladakh border.
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan considered Surinder Kaur to be the protector and torchbearer of Punjabi folk traditions.
- Dolly Guleria, the daughter of Surinder Kaur, founded the music academy “Nightingale School of Music” in the name of Surinder Kaur. The college is located in Panchkula, Haryana, India.
- In 1953, Surinder Kaur was appointed by Nehru as the Permanent Representative to Cultural Missions Abroad.
- Surinder Kaur has performed in many different countries including the United Kingdom, Russia, Poland, China, the United States and Canada.
- Mohammed Rafi dedicated a tribute to Surinder Kaur when he performed at The Chelmsford Club in Derry on Baisakhi in 1964 song. Surinder Kaur’s husband Joginder Singh Sodhi acted as stage secretary for the event. As soon as Surinder Kaur entered the venue, Mohammad Rafi started singing “hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwaale hain, hum tere tere tere chahnewaale hain” and Surinder Kaur responded to him with the same song.
- Surinder Kaur was nominated for the prestigious Padma Shri by Haryana and not the Punjabi song to which she dedicated her entire singing career.
- Surinder Kaur has sung duets with Punjabi singers like Asa Singh Mastana, Harcharan Garewal, Rangila Jat and Didar Sandhu.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education