Meet Kashmir's Nightingale, Raj Begum, Broke Patriarchy By Becoming The First Female Singer And Icon

Danish Renzu’s Songs of Paradise is an ode to the powerful name Raj Begum, who not just dared to dream but also paved the way for millions of females. The film, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, features Saba Azad playing the role of a young Raj Begum, while Soni Razdan brings in the veteran singer’s later years to life.

Who was the iconic singer, Raj Begum?

Hailed as Kashmir’s Nightingale, Raj Begum was born in Srinagar in 1927 and raised in a humble household, where her father encouraged her singing talent from a very young age. It was a time when Muslim women, clad in their burqas, were not even allowed to talk. The young Raj began singing at weddings as she absorbed the Kashmiri folk idioms.

Raj Begum became Radio Kashmir’s first female voice

Encouraged by her father, Raj Begum joined Radio Kashmir in 1954, and became the first woman to break the patriarchal norms. Her high-pitched voice soon gained a lot of attention and became synonymous with Kashmir’s cultural expressions. She sang folk, light classical, Ghazal, devotional and romantic songs.

Raj Begum became a cultural icon

Raj Begum was not just a singer, she was a cultural icon, a symbol of courage, who broke the norms set by society for women. She dared to sing in public in a society where a woman’s voice is hidden. Her songs were an expression of freedom for Kashmiri women, who were mostly confined to the walls of their homes.

She faced many obstacles in her journey, and many questioned her choice. Her mother, too, was not supportive of her career choice. However, Raj Begum was determined and gave voice to the voiceless, along with her contemporaries, including Naseem Akhtar, Shamima Dev Azad, and Hasina Akhtar, as well as Kashmiri Pandit singers.

Raj Begum got recognised nationally

Raj Begum’s artistry extended beyond music. It gave women the courage to step out and make choices for themselves. She nearly sang 2000 songs across many genres and was recognised nationally and locally. In 2002, Raj Begum received the Padma Shri, the State Award by the Jammu and Kashmir government in 2009, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2013.

Beyond radio, Raj Begum was also associated with the Kashmiri feature film, Mehjoor. In 2016, Raj Begum bid adieu to the world at the age of 89, but she left behind her legacy. Raj Begum continues to be Kashmir’s Nightingale, who made everyone believe that true talent should always be highlighted, rather than kept behind the doors.

Raj Begum’s journey is celebrated through the ‘Songs of Paradise’

Songs of Paradise is a tribute to cultural icon, Raj Begum, which portrays the life of the soulful singer through the character of 'Noor Begum', played by Saba Azad in her youth and Soni Razdan in later years. The cast also features Zain Khan Durrani, Sheeba Chaddha, Taaruk Raina, and Lillete Dubey. Talking about the personal connection with the film, the director, Danish Renzu, said:

“Songs of Paradise is a heartfelt tribute to Padma Shri recipient Raj Begum, the first female voice at Radio Kashmir. The story is inspired by her music, legacy, and grit at a time when societal restrictions bound women within both emotional and cultural confines. It is about a woman who dared to dream when dreaming itself was an unspoken taboo.”

Raj Begum not just broke the patriarchy but also reminded people of the beauty of Kashmir celebrated through music, poetry and harmony.

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