Cultural Icons Who Took Lucknow’s Legacy Ahead | Lucknow News
India’s cultural heritage is a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of countless iconic figures. Several remarkable individuals with significant connection to Lucknow have left an indelible mark on the country’s music, film, literature, and dance.BEGUM AKHTARBorn Akhtari in Faizabad in 1914, Begum Akhtar’s musical journey began early. After moving to Gaya and then Calcutta (now Kolkata) with her mother, she recorded her first disc and started performing on stage. As a child, Akhtar was bemused by music. Her mother, Mushtari Begum, a renowned courtesan from Lucknow, recognized her daughter’s talent and ensured she received proper training. Akhtar started receiving ‘taleem’ in music from sarangi maestro Ustad Imdad Khan. She was introduced to ‘Khayal’ singing by Ustad Ata Mohammad Khan of Patiala gharana. He also trained her in other styles such as ‘thumri’, ‘dadra’, and ‘ghazal’.According to senior journalist Hissam Siddiqui, Begum Akhtar showcased her talent as a singing actor in several films, including ‘Ek Din Ka Badshah’, ‘Mumtaz Begum’, ‘Naseeb Ka Chakkar’, and ‘Jawani Ka Nasha’. In 1944, she married a solicitor from an aristocratic family of Lucknow, Ishtiyaq Ahmed Abbasi. After marriage, she performed worldwide, but not in Lucknow. In 1948, she recorded a session at All India Radio and was later awarded as an ‘A’ grade artist of AIR. She was honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Distinguished Artist Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi. “She died after suffering a heart attack in 1974 while performing at a concert in Ahmedabad and was finally laid to rest in Pasand Bagh in Thakurganj, right next to her mother, Mushtari Begum,” says founder of Sanatkada, Madhavi Kuckreja.TALAT MAHMOODTalat Mahmood, a legendary singer of Bollywood’s golden era, earned the title ‘King of Ghazals’ for his soulful renditions. He became the first Indian singer to embark on world tours in 1956, accompanied by friends and iconic singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh.He was born to Manzoor Mahmood and Rafi-un-Nisa on Feb 24, 1924, in Lucknow. His house was located in what is now known as the Batashe Wali Gali in Aminabad. Talat was exposed to top ghazal singers and poets at mehfils held at his home.These gatherings sparked his interest in music. At 16, he recorded his first ghazal at AIR Lucknow in 1940. Despite his father’s initial disapproval, Talat’s aunt, Mehlaqa Begum, recognized his talent and encouraged his pursuit of music. His father eventually supported his education at Marris Music College (now Bhatkhande University), where he honed his classical music skills under Pt SCR Bhat. Talat faced financial struggles after leaving his father’s house to chase his dreams. Though successful in Lucknow and Calcutta, he faced criticism in Bombay for his soft style. However, Anil Biswas gave him a breakthrough with the hit song ‘Ae dil mujhe aisi jagah le chal’ in the film Arzoo (1950).He dominated the 1950s music scene, singing for top actors like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, and Manoj Kumar. His good looks and velvety voice earned him a massive female fanbase, leading filmmakers to cast him as the lead hero in 13 films opposite stars like Nutan and Mala Sinha. Talat received numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan and Lata Mangeshkar Award.His last global tour was to Europe in 1993. After that, he finally hung up his boots. He passed away in 1998 at his Mumbai home, which is still there in Bandra, called Sunbeam.NAUSHAD ALI Born on Dec 25, 1919, Naushad Ali is celebrated as one of the greatest music directors in the industry, known for incorporating classical music into his compositions, leaving a lasting impact on Indian cinema. Born and raised in Lucknow, Naushad’s musical journey began at a young age. His father, Wahid Ali, was a court clerk. He learned Hindustani music from esteemed gurus like Ustad Ghurbat Ali and Ustad Yusuf Ali. Naushad also honed his skills by repairing harmoniums.At the Royal Theatre in Lucknow, Naushad would often watch silent films accompanied by live music performances. Naushad’s first independent film composition was for ‘Prem Nagar’ (1940), a film set in Kutch that showcased his research into the region’s folk music. His breakthrough came with AR Kardar’s ‘Nayi Duniya’ (1942), where he was formally credited as a “music director”. And with Rattan (1944), he joined the top league. It started a dream run that included films like Baiju Bawra (1952), Aan (1952), Uran Khatola (1955), Mughal-e-Azam (1960). He passed away on May 5, 2006 in Mumbai due to cardiac arrest at 86.JAVED AKHTAR Born on Jan 17, 1945, Javed Akhtar is a celebrated Indian screenwriter, lyricist, and poet. Renowned for his impactful work in Hindi cinema, he has garnered numerous accolades, including five National Film Awards, Padma Shri (1999), and Padma Bhushan (2007). As part of the iconic duo Salim-Javed, Akhtar’s breakthrough came with the 1973 film ‘Zanjeer’, followed by timeless classics like ‘Deewaar’ and ‘Sholay’ (1975). Later, as a lyricist, he won multiple National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards, cementing his legacy as one of Hindi cinema’s greatest screenwriters.Born in Gwalior in 1945, Akhtar hails from a family steeped in literary tradition. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a renowned Urdu poet and Hindi film songwriter. His ancestors, including his grandfather Muztar Khairabadi and great-grandfather Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, were distinguished poets and scholars. Originally named ‘Jadoo’ after a line from his father’s poem, Akhtar was later given his official name due to its similarity. He spent most of his childhood and schooling years in Lucknow.AMITABH BHATTACHARYA Born into a Bengali family, lyricist and playback singer Amitabh Bhattacharya did schooling in Lucknow at Spring Dale College, Indiranagar, in 1995, followed by graduation from Lucknow University in 1999. Bhattacharya began his career as a playback singer in the 2000s and gained recognition for writing lyrics for Amit Trivedi’s compositions in ‘Dev D’. He has collaborated extensively with music director Pritam, penning lyrics for hits like ‘Barfi!’, ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, ‘Dangal’, and ‘Brahmastra’, among others. Bhattacharya has won numerous awards, including the National Film Award for ‘Agar Zindagi’ from ‘I Am’, and a record nine awards for ‘Channa Mereya’.JUHI CHATURVEDI Juhi Chaturvedi, a Lucknow-born screenwriter, has penned scripts for notable Bollywood films like ‘Vicky Donor’ (2012), ‘Piku’ (2015), ‘October’ (2018), and ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ (2020). A graduate from Lucknow College of Arts, Chaturvedi’s work has earned her several prestigious awards, including the 2013 Filmfare Award for Best Story for ‘Vicky Donor’, and the National Film Award for Best Original Screenplay and Best Dialogues, as well as the 2016 Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for Piku.
