Sabiha Khanum

Sabiha Khanum^[1] (Punjabi, Urdu: صبیحہ خانم‎, born Mukhtar Begum, 16 October 1935 in Gujrat) is a Pakistani film actress. She was the leading star of Pakistani cinema in the 1950s and 1960s and continued to play award-winning roles for films in the 1980s and 1990s. She also acted in some award-winning television dramas.

Most of Sabiha's movies were with her husband playing the lead role opposite her, the late Santosh Kumar (Syed Musa Raza). Sabiha and Santosh were highly regarded as the "perfect couple" by the public and they had built up a substantial fan following.

Early life

Mukhtar Begum or Sabiha Khanum is the daughter of Mohammad Ali (Maahia) from Delhi and Iqbal Begum (Baalu) from Amritsar, Punjab, India. She was raised in a conservative rural environment by her grandparents, but got her first acting opportunity on stage in Lahore, after moving there to be with her father.

A cultural delegation visited a cinema house in Sialkot, Pakistan in 1948. Mukhtar Begum (then a young girl in 1948), who was part of the delegation, sang the Punjabi song "Kithhay gae yoon pardesia way" from the film Sassi Punnoon (which starred Baalu and Aslam). Her performance was praised, and soon Mohammad Ali introduced his daughter to a noted stage drama writer and poet, Nafees Khaleeli. Noting her determination, Khaleeli offered her a role in the drama Buut Shikan, which she accepted. Nafees Khaleeli gave her the screen name of Sabiha Khanum.

Her Current Life

She lives with her daughter in Leesburg, Virginia, USA.

Her career

On Nafees Khaleeli's request, the film director Masood Pervez offered her a role in the film Beli (1950), giving Sabiha her debut as a film actress in 1950. Beli was also the first film of Masood Pervez as a director; the cast was Santosh Kumar, Shaheena and Sabiha Khanum.

Next Sabiha played the role of 'Noori' in famous director/producer Anwar Kamal Pasha's Silver Jubilee film Do Ansoo (1950), starring Santosh, Gulshan Ara and Sabiha.

Sabiha gained some more recognition in her next movie Aaghosh, directed by Murtaza Jilani, starring Santosh, Sabiha, and Gulshan Ara. Her role, in the film 'Ghulam', released in 1953, directed by Anwar Kamal Pasha, with Santosh was also well received.Film directors admired her ability to improvise because she was talented and ambitious.

Her role in the film Gumnaam (1954) was also appreciated by the movie-goers. The movie was directed by Anwar Kamal Pasha, starring Seema, Sudhir and Sabiha Khanum. This film is a story about a mentally retarded girl, played by Sabiha, is a pleasure to watch. She played the role of 'Nooran' in the romantic Punjabi film, Dulla Bhatti (1956) directed by M.S. Daar and this movie celebrated its Golden Jubilee at the Pakistani cinemas.

Sabiha was cast opposite all renowned actors of her time. However, she will be remembered most for her films with Santosh Kumar. Along the way, she found the love of her life - Santosh Kumar. Once married, they had a successful marriage and had 3 kids together.

Movie-goers were treated to a succession of films about popular romance like the film Waada (1957) starring Sabiha and Santosh. This film was followed by another spate of magnificent movies, which provided countless hours of pleasure to millions of their fans. Sheikh Chilli (1958), Aas Paas (1957), Sassi (1954), Sohni (1955), Choti Begum (1956), Daata (1957), Hatim (1956), Saat Laakh (1957), Dil Mein Tu (1958), Ayaz (1960), Mehfil (1955) , Pervaaz (1954), Toofan (1955) and Ishq-E-Laila (1957) are a few names to mention.

Sabiha's achievement along with Santosh Kumar in the following films is still noteworthy ; Mukhra (1958), Muskurahat (1959), Rishta (1963), Hasrat (1958), Ishrat, Shikwa (1963), Teray Baghair (1959), Mauseeqar (1962), Dulhan, Kaneez (1965 film), Dewar Bhabi (1967), Shaam Dhalay (1960), Pak Daman (1969), Anjuman (1970), Sarfarosh (1956), Inteqaam (1955), Qatil (1955), Sawaal (1966), Commander (1968), and Mohabbat (1972). Her role in the film Anjuman (1970 film) was very well-liked. Director Hasan Tariq's films Tehzeeb (1971) and Ik Gunah Aur Sahi (1975), Director Zia Sarhadi's film Rah Guzar (1960), Director Zahoor Raja's film Deewana (1964) and Director Jameel Akhtar's film Aik Raat.

Sabiha Khanum, the first lady of the Pakistani silver screen, won the Pride of Performance award from the Government of Pakistan in 1986.

The following two national songs which she sang at the Pakistan Television program Silver Jubilee in 1982 were appreciated by the audience:

• Sohni dharti Allah rakhay qadam qadam aabad tujhay
• Jug jug jeeye mera pyara watan, lub pay dua hai dil mein lagun

In Anwar Maqsood's stage show, Silver Jubilee, she rendered the following song Yaad karoon tujhay sham saweray from the film Mauseeqar (1962). As the final lyrics faded away that evening, the audience stood up and applauded.

Sabiha Khanum, who has been in the public eye for four decades, finally retired, and now lives with her eldest daughter in the U.S.A. Her son and the youngest daughter are also settled there.

Awards

Sabiha Khanum has won several Nigar awards:

• Best actress for the film Saat lakh in 1957
• Best actress for the film Shikwa in 1963
• Special award for the film Dewar Bhabi in 1967
• Special award for the film Ik Gunah Aur Sahi in 1975
• Special award for her thirty years of acting career in 1981
• Best supporting actress in director Hasan Tariq's film Sangdil in 1982

'Her Filmography'^[2]

References

External links

• Sabiha Khanum - First Lady of Pakistani Cinema, Sabiha Khanum Biography on cineplot.com website, Retrieved 16 Dec 2015
• Sabiha Khanum's filmography with online movies, Sabiha Khanum's Filmography, Retrieved 16 Dec 2015
• Sabiha Khanum at the Internet Movie Database, Sabiha Khanum Filmography on IMDb website, Retrieved 16 Dec 2015