Few voices have carried as much pain, poetry, grace, and gravitas as that of Begum Akhtar. Celebrated as the Mallika-e-Ghazal, she was an unparalleled figure in the world of Hindustani music. Mentored by the finest musicians of her time, she played a pivotal role in popularizing ghazals, thumris, and dadras as art forms beyond elite circles, making them accessible to a wider audience.

This unique musical storytelling experience interweaves narration by Poet-Author Yatindra Mishra with soulful renditions by Singer Malini Awasthi and her ensemble, retracing her musical journey and the Awadhi culture that shaped her artistry. This layered experience invites the audience to know both the woman and the artist behind the legend.

Join us for a heartfelt homage, celebrating the eternal legacy of the Queen of Ghazals.

Who Was Begum Akhtar?

Born Akhtari Bai Faizabadi in 1914, Begum Akhtar grew up amidst the syncretic culture of Awadh, a world where poetry and melody were inseparable. Her first public performance at the age of ten, at a fundraiser for victims of the 1924 Bihar earthquake, hinted at the prodigious talent that would one day enthrall the nation.

Akhtar’s life was as layered as her music—from early training under classical stalwarts like Ustad Ata Mohammad Khan, to her brief flirtation with theatre and cinema, and eventually her ascent as the face of ghazal. Amarendra Nandu Dhaneshwar once said, “Longing and eternal dard (pain) defined Akhtar’s music.”

Her Work and What It Meant

What set Begum Akhtar apart was her ability to turn music into a personal dialogue. She brought ghazal, dadra, and thumri—forms once confined to courts and salons—into the hearts of ordinary people. Poetry gained new resonance thanks to her songs like Koyalia Mat Kar Pukar, Hamari Ataria Pe Aao Sajanwa, and her iconic renditions of Ghalib’s Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat and Mere Humnafas.

Her voice was a bridge—between Mir Taqi Mir and the gramophone, between tradition and technology. While she never pursued pure khayal singing, she infused its discipline into the ghazal, lifting it from the kothas to the grand stage and the radio waves. For many, listening to her was like hearing their own sorrows articulated with words and melody. In her music, listeners found companionship in longing.

Inspiration and Legacy

Begum Akhtar’s story is not just about songs—it is also about breaking barriers. At a time when women in music were often dismissed or tied to the tawaif tradition, she reclaimed that space, restoring its grace and sophistication. She became a mentor to Shanti Hiranand, Rita Ganguly, and Anjali Bannerjee, paving the way for middle-class women to enter a field long dominated by men. As vocalist Shruti Sadolikar once remarked, “We, the female exponents of classical and popular music, should be grateful to Akhtar and her peers.”

Her life, like her music, carried contradictions—a constant yearning for respectability even as she embodied a cultural legacy that society often looked down upon. Yet, it is precisely this duality that makes her iconic.

Half a century after her passing, her presence continues to echo through tributes like Dastan-e-Akhtari. And as we celebrate her 110th birth anniversary, it is clear that her voice is not just history but living memory. Begum Akhtar showed women—and the world—that one could sing of longing, rebel with grace, and still be eternal.