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Begum Akhtar

Born Akhtari Bai Faizabadi

1914–1974

Ghazal

About Begum Akhtar

The Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals), Begum Akhtar was the foremost female ghazal singer of the 20th century. Trained in both Hindustani classical music and the lighter thumri and dadra forms, she brought aristocratic Lucknowi refinement and raw emotional power to Urdu poetry. Her voice defined the sound of romantic longing in Indian music.