Pakistan remembers legendary playback singer Zubaida Khanum on her 13th  death anniversary

Pakistan is remembering legendary playback singer Zubaida Khanum on her 13th death anniversary recognising her lasting contribution to Urdu and Punjabi film music during the early years of the country’s cinema industry.

LAHORE: Pakistan is remembering legendary playback singer Zubaida Khanum on her 13th death anniversary recognising her lasting contribution to Urdu and Punjabi film music during the early years of the country’s cinema industry.

Khanum died in Lahore on October 19, 2013 at the age of 78. Her recordings remain associated with the golden era of Pakistani cinema particularly the 1950s when film songs played a central role in storytelling and popular entertainment.

Born in Amritsar in 1935, Khanum moved to Lahore with her family following the Partition of the subcontinent in 1947. She subsequently emerged as one of the prominent female playback singers of Pakistan’s developing film industry.

According to biographical records, she began her singing career with the film Billo in 1951 and gained wider recognition through the Punjabi film Shehri Babu in 1953.

During the following years, Khanum established herself through songs recorded for both Urdu and Punjabi films. Her film credits included Pattan, Heer and Patay Khan in 1955 followed by Chann Mahi and Dulla Bhatti in 1956.

An obituary published by The Independent reported that she recorded approximately 250 songs throughout her career. Her work included solo performances and duets helping shape the musical identity of Pakistani cinema during its formative decades.

Although Khanum also appeared in a small number of films as an actress playback singing remained her principal contribution to the entertainment industry.

Her career, however, was relatively short. She stepped away from film singing during the 1960s after marrying film cameraman Riaz Bokhari choosing to focus on family life.

Despite her early departure from the industry, Khanum’s contribution continued to receive recognition. In 2020, the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture marked her seventh death anniversary with an event that included the inauguration of a folk studio and performances of her songs.

The occasion highlighted her importance to Punjabi culture and the musical traditions she helped preserve through her recordings.

Khanum’s legacy reflects the essential role playback singers played in South Asian cinema, supplying the voices behind memorable on-screen performances. More than a decade after her death, her songs remain a significant part of Pakistan’s classic film music heritage.