Zubaida Khanum’s songs echo through Pakistan’s film history
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Pakistani playback singer Zubaida Khanum is being remembered on the 13th anniversary of her death in Lahore, Pakistan, with her recordings still representing a key part of the country’s film music history.
Born in Amritsar, India, in 1935, Khanum migrated to Lahore with her family after the Partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.
She began her singing career in 1951, becoming a prominent voice in Urdu and Punjabi cinema during the 1950s when film songs were vital to a movie’s success. Khanum’s work helped define Pakistan’s emerging musical identity, blending Punjabi folk traditions with the broader musical heritage of the region. She provided the singing voice for actors in numerous films, a practice known as playback singing, and also appeared as an actress in a few movies.
According to The Independent, she recorded around 250 songs throughout her career. Although she enjoyed success, Khanum left the film industry in the 1960s after marrying film cameraman Riaz Bokhari to focus on her family. The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) honoured her legacy in 2020 with a commemorative event. She died of a heart attack at her home in Lahore on October 19, 2013, leaving behind a musical legacy that continues to be celebrated.
