Mai Bhagi
Mai Bhagi | |
|---|---|
| مائي ڀاڳي | |
 Mai Bhagi in the 1970s | |
| Born | Bhagbhari c. 1920 |
| Died | 7 July 1986 (aged 65–66) |
| Occupation | Folk Singer |
| Years active | 1958 - 1986 |
| Awards | Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan (1981) |
Mai Bhagi (Sindhi:مائي ڀاڳي) (c. 1920 – 7 July 1986) was a Sindhi folk singer and musician.
Early life and career[edit]
Born Bhag Bhari in Mithi in Thar, Sindh in 1920.[1] Mai Bhagi grew up in a village in the Thar Desert. Her father was Wanhyun Fakir and her mother was Khadija Maganhar. Both her parents were known singers in their region at that time.[2]
Mai Bhagi's birth name was Bhag Bhari (which means 'a lucky person'). She was married to folk singer Hothi Fakir at the age of 16 in Islamkot Tharparkar. Then she shifted to Mithi Tharparkar in 1950 permanently.[3] Record producer Sheikh Ghulam Hussain, husband of Pakistani folk singer Abida Parveen, offered her the opportunity to record at the Radio Pakistan studios, and later her records were played on the radio. She started singing on Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad her folk song 'Kharee neem kay neeche' (underneath a neem tree) from 1960.[2][1] Bhagi was paid only 20 rupees for this first radio broadcast. According to a major newspaper of Pakistan, "But it wasn't until she sang it on the state-owned PTV in 1974 that the song became a national mainstream hit and turned Bhagi into a Sindhi/Thari folk star".[2][3][1]
Her other folk songs 'Saman Sai Maan Ta Goli Ghulam Tohinji Dar Ji' became very popular among the Pakistani people and secured her stardom, her folk song 'Murli Wari Man Mohiyo also became popular in the rural areas of Sindh. The government of Pakistan provided financial support for her to tour overseas, and she continued her career in music until her death on 7 July 1986.[1][2]
You can read complete documentary of Mai Bhagi on popular Sindhi music website 'Media Music Mania'.[4] Further Complete detailed Biography and selected best songs of Mai Bhagi listen on.[5]
Awards and recognition[edit]
- Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1981.[3]
- Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Award[3]
- Sachal Sarmast Award[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Death anniversary of legendary folk singer Mai Bhagi being observed today". Radio Pakistan website. 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d Nadeem F. Paracha (15 May 2014). "12 songs from Pakistan's mountains, deserts, shrines and streets". Dawn newspaper. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "30th Death Anniversary of Mai Bhagi observed". The Pioneer website. 8 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "'Documentary Mai Bhagi'". Media Music Mania.
- ^ "'Complete Biography and Songs of Mai Bhagi'". Media Music Mania - Best Music Songs Download.
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- 1920s births
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- Sindhi people
- Singers from Sindh
- Sindhi-language singers
- Sindhi music
- People from Tharparkar District
- Performers of Sufi music
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