Begum Parveen Sultana (born 10 July 1950) is an Indian Hindustani classical singer of the Patiala Gharana.
She was awarded the Padma Shri (1976), Padma Bhushan (2014) by the Government of India, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1998, given by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama.
Parveen was born at Daccapatty in Nagaon city, Assam, India to Ikramul Mazid of Afghanistan and Maroofa Begum of Iran. Parveen's grandparents were from Afghanistan but later immigrated to Iran. She went to Mission School. One day while watching her humming in Ikramul's lap, Maroofa noticed daughter Parveen's talent and asked her husband to teach her. Parveen's father was her first guru and was very strict with her, permitting her to only listen to Lata Mangeshkar and established Indian Classical vocalists. She also received some early training from her grandfather Mohammed Najeef Khan, a Pathan. She later learned music from Birendra Kumar Phukan and Hiren Sarma and then on her father's suggestion, she later learned music from Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri of Bengal. Parveen met her next guru and future husband Dilshad Khan one day while he visited Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri's home. He later accepted her as his disciple. Parveen sang her first duet (jugalbandi) with Dilshad Khan at Jashn Festival concert in Afghanistan. Parveen enjoys both vegetarian/non-vegetarian foods and is allergic to yogurt. Parveen faced a large mirror while practicing for hours to ensure her posture and facial expressions wouldn't look ugly or unsuitable for stage performances.
Career
Parveen gave her first stage performance in 1962 when she was 12 and has been recording music since 1965. She has started her professional career with Abdul Majid's Assamese Film Morom Trishna. Sultana has sung for Bollywood movies such as Gadar, Kudrat, Do Boond Pani, and Pakeezah, and several other Assamese films. Recently, she sang the theme song of Vikram Bhatt's 1920. She also sang Humein Tumse Pyaar Kitna for the film Kudrat in 1981.
She has recorded for HMV, Polydor, Music India, Bharat Records, Auvidis, Magnasound, Sonodisc, and Amigo.
She is married to Ustad Dilshad Khan. They have one daughter.
Awards and recognition
Padma Shri award, 1976
Gandharva Kalanidhi, 1980
Miyan Tansen Prize, 1986
Sangeet Samraggi conferred by the Assam Government, 1994
Filmfare Best Female Playback Award--Kudrat (1981) for the song "Hame Tumse Pyar Kitna"
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1999
Srimant Sankardev award by the Assam government
2014: Padma Bhushan by Government of India
Discography
An hour of Ecstasy (Raga Madhuwanti/Raga Gorakh Kalyan/Raga Mishra Bhairavi thumri/Bhajan)
Narayani (Raga Narayani)
Ghazals
Young Voices of India (Modern Ghazals)- Maikada se utha ke pila Saaqiya
Begum Parveen Sultana- (Raga Salag Varali todi/Raga Lalita/ Raga Khamaj thumri)
Enchanting Bhajans (Raga Rageshri/Bhajan/Bhajan/Bhajan)
Ethereal Duo- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Marwa/Raga Kaushi Nat/Raga Mishra Bhairavi thumri)
Genius of Parveen Sultana (Raga Kalavati/Raga Rageshri/Hori thumri/Malhar Mala bhajan)
Homage to Guru (Raga Shyam Kauns/Raga Shuddh Sarang/Raga Mishra Kafi hori thumri)
Impeccable Soprano Parveen Sultana & Innovative Tenor Dilshad Khan- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Rageshri/Raga Hansdhwani)
Innovation Greets Tradition (Raga Sarang Kauns/Raga Miya ki Malhar)
Khayal & Thumri (Raga Kusumi Kalyan/Raga Mangal Bhairav/Raga Bhairavi thumri)
Marvellous Jugalbandi- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Bhatiyaar/Raga Kaushi Kanada)
Megh-Manavi (Raga Megh/Raga Manavi/Raag Hemant thumri)
One Plus One...In Harmony- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Multani/Raga Puriya Dhanashri)
Le Chant Khayal de Parveen Sultana et Dilshad Khan- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Kalavati/Raga Megh Malhar/Raga Bageshri/Raga Mishra Pahadi thumri)
Two Voices- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Puriya Dhanashri/Raga Hansdhwani/Raga Bhairavi sadra)
Phenomenal Performance (Raga Ahir Bhairav/Raga Nand Kauns/Raga Bhairavi sadra)
Parveen Sultana Sings Rare Melodies (Raga Rajni Kalyan/Raga Deen Todi)
Khayal Se Bhajan Tak- with Dilshad Khan (Vol 1 to Vol 4)
Duologue in Raga- with Dilshad Khan (Raga Kedar bhajan/Raga Leelavati/Raga Rageshri/Raga Todi) 1992
From Dawn Until Night (De l'aube à la nuit) - with Dilshad Khan (Raga Gujri todi/Raga Kuvalaya Bhairav/Raga Ambika Sarang/Raga Bhoopali tarana/Raga Amba Manohari/Raga Jog/Raga Mishra Bhairavi thumri/Meera bhajan/Brahmanand bhajan) 1995
Parveen (Raga Rageshri/Raga Mishra Mand) 2004
Simply Divine (Raga Puriya Dhanashri/Raga Mishra Khamaj thumri/Raga Mishra Kedar bhajan) 2004
Maestro's Choice Parveen Sultana (Raga Maru Bihag/Raga Amba Manohari/Raga Hansdhwani tarana) 2006
Safar (Raga Maru Bihag/Raga Hansdhwani tarana/Raga Bhairavi sadra/Meera bhajan/Sai bhajan)
Live from Savai Gandharva Music Festival (Raga Gujri todi/Raga Jaunpuri/Kabir Bhajan); (Raga Jog/Raga Gurjri todi/Marathi song); (Raga Lalit/Raga Komal Bhairav)
Par Excellence (Raga Madhuwanti/Raga Jog/Raga Maluha Mand) 2011
Zen Harmony (Raga Gujri todi/Meera Bhajan)
Filmography
Parween also lent her voice to several songs in films throughout the years.
Pakeezah- Kaun gali gayo Shyam, Ban ban bole Koyaliya
Do Boond Paani- Pital ki meri Gaagri
Parwana- Piya ki gali
Mukti Asm (Assamese)- Sakhiyoti Jhilmil Paakhi
Sonma (Assamese)- Notun Tomaar Chorandhani
Khoj- Ram kare mora Saiyaa ho aise
Razia Sultan- Shubh Ghadi aayi re
Ashray(the Shelter) - Shab-e-Intezaar mein kyu hai Gumsum Tamannaaye, Ae Mohabbat yu hi to tu Badnaam nahi, Dev puji puji Hindu muye
Tohfa Mohabbat ka- Prem ka Granth Padhaau
Shaadi kar lo- Na tum hato...na tum hate (Qawwali)
Vijeta- Bichhurat mose Kanha
Kalankini Kankabati (Bengali)- Bedechhi Beena gaan Shonaabo
Sharda- Yeh Bahut Khushi ki Nishaani hai
Kudrat- Humein tum se Pyaar Kitna
Anmol- Koi ishq ka rog
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha- Aan milo Sajna
1920- Vaada tum se hai Vaada
