Jagjit Kaur – Hindi playback singer who predominantly sings folk songs and ghazals

Jagjit Kaur, wife of legendary Bollywood composer Khayyam is an Indian playback singer who predominantly worked in Hindi cinema. She is best known for rendering her voice for some of the beautiful folk, classical and ghazals songs composed by her husband. She has been associated with playback singing since early 1950s and was involved with cine world till 1980s. Tum apna ranj–o-gham apni pareshani mujhe de do from Shagun composed by her husband is one among the few memorable songs she sang for Bollywood. Most of her songs, quite a few are regarded as folk gems of Bollywood cinema.

Jagjit Kaur belonged to an aristocratic family from Punjab. When she married Khayyam in 1954, it was one of the first inter-communal marriages in the Indian film industry. Since then she supported her husband in his professional career, and also helped him in composing and arranging tunes. She used to sing at least a single track for the album composed by her husband. The couple formed a charitable trust in 2016, and named it as Khayyam Jagjeet Kaur KPG Charitable Trust to support budding artists and technicians in India. The couple took inspiration from their only son who died of heart attack in 2012. Khayyam also donated his whole wealth (around 10 crore) for this trust. Khayyam passed away in August 2019 aged 92.

Jagjit Kaur – Some interesting and unknown facts

Jagjit Kaur and her husband Khayyam

1. As Kaur helped her husband in many of his compositions, he wanted gave credit to her also, and change the professional name to Khayyam-Jagjit Kaur. But she was against this idea.

2. She sang at least one song for almost all Bollywood films composed by her husband. Aakhri Khat is one of the rare exceptions, with some of the best compositions of Khayyam.

3. She is credited to compelling Kamal Amrohi to complete his dream project, Pakeezah, which got delayed in production for many years since 1958. The movie later earned a cult classic status.

Jagjit Kaur – Top Bollywood Songs

‘Tum Apna Ranjo Gum-Apni Pareshani’ from the movie, Shagoon

1. Tum apna ranj–o-gham apni pareshani mujhe de do from Shagun

2. Dekho dekho ji gori sasural chali from Shagun

3. Khamosh zindagi ko afsaanaa mil gayaa from Dil-e-Nadan

4. Chanda gaaye raagini from Dil-e-Nadan

5. Dekh lo aaaj humko jee bhar ke from Bazaar

6. Chale aao saiyan rangeele main vaari re from Bazaar

7. Saada chidiya da chamba vai from Kabhi Kabhi

8. Kaahe ko byahi bides from Umrao Jaan

9. Pehle to ankh milana from Shola Aur Shabnam

10. Nain milake pyar jata ke aag laga dee from Mera Bhai Mera Dushman