On January 31, 2004, Bollywood lost a gem. Suraiya, the untrained vocalist who became ‘Suron Ki Malika,’ left behind a treasure trove of 330 songs and 70 films. Hailing from Lahore in 1929, her Mumbai childhood was scored by legends’ records, sparking a lifelong love for music.
Radio performances led to her precocious debut at 12 in ‘Taj Mahal.’ Naushad’s faith in her for ‘Sharda’ unleashed a singing supernova. Hits flowed in films like ‘Pyar Ki Jeet,’ ‘Jeet,’ ‘Shama,’ blending acting finesse with vocal magic.
Dev Anand collaborations sizzled, their off-screen saga adding intrigue. Saigal’s patronage opened doors. Standout songs—’O Door Jaane Wale,’ ‘Tera Khayal Dil Se’—defy time.
Post-‘Rustam Sohrab,’ she vanished from public view, dwelling alone by the sea. Her departure marks not an end, but a perpetual serenade in cinema history.