Noor Jehan; Pakistan’s ‘Melody Queen’

Noor Jehan, 74, a singer and actress known as the “Melody Queen” in Pakistan. Born in the Indian town of Kasur, in what is now Pakistan’s Punjab province, she appeared in her first film, the Punjabi-language “Pind Di Kuri” (“Village Girl”) in 1935. During a five-decade career, Jehan recorded tens of thousands of songs. With a strong classical touch, she could sing Urdu and Punjabi songs with equal mastery. Her repertoire included light film tunes and patriotic songs. She also starred in numerous films and was honored with Pakistan’s highest Pride of Performance award. “She was the best this country has produced,” said the actor Yousuf Khan. Pakistani state radio and television broadcast extensive tributes to her career after news of her death. Officials of the Pakistani film industry said they would stop all film production for a week out of respect for her life and work. On Saturday of heart failure in the southern port city of Karachi.