Begum Parveen Sultana — About

Begum Parveen Sultana (b. 24 May 1950) is one of India’s most revered Hindustani classical vocalists, celebrated for her luminous soprano, expansive range, and mastery of the Patiala gharana style. With a career spanning six decades, Begum Parveen Sultana has balanced rigorous classical recital work with memorable playback recordings for Indian cinema, and an extensive recorded discography that includes khayal, thumri, ghazal and devotional music.

Quick snapshot

• Born: 24 May 1950 — Puranigudam, Nagaon, Assam, India

• Gharana: Patiala Gharana (Hindustani classical)

• Active since: 1962 — present

• Signature strengths: Khayal, thumri, classical ghazal, wide vocal range (nearly 4½ octaves)

• Honours: Padma Shri (1976), Padma Bhushan (2014), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1998), Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer (Kudrat, 1982), and several state and national awards.

Biography — concise

Trained under eminent gurus including Acharya Chinmoy Lahiri, Begum Parveen Sultana debuted as a playback singer at a young age for Assamese cinema and soon established herself on the national classical circuit. Over the decades she has given landmark performances at major music festivals, recorded extensively for leading labels, and collaborated closely with Ustad Dilshad Khan (her husband and musical partner) in jugalbandi and duet projects.

Career highlights

• Classical concert circuit: Regular performer at major sabhas and festivals across India and the world; acclaimed for the purity of raga exposition and command over lay and ornamentation.

• Film & playback: Popular film songs include "Hame Tum Se Pyar Kitna" (Kudrat, 1981) and other notable tracks in Pakeezah, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha and more.

• Recordings & collaborations: A rich recorded legacy across labels such as His Master’s Voice, Music India, Magnasound and international releases; numerous duet and jugalbandi albums with Dilshad Khan.

Notable recordings (select)

• An Hour of Ecstasy (classical recital selections)

• Genius of Parveen Sultana (compilation)

• Par Excellence (2011)

• Numerous film songs and devotional recordings — see listening links below.

Awards & honours (select)

• Padma Shri, Government of India (1976)

• Padma Bhushan, Government of India (2014)

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1998)

• Filmfare Award — Best Female Playback Singer (for Kudrat, 1982)

• State honours including Sangeet Samraggi and others

Listen & explore

• Wikipedia profile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parveen_Sultana

• YouTube (performances & film songs): https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Parveen+Sultana

• Padma Awards (Govt. of India): https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/

• Sangeet Natak Akademi: https://sangeetnatak.gov.in/

• General artist searches and streaming: try Spotify/Apple Music by searching Parveen Sultana in your preferred streaming app.

Press, archives & further reading

• Archived profiles at major Indian newspapers and music magazines (search the Assam Tribune archives and national publications for feature articles and interviews).

• Festival recordings and liner notes (look up Savai Gandharva and other festival archives for curated concert descriptions).