Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh (1929 - January 31, 2004) was a singer and actress in Indian films, and was popularly known as Suraiya in the film industry. She became a superstar in the 1940s and 50s during the time when actors sang their own songs. 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Typical Bollywood movie poster Bollywood is the name given to the popular Indian film industry based in Mumbai. ...

Suraiya was born as Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh in Lahore (now in Pakistan) and was the only child of her parents. She was a dark plain looking girl and was not trained in music, however she went on to become a successful actress and singer. She had been educated in New Girls' High School in Bombay. Simultaneously she was given religious teachings in Persian at home. Her study of Persian literature and Quran, helped her build up her personality. She made her debut as a child artist in Usne Kya Socha (1937). Her films as a child artist ran between 1937 and 1941 She got a break in films with the help of her uncle Zahoor, who was a popular villain of his time. She had accompanied her uncle to the sets of Taj Mahal, a 1941 movie by Nanubhai Vakil. Vakil noticed the 12-year old girl and chose her to play the role of a young Mumtaz Mahal. Suraiya started her career as a singer the following year when she sang for actress Mehtab under music director Naushad for the movie Sharda. Naushad had heard her voice on the All India Radio where she sang for a children's programme at the insistence of friend Raj Kapoor and neighbour Madan Mohan. Lahore (لاەور) is a major city in Pakistan and is the capital of the province of Punjab. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Persian can refer to: the Western name for Iranian (see Iran/Persia naming controversy) the Persian Empire the Persians the Persian language the Persian (cat) breed the Persian melon the Persian lamb the Persian rug (or carpet) the Persian type of Pokémon character See also Persia (disambiguation page) List... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... See also: 1940 in film 1941 1942 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Top grossing films Sergeant York Buck Privates, starring Abbott and Costello Tobacco Road Academy Awards Best Picture: How Green Was My Valley - 20th Century-Fox Best Actor: Gary Cooper - Sergeant York Best Actress... Arjumand Banu Begum was born April 1593 in Agra. ... Naushad Ali (born 1919) is one of the foremost music composers of Bollywood. ... All India Radio is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India), an autonomous corporation of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. ... Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor (December 14, 1924 - June 3, 1988) was a legendary actor, director, and producer of Bollywood(Indian) movies. ... Madan Mohan Kohli (June 25, 1924 - July 14, 1975), better known as Madan Mohan, was a famed Bollywood film music director of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. ...

Her sweet voice was her biggest asset and attraction to others. And literally she sang her way to success because it was actually her voice that got her, her major break in the dream world of movies.

She initially started by playing secondary roles in films like K. Asif's Phool (1944), Mehboob's Anmol Ghadi (1946) and Dard (1947). She got the break as a heroine for the movie Tadbir (1945) at the recommendation of K. L. Saigal who liked her voice during a rehearsal. She went on to co-star with Saigal for two more films Omar Khayyam (1946) and Parwana (1947). See also: 1943 in film 1944 1945 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events July 20 - Since You Went Away is released. ... See also: 1945 in film 1946 1947 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Top grossing films North America The Bells of St. ... See also: 1946 in film 1947 1948 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York. ... See also: 1944 in film 1945 1946 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Paramount Studios releases theatrical short cartoon titled The Friendly Ghost, featuring ghost named Casper With Rossellinis Roma Città aperta, Italian neorealist cinema begins. ... See also: 1945 in film 1946 1947 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Top grossing films North America The Bells of St. ... See also: 1946 in film 1947 1948 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York. ...

More opportunities appeared for Suraiya after reigning actress Noorjehan migrated to Pakistan during the 1947 partition. Suraiya had an edge over her contemporaries Kamini Kaushal and Nargis because she could sing her own songs. The years 1948-49 were the best of her career. After three hits Pyar Ki Jeet (1948), Badi Bahen and Dillagi (1949), she became the highest paid female star. Nur Jehan (alternative spelling Noor Jehan, Nur Jahan, etc. ... A photo of Nargis from the movie Andaaz. ... See also: 1947 in film 1948 1949 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Top grossing films North America The Red Shoes, (55th in year of release, lifetime box office would place it in first) The Road to Rio Easter Parade Red River The Three Musketeers, Johnny... See also: 1948 in film 1949 1950 in film 1940s in film 1950s in film years in film film Events Top grossing films North America Adams Rib Jolson Sings Again Pinky I Was a Male War Bride, The Snake Pit, Joan of Arc Academy Awards Best Picture: All the...

Her reign at the top was brief and her films started flopping in the 1950s. She made a comeback with Waaris and Mirza Ghalib (1954). Her last film was Rustom Sohrab (1963) following which she kept away from films. She stayed at "Krishna Mahal", her Marine Drive residence in Mumbai until her death in 2004. See also: 1953 in film 1954 1955 in film 1950s in film years in film film Events May 12 - The Marx Brothers Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda. ... See also: 1962 in film 1963 1964 in film 1960s in film years in film film Events June 12 — Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City. ... Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई ) (pronounced in Marathi, and in English), formerly known as Bombay (IPA: ), is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is the most populous Indian city with a 2005 estimated population of about 13 million. ...

Suraiya was romantically involved with actor Dev Anand and the two of them did six films together. During the shooting of a song, a boat capsized and Dev Anand saved Suraiya from drowning. She fell in love with him but her grandmother opposed the relationship. Suraiya remained unmarried all her life. Dev Anand in Taxi Driver Dev Anand (born September 26, 1923) is an Indian actor and film producer. ...

She died of old age in 2004 at the age of 75.

External links

• Suraiya at the Internet Movie Database
• Suraiya page from upperstall.com
• Suraiya profile from santabanta.com
• Suraiya profile from musicindiaonline.com