Mala

Early life Mala's given name was Naseem Begum. She was born on 9 November 1942 in Faisalabad, Punjab.

Career Mala was interested in singing and music from a young age. Her elder sister Shamim Nazli happened to be her first music teacher and Naseem learned the basics of music from her. However, the film flopped. Despite the fact that her elder sister got her a break in films, it was the film producer Anwar Kamal Pasha who persuaded Naseem to try her luck and not give up on the Pakistani film industry. Her first hit in films came in 1962. She changed her name to Mala and sang a simple Urdu composition, Aaya re dekho for the film Sooraj Mukhi (1962). The music was composed by Master Inayat Hussain and the song was picturised on actress Yasmin and this film song ended up being a popular song of 1962. The film song lyrics were written by Qateel Shifai.

Death

Mala died on 5 March 1990 and was laid to rest at Miani Sahib Graveyard, Lahore. Later her sister was also buried near her grave.

Popular film songs "Sapnon mein urri urri jaaoon", Sung by Mala, lyrics by Qateel Shifai, music by Rasheed Attre in film Mehboob (1962) "Dil deta hai ro ro duhai kisi se koi pyar na kare", Sung by Sain Akhtar Hussain and Mala, lyrics by Qateel Shifai, music by Master Inayat Hussain in film Ishq Par Zor Nahin (1962) "Mein nein tau pareet nibhai, saanwaria re nikla tu harjai", Sung by Mala, lyrics by Himayat Ali Shair, music by Khalil Ahmed in film Khamosh Raho (1964) "Reham karo ya shah-e-do-aalam" Sung by Mala, lyrics by Fayyaz Hashmi, music by A. Hamid in film Eid Mubarak (1965)