Zarina Begum

Zarina Begum (1930–2018) was an Indian singer and vocalist from Lucknow, widely regarded as the last of the royal court singers of Awadh. She became known for her expressive and graceful singing, a style that evoked the refined culture of Lucknow.

The Kathak dancer and founder of the Sufi Kathak Foundation, Manjari Chaturvedi, first met Zarina Begum in 1999, when she performed live with Chaturvedi for her "Courtesan Project".

In 2015, the Government of Uttar Pradesh conferred the first Begum Akhtar Award on Zarina Begum, along with a monetary prize of ₹3 lakh.

Personal life Early in her career, Zarina faced a difficult choice between a secure arranged marriage and her music.

Awards and recognition Year !! Award !! Category !! Result !! Title !! Ref. While male court performers, or ustads, were granted respect, female performers like Zarina were often subjected to social stigma, despite their immense talent. The rediscovery and preservation of her art through projects like Chaturvedi's have sparked a broader interest in documenting and archiving the art of other traditional performers from this era.