MUMBAI: Legendary singer Shamshad Begum, one of the first playback singers in Bollywood died at her Mumbai residence at the age of 94. She was not keeping well for past few months and was admitted to the hospital.

She started her career in 1933 at the early age of 14. Her voice caught the attention of sarangi maestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale Saheb and composer Ghulam Haider. Later in the early 1940s, Lahore based Haider gave her a chance to sing in his movies like Khazanchi and Khandaan.

Shamshad moved to Bombay in 1944 with her mentor Haider and started staying with her paternal uncle. She made her debut on Peshawar Radio in 1947.

She is known for the songs like ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon‘, ‘Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar‘, ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala‘, ‘Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana‘, ‘Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re‘, ‘Saiyan Dil Mein Aana Re‘, ‘Leke Pehla Pehla Pyar‘ and ‘Chod Babul Ka Ghar‘. She also sang four songs in Mother India.
In 2009, she was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, India‘s third-highest civilian award.

She was living with her daughter Usha Ratra and son in law in Powai, after her husband Ganpat Lal Batto‘s death in 1955.