# Nayyara Noor

Nayyara Noor (Urdu: نیرہ نور;‎ 3 November 1950 – 20 August 2022) was a Pakistani playback singer, considered one of Pakistan's most popular singers. She was known for performing in live ghazal singing concerts in Pakistani TV shows and in concert halls around the country.

## Early life

Nayyara Noor was born on 3 November 1950 in Guwahati, Assam. Her family and ancestors belonged to a merchant class. Her father was an active member of the All-India Muslim League and had hosted Pakistan's founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah during his trip to Assam before the partition in 1947.
In 1957 or 1958, Noor, along with her mother and siblings, migrated from India to Pakistan, settling in Karachi. However, her father stayed back in Assam until 1993 to look after the family's immovable properties.

## Career

As a child, Nayyara is said to have been inspired by the bhajans of Kanan Devi and Kamla as well as the ghazals and thumris of Begum Akhtar. Although Nayyara had no formal musical background nor formal training, she was discovered by Professor Asrar Ahmad at the Islamia College in Lahore when he heard her sing the Lata Mangeshkar bhajan “Jo tum todo piya” from Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje for her friends and teachers at an annual dinner at the National College of Arts in Lahore in 1968. Soon thereafter, she was asked to sing for the university's Radio Pakistan programs.
In 1971, Nayyara made her public singing debut in Pakistani television serials and then beginning with films such as Gharana (1973) and Tansen. She went on to sing ghazals, a form of song in Urdu poetry, penned by the famous poets such as Ghalib and Faiz Ahmed Faiz and performed with legends such as Mehdi Hassan and Ahmed Rushdi.
In 2012, Nayyara Noor officially announced that she would no longer sing professionally. After her marriage, she maintained that her primary roles were those of a wife and a mother. She said that music was a passion with her but never her top priority.
Nayyara performed at mehfils and mushairas, having cemented a following among ghazal lovers in Pakistan and India. Probably the most famous ghazal of hers was "Ae Jazba-e-Dil Gar Main Chahoon", written by Behzad Lucknavi. She later won many awards for this ghazal.

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Award | Category | Result | Work | Ref. |
| 1973 | Nigar Award | Best playback female singer | Won | Gharana (film) | |
| 2006 | Pride of Performance | Arts | Won | Life time achievement | |
* Three Gold Medal Awards at the annual All Pakistan Music Conference concerts.

## Songography
### Non-film songs/ghazals

She was a versatile singer; the following are some of the ghazals she recorded:
| Song title | Lyrics by | Music by |
| "Ae Jazba e Dil Gar Main Chahun, Har Cheez Muqabil Aajaye" | Behzad Lakhnavi | |
| "Aaj Bazaar Main Pabajaulan Chalo" | Faiz Ahmed Faiz | |
| "Woh Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qarar Tha Tumhein Yaad Ho Keh Na Yaad Ho" | Momin Khan Momin) | |
| "Rang barsaat nay bharay kuchh tou" | Nasir Kazmi | |
| "Phir sawan ruth ki pawan chali tum yaad aaei" | Nasir Kazmi) |
| "Aye ishq hamay barbaad na kar" | Akhtar Sheerani | Khalil Ahmed |
| "Barkha Barsay Chhat Per, Mein Teray Sapnay Deikhuun" | Faiz Ahmed Faiz | |
| "Intesaab" | Faiz Ahmed Faiz | |
| "Kabhi Hum Bhi Khoobssorat Thay" | Ahmed Shamim; for the PTV drama series Teesra Kinara) | |
| "Jalay tau jalao gori" | Ibn-e-Insha) | |

### Notable film songs

| Song title | Lyrics by | Music by | Film and year |
| "Tera Saaya Jahan Bhi Ho Sajana, Palkain Bichha Duun" | Kaleem Usmani | M Ashraf | Gharana (1973) |
| "Aaj Gham Hai Tau Kya, Woh Din Bhi Zaroor Aaeiga, Jab Tera Gham Khushi Mein Badal Jaaega" | Khawaja Pervez | Kamal Ahmad | Mastana (1973) |
| "Roothay Ho Tum, Tumko Kaisay Manauun Piya, Bolo Na" | Taslim Fazli | Robin Ghosh | Aina (1977) |
| "Mujhay Dil Sey Na Bhulana, Chaahay Rokay Zamana" | Taslim Fazli | Robin Ghosh | Aina (1977) |
| "Iss Parcham Kay Saaey Talay Hum Eik Hain" | Kaleem Usmani | M Ashraf | Farz Aur Mamta (1975) |
| "Bol Ree Gurrya Bol" | Masroor Anwar | Nisar Bazmi | Aas (1973) |
| "Too Hee Bata, Pagli Pawan" | Masroor Anwar | M Ashraf | Phool Mere Gulshan Ka (1974) |
| "Itna Bhi Na Chaho Mujhe" | | | Parda Na Uthao (1974) |
| "Tera pyar bun kay Aaye" | | Robin Ghosh | Bhool (1974) |
| "Mausum tau diwana hai" | | | Dou saathi (1975) |
| "Kuchh loag mohabbat ka sila" | | Nashaad | Gumrah (1975) |
| "Toot Gaya Sapna" | | Karim Shahabuddin | Bobby and Julie (1978) |

## Personal life

She was married to Shehryar Zaidi. Her younger son Jaffer Zaidi is the lead vocalist of Kaavish music band, while the elder son Naad-e-Ali has started his career as a solo singer.

## Death

She died on 20 August 2022 in Karachi after a brief illness at the age of 71.