# List of Begum Akhtar songs

This is a list of songs recorded or performed by Begum Akhtar (1914–1974), an Indian singer of Hindustani classical music. Akhtar, who was also an actress, was proficient at dadra, thumri, and ghazals. Cited as "one of India's finest ghazal singers", she was referred to as Mallika-E-Tarannum or Mallika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazals). Akhtar's first recording was a combination of ghazals and dadras for the HMV label. She recorded or performed a total of 167 songs during her career, among which twenty were for films.
Akhtar's performances were in the nature of a classical presentation, with the accompaniment of the tabla, sitar, and harmonium. Her rendering of Ghalib's ghazals made her a household name.
Born Akhtaribai Faizabadi, she begaan her career as a mehfil singer and became famous when she sang at the Bihar earthquake music conference in 1934. On the basis of her popularity, she received offers to appear in films, starting her career with Ek Din Ka Badshah and Nal Damayanti (1933), produced by the East India Company, in Calcutta. In 1942, Akhtar was cast by Mehboob Khan in the film Roti, in which she both sang and acted. In 1945, she married Ishtiaq Ahmed Abbasi, Nawab of Kakoli, putting her career on hold for five years. She returned to film with Dana Pani (1953) and Ehsan (1954). After 1956, Akhtar stopped working in film but continued performing on stage. Her repertoire included the ghazals of Mirza Ghalib, Momin, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Jigar Moradabadi, Shakeel Badayuni, Mir Taqi Mir, Sauda, and Shamim Jaipuri.

## Non-film
### Poets

| Poet | No. | Song | Notes | Composer |
| Jan Nisar Akhtar | 1 | "Bujhi Hui Shama Ka Dhuan" | Traditional | Murli Manohar Swarup |
| Kaifi Azmi | 2 | "Itna To Zindagi Me Kisi Ki Khalal Pade" | Traditional | |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 3 | "Ae Mohabbat Tere Anjaam Pe Rona Aaya" | Traditional | Murli Manohar Swarup |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 4 | "Door Hain Manzil Raahein Mushkil" | Raga Pilu | Mohammed Zahur Khaiyyam |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 5 | "Mere Humnafas Mere Humnawa" | | |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 6 | "Ye Maikhana Hai" | | Khaiyyam |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 7 | "Khush Hoon Ke Mera Husn-E-Talab Kaam Toh Aaya" | | |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 8 | "Sahabae Garaj Thi Shola Phish" | | |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 9 | "Sharab-E-Naab Ko" | Ghazal | Khaiyyam |
| Shakeel Badayuni | 10 | "Zindagi Ka Dard Lekar" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Khumar Barabankvi | 11 | "Jhunjlae Hain Lajaaye Hain" | | Murli Manohar Swarup |
| Behzad Lucknavi | 12 | "Diwana Banaana Hai To Diwana Bana De" | Traditional | Begum Akhtar |
| Behzad Lucknavi | 13 | "Kash Itna Mere Naalon Mein Asar Ho Jaaye" | Ghazal | |
| Behzad Lucknavi | 14 | "Un Aankhon Ka Aalam Gulabi Gulabi" | Ghazal | |
| Daagh Dehlvi | 15 | "Rasm-e-Ulfat Sikha Gaya Koyi" | Ghazal | |
| Daagh Dehlvi | 16 | "Uzr Aane Mein Bhi Hai Aur Bulate Bhi Nahin" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Daagh Dehlvi | 17 | "Ulti Ho Gain Sab Tadabiren" | Ghazal | |
| Faiz Ahmed Faiz | 18 | "Sham-E-Firaq Ab Na Poochh" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Faiz Ahmed Faiz | 19 | "Aaye Kuchh Abr Kuchh Sharab Aaye" | Ghazal | |
| Faiz Ahmed Faiz | 20 | "Donon Jahan Teri Mohabbat Mein Haar Ke" | Ghazal | |
| Sudarshan Fakir | 21 | "Apanon Ke Sitam Ham Se Bataae Nahin Jaate" | Ghazal | Begum Akhtar |
| Sudarshan Fakir | 22 | "Ishq Mein Ghairat-e-Jazbat" | Ghazal | Khaiyyam |
| Sudarshan Fakir | 23 | "Koyalia Mat Kar Pukar" | Raga Manj Khamaj | Khaiyyam |
| Sudarshan Fakir | 24 | "Kuchh Toh Duniya Ki Inaayat Ne Dil Tod Diya" | Traditional | |
| Sudarshan Fakir | 25 | "Laila Majnu Ke Misaalon Pe Hansi Aati" | Ghazal | Khaiyyam |
| Firaq Gorakhpuri | 26 | "Sar Mein Sauda Bhi Nahin" | Traditional | Murli Manohar Swarup |
| Mirza Ghalib | 27 | "Aah Ko Chahiiye Ek Umar Asar Hone Tak" | Traditional | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 28 | "Bas Ke Dushwar" | | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 29 | "Dayam Pada Hua Tere Dar Par" | Traditional | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 30 | "Dard Minnat Kash-E-Dawa Na Hua" | Traditional | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 31 | "Dil Hi To Hai Na Sung-O-Khisht" | Traditional | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 32 | "Ibn-E-Mariyam Hua Kare Koi" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Mirza Ghalib | 33 | "Koi Umeed Bar Nahin Aati" | Traditional | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 34 | "Phir Mujhe Deeda-E-Tar Yaad Aaya" | Traditional | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 35 | "Rahiye Ab Aisi Jagah Chalkar Jahan Koi Na Ho" | | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 36 | "Sab Kahan Kuchh Laal-o-Gul" | | |
| Mirza Ghalib | 37 | "Taskin Ko Hum Na Royein" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Mirza Ghalib | 38 | "Yeh Na Thi Hamari Kismet" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Mirza Ghalib | 39 | "Zikr Us Parivash Ka" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |
| Shamim Jaipuri | 40 | "Bazm Se Unki Ham Kya Laaye" | Traditional | |
| Shamim Jaipuri | 41 | "Ilahi Kash Ghum-E-Ishq" | Ghazal | |
| Shamim Jaipuri | 42 | "Nao Saahil Pe Dagmagai Hai" | Ghazal | |
| Shamim Jaipuri | 43 | "Na Socha Na Samjha" | Ghazal | |
| Shamim Jaipuri | 44 | "Sakht Hai Ishq Ki Rehguzar" | Ghazal | |
| Shamim Jaipuri | 45 | "Zameen Pe Rah Kar Dimaag Aasman Pe Rehta Hai | Ghazal | |
| Ali Ahmed Jaleeli | 46 | "Ab Chhalakte Hue Sagar Nahin Dekhe Jaate" | Ghazal | Begum Akhtar |
| Ali Ahmed Jaleeli | 47 | "Khushi Ne Mujhko Thukraya" | Ghazal | Khaiyyam |
| Fana Nizami Kanpuri | 48 | "Jab Bhi Nazam-E-Maikada Badla Gaya" | Ghazal | Murli Manohar Swarup |
| Fana Nizami Kanpuri | 49 | "Mere Chehre Se Gham Aashkara" | | Murli Manohar Swarup |
| Mir Taqi Mir | 50 | "Ulti Ho Gayin Sab Tadbirein" | Ghazal | |
| Mir Taqi Mir | 51 | "Dil Ki Baat Kahin Nahi Jaati" | Traditional | |
| Amir Minai | 52 | "Haalaat Maikade Ke Karwat" | Ghazal | |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 53 | "Koi Yeh Keh De Gulshan Gulshan" | Ghazal | Begum Akhtar |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 54 | "Duniya Ke Sitam Yaad" | Traditional | |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 55 | "Hum Ko Mita Sakay Yeh Zamanay May Dam Nahin" | | |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 56 | "Is Ishq Ke Haathon Se Hargis" | | Khaiyyam |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 57 | "Kya Cheez Gham-E-Ishq Ki" | | |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 58 | "Saqiya Chhod Na Khaali" | | Khaiyyam |
| Jigar Moradabadi | 59 | "Tabiyat in Dinon Begana-E-Gam Hoti Jaati Hai" | | |
| Momin | 60 | "Woh Jo Hum Mein Tum Mein Qarar Tha" | | Khaiyyam |
| Amir Qazalbash | 61 | "Unki Berukhi Mein Bhi" | Ghazal | Murli Manhar Swarup |
| Taskeen Qureshi | 62 | "Ab Toh Yehi Hain Dil Ki Duaayein" | Traditional | |
| Taskeen Qureshi | 63 | "Kis Se Poochhein' | Ghazal | |
| Taskeen Qureshi | 64 | "Khayal-E-Kaba-Otaiba" | Ghazal | Khaiyyam |
| Saeed | 65 | "Abhi Josh-e-Baharaan Dekhna Hai" | Traditional | |
| Saeed | 66 | "Phoolon Ki Rut Hai Thandi Hawaaen" | | |
| Shaz Tamkanat | 67 | "Mere Naseeb Ne Jab Mujh Se" | Traditional | Murli Manhar Swarup |
| Mirza Rafi Sauda | 68 | "Gul Phenke Hain" | Ghazal | |
| Zauq | 69 | "Laayi Hayaat Aaye Qaza Le Chali Chale" | Traditional | Khaiyyam |

### Other

| No. | Song | Notes | Composer |
| 70 | "Aaye Balam Karam More Jaage" | Dadra in Mishra Khamaj, Tal Kaharwa | |
| 71 | "Ab Kaisi Kati Mori Sooni Sejariya" | Thumri in Mishra Pilu Kafi, Tal Chaanchar | |
| 72 | "Ab Ke Sawan Ghar Aa Ja" | Thumri (Sawan) | |
| 73 | "Ada-e-Naaz Ko Zaalim" | Qawali | |
| 74 | "Ashkon Mein Koi Husn Hi Paya Nahin Jaata" | Ghazal | |
| 75 | "Badar Dekh Dari" | Dadra | |
| 76 | "Bahut Din Beete" | Thumri | |
| 77 | "Balamwa Tum Kya Jaano Preet" | Dadra in Mishra Madhukauns, Tal Kaharwa | |
| 78 | "Balamwa Tum Kya Jaano Preet" | Dadra in Mishra Kirwani, Tal Kaharwa | |
| 79 | "Chahe Kachhu Hoye" | Thumri | |
| 80 | "Chha Rahi Kali Ghata" | Dadra in Gaud Malhar | |
| 81 | "Dil Mein Teri Nisan" | Ghazal | |
| 82 | "Donon Pe Hai Sadqe Dil-E-Shaida Madina" | | |
| 83 | "Farza Hai Mehafile" | | |
| 84 | "Ghir Kar Aayi Badariya Ram" | Kajri | |
| 85 | "Hamar Kahin Mano Rajaji" | Thumri | |
| 86 | "Hamko Nazar Se Apani" | Ghazal | |
| 87 | "Hum Pachatane Sajanaba" | Thumri | |
| 88 | "Hum Raunak-e-Hasti Ka" | Ghazal | |
| 89 | "Humri Atariya Pe Aao" | Thumri | |
| 90 | "Hungama-E-Gham Se" | | |
| 91 | "Is Darja Bad Guman Se Hum" | Thumri | |
| 92 | "Jab Se Shayam Sidhare" | Thumri | |
| 93 | "Ja Re Ja Kaaga" | Thumri in Mishra Pahari, Tal Chaanchar | |
| 94 | "Kahun Kaise SharamKi Hai Baat" | Dadra Raga Bhihag | |
| 95 | "Kal Nahi Aaye" | Thumri in Mishra Bhairavi, Tal Deepchandi | |
| 96 | "Kaisi Bansiya Bajai" | Thumri Raga Pilu | |
| 97 | "Kaisi Yeh Dhoom Machayi" | Hori Thumri | |
| 98 | "Katte Na Birha Ki Raat" | Thumri in Mishra Talang, Tal Chaanchar | |
| 99 | "Kaun Kase Sharam Kia Hai Baat" | Dadra : Raga Bihag | |
| 100 | "Kaun Tarah Se Tum Khelat Hori Re" | Hori Raga Kafi | |
| 101 | "Khoone Dil Ka Jo Kuchh" | Ghazal | |
| 102 | "Khudaki Shan Hai" | Ghazal | |
| 103 | "Khushi Ne Mujhko Thukraya Hai, Dard O Gham Ne Paala" | | |
| 104 | "Kya Soje Mohabbat Mein" | Ghazal | |
| 105 | "Lagi Beriya Piya Ke Avan Ki" | Thumri | |
| 106 | "Main Tere Sang Na" | Pat Manjri | |
| 107 | "Main Voh Badnasib Hoon" | Ghazal | |
| 108 | "Mat Kar Preet Hum Pacchtaye" | Dadra in Mishra Kafi, Tal Kaharwa | |
| 109 | "Mere Jahan Mohabbat Par" | Ghazal | |
| 110 | "Mora Balam Pardesiya" | Thumri | |
| 111 | "Mori Toot Gai Aas" | Poorvi Dadra | |
| 112 | "Muft Huye Badnaam Saanwariya Tere Liye" | Dadra | |
| 113 | "Na Ja Balam Pardes" | Raga Mishra Khamaj | Khaiyyam |
| 114 | "Najaraya Kahe Phere Re Balama" | | |
| 115 | "Nanadiya Kahe Mare" | | |
| 116 | "Nihur Nihure Balam" | Thumri | |
| 117 | "O Bedardi Sapne Mein Aa Ja" | Dadra | |
| 118 | "Papiha Dheere Dheere Bol" | Dadra in Mishra Talang, Tal Kaharwa (Sawan) | |
| 119 | "Pirai Mori Akhiyan" | Dadra Raga Pilu | |
| 120 | "Piya Nahi Aaye" | Thumri in Mishra Gara, Tal Chaanchar | |
| 121 | " Sajadon Ka Jabin Par Hai Nisha" | Ghazal (Shaukat Tanvi) | |
| 122 | "Sajani Ke Liye Tan Man Dhan" | Geet | |
| 123 | "Saqiya Chhod Na Khali" | | |
| 124 | "Shyam Na Aabtak Aaye" | Dadra | |
| 125 | "Sundar Sari Mori" | Traditional | |
| 126 | "Sunle Sajani Dilki Baat" | Geet | |
| 127 | "Tasveer Ban Gaya Hun" | Ghazal | |
| 128 | "Tu Hi Bharosa" | | |
| 129 | "Tum Jao Jao Jao Mose Na Bolo" | Dadra Raga Khamaj | |
| 130 | "Tune Bute Harjai" | Ghazal | |
| 131 | "Tum Jao Jao Mose Na Bolo" | Dadra Raga Khamaj | |
| 132 | "Unse Jab Tyori Badalkar" | | |
| 133 | "Usay Kis Taraha Se Sakun Ho" | Ghazal | |
| 134 | "Wafa Nahin Na Sahi" | Ghazal | |
| 135 | "Wafaon Ke Badle" | Ghazal | |
| 136 | "Woh Aa Rahein Hain" | Ghazal | |
| 137 | "Yun To Chahe Yahan Saheb" | Ghazal | |

### Bengali

| No. | Song | Composer | Lyricist |
| 138 | "Chupi Chupi Chole Na Giye" | Robi Guha Mazumder | Robi Guha Mazumder |
| 139 | "Jochona Koreche Aari" | Robi Guha Mazumder | Robi Guha Mazumder |
| 140 | "Ei Mousume Paradeshe" | Robi Guha Mazumder | Robi Guha Mazumder |
| 141 | "Koyelia Gaan Thama Ebar" | Jnanprakash Ghosh | Jnanprakash Ghosh |
| 142 | "Phiraye Diyo Na More Shunya Haate" | Jnanprakash Ghosh | Pulak Banerjee |
| 143 | "Phire Ja Phire Ja Bone" | Robi Guha Mazumder | Robi Guha Mazumder |
| 144 | "Phire Keno Ele Na" | Jnanprakash Ghosh | Jnanprakash Ghosh |
| 145 | "Piya Bholo Abhiman" | Jnanprakash Ghosh | Jnanprakash Ghosh |

### Gujarati

| No. | Song | Notes | ref |
| 146 | "Me Kari Tari" | Ghazal | |
| 147 | "Sun Jalun Ke Kooi Ni Jaaho Jalaali Thaaey Chey" | Ghazal | |

## Film

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have no record of Begum Akhtar songs |
| Film | No. | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Director | Notes/ref |
| Nal O Damyanti (1933) † | 1 | | | | | |
| Naach Rang (1933) † | 2 | | | | | |
| Ek Din Ka Badshah (1933) | 3 | "Woh Asire-Daame-Bala Hoon" | Moti Babu, N. R. Bhattacharya | Shivshankar Shastri | Rajhans | |
| Ameena (1934) † | 4 | | | | | |
| Mumtaz Begum (1934) † | 5 | | | | | |
| Jawani Ka Nasha (1935) | 6 | "Koyalia Mat Kar Pukar" | Ramzan Khan | Agha Jani Kashmiri | Manjur Ahmad, Nazar Ajimabadi | |
| Jahanara (1935) | 7 | "Paayi Fokat Ki Daulat Apni Khul Gayi Kismat" | Master Chhailaram Solanki | | F. R. Irani | |
| Jahanara (1935) | 8 | "Ae Mere Khaibar Shakan Aka Madda Farmaiye" | Master Chhailaram Solanki | | | |
| Naseeb Ka Chakkar (1936) | 9 | "Kaljug Hai Jabse Aaya Maya Ne Jaal Bichhaya" | Brijlal Verma | Munshi Haider Hussain Lucknowi | Pesi Karani | |
| Roti (1942) | 10 | "Phir Faasle Bahar Aayi" | Anil Biswas | Safdar Aah | Mehboob Khan | |
| Roti (1942) | 11 | "Char Dinon Ki Jawani" | Anil Biswas | Safdar Aah | | |
| Roti (1942) | 12 | "Rahne Laga Hai Dil Mein Andhera Tere Bagair" | Anil Biswas | Behzad Lucknowi | | |
| Roti (1942) | 13 | "Ae Prem Teri Balihari Ho" | Anil Biswas | Safdar Aah | | |
| Roti (1942) | 14 | "Ulajh Gaye Nainwa" | Anil Biswas | Arzu Lucknavi | | |
| Roti (1942) | 15 | "Wo Hans Rahe Hain Aah Kiye Ja Raha Hun Main" | Anil Biswas | Arzu Lucknavi | | |
| Panna Dai (1945) | 16 | "Fasle Gul Aayi Hame Yaad Teri Sataane Lagi" | Gyan Dutt | D. N. Madhok | Ram Daryani | |
| Panna Dai (1945) | 17 | "Main Raja Ko Apne Rijha Ke Rahungi" | Gyan Dutt | Diwan Sharar | | |
| Daana Pani (1953) | 18 | "Ae Ishq Mujhe Aur Toh Kuch" | Mohan Junior | Kaif Irfani | V. M. Vyas | |
| Ehsan (1954) † | 19 | "Hamein Dil Mein Basa Lo Yeh Kehte Hain" | Madan Mohan | Kaif Irani | R. Sharma | Unreleased song |
| Jalsaghar (1956) | 20 | "Bhar Bhar Aaye" | Vilayat Khan | | Satyajit Ray | |