Shamshad Begum is an accomplished Indian playback singer, who is reckoned as one of the first playback singers in the film industry. Shamshad was born on April 14, 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab. She used to earn just 15 rupees per song at that time when she was introduced to playback singing. She was inducted into radio singing through Peshawar Radio. She has worked for Lahore as well as Delhi Stations. But she made her debut at the Lahore station on December 16, 1937. The radio listeners were all mesmerised with the `enchanting depth` of her voice.

The world of motion picture opened up to Shamshad Begum with AIR (All India Radio). Like other female singers of that time, she was not very beautiful. Infact before the end of 1970s, nobody recognised her face. It was Naushad Ali and O.P.Nayar who frequently made Shamshad sing to their tunes. Even today listeners are hypnotised by her renditions from the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. She used to sing with her musical group-The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts for All India Radio (AIR), based in Delhi.

Shamshad Begum apart from executing film songs has also recorded "naats" and devotional music with a couple of big gramaphone recording companies. However during this time, sarangi maestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale Saheb, after recognizing her talent took her as his disciple. It was an honour indeed for Shamshad. By that time, under the music direction of Lahore-based composer Ghulam Haider, she performed in some of his films like, Khazanchi (released in 1941) and Khandaan (released in 1942). As Haider moved to Mumbai (then known as Bombay) in the year 1944, Shamshad Begum also shifted with him as a member of his team.

Naushad Ali, Ram Ganguly, S.D. Burman, O.P. Nayyar, and Khemchand Prakash were the music directors who have recognized her talent. With songs like "O, Lagi Lagi" (from the film Aaan), "Dhadkar Mera Dil" (from the film Babul), "Teri Mehfil Main Kismat Azma kar Hum Bhi Dekhenge" (from the film Mughal-E-Azam), "Chhau Main Rakha Virana" (from the film Deedar), "Holi Aayi Re Kanhai" (from the film Mother India), she became the `national rage`. The music of all the above mentioned songs were composed by Naushad.

Shamshad Begum later on sang the first Westernised song, Meri jaan...Sunday ke Sunday under the music direction of C. Ramchandra. After singing this song she fetched the honour of being the first one to render such a westernised song. According to O.P.Nayyar, Shamshad Begum`s voice is somewhat a `temple bell for its clarity of tone`. She sang songs in the historical venture of Mehboob Khan`s Humayun, under the music direction of Master Ghulam Haider in 1944. At that time, another singer Amirbai Karnatki was ruling the film world of Bombay. The introduction of Shamshad Begum into this dream world created a ripple amongst the contemporary composers. A prolific career of Shamshad greared up with this successful induction, which persisted until the mid-late 1950s. Outstanding music directors like C. Ramchandra, S.D. Burman, Naushad, and O.P.Nayyar have used her vocals in most of their films.

Shamshad Begum became a `national rage` within the period of 1940s and late 1950s. With her nasal voice she has carved an independent image--a voice different from her peers--Lata, Asha, Geeta, etc. Till date she has given many memorable hits to her credit. Even after her formal retirement in 1960s, she sang "Kajra mohabbatwala ankhiyon mein aisa dala" for the film `Kismat`. The music for the song was composed by O.P. Nayyar and was declared a super hit. Her duet with Kishore Kumar, "Meri neendon main tum, meri khwabon mein tum" from the film Naya Andaz (music composed by O. P. Nayyar), was also a huge hit. Even today this song is reckoned as a touchstone of melodious romance.

Even today Shamshad Begum is regarded as the spectacularly beautiful woman in her youth. She has performed live, both on-stage and on All India Radio through her musical group. Other hits given by Shamshad Begum are "Kabhi Aar, Kabhi Paar" (Aar Paar), "Poochh Mera Kya Naam Re, Nadi Kinare Gaon Re" (CID) under the music composition of O.P. Nayyar. "Saiyan Dil main Aana Re, Aake Chhup Na Jana Re" (Bahaar - S. D. Burman), "Ai Dil Na Mujhe Yaad Dila" (Saawan Aaya Re - Khemchand Prakash) and "Kaahe Koyal Shor Machaye" (Aaag - Ram Ganguly) are other hits of Shamshad.