Prabha Bharti

Prabha Bharti (died 2000s) was a noted Indian qawaali and ghazal singer of the 1960s to the 1990s. She was one of the first women qawwali-singer (qawwal) of India, a form of Sufi devotional music traditionally a reserve of male singers.[1][2] She is known for her album, "Rang-e-Qawwali" (1978), which features qawaalis, "Chhaap Tilak" and "Mai Ni Mai",[3] besides album, "Prabha Bharti Ghazal & Qawali" with music by Kesar Singh Narula released by Gramophone Company of India (HMV-EMI).[4]

Prabha Bharti
Died2000s
Occupation(s)qawaali and ghazal singer
Years active1960s–1990s

Career

When she started her career, she found herself being "taken in more as a prop", however subsequently the trend of female qawwals became popular. Later filmi qawwali in Bollywood started depicting the battle of sexes, wherein male and female qawwal competed against each other.[2] Born in a Hindu family, she was a sought after singer in Sufi circles, and performed at commercial as well as private venues and shrines.[5]

At the peak of her career in the 1970s and 1980s, he was a leading qawwal in states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and large cities. She won many qawwali competitions against male qawwals, including Ustad Chhote Ussaf, Nazir Bharati, Afzal Iqbal, and Imam Khan.[6] She even organized concerts to raise funds for Indian Army soldiers during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.[6][7] In 1980, as a part of Indian Republic day celebrations, the Indian Council for Public Relation sponsored a series of her performances along with her "party" (group) in Middle-Eastern countries like Dubai, Kuwait, Damascus, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.[8][9]

She was also performed a few song as a Bollywood playback singer, she flourished during the 1970s and 1980s and remained active till the 1990s. She lived in Andheri, Mumbai, and died in the late 2000s.[10][11]

References
  1. Alokparna Das (Dec 14, 2008). "Different pitch". Indian Express. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  2. Deepika Vij (March 3, 2000). "Qawwali struggling to retain form". The Tribune. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. "Range Qawwali (1978)". Delhi Public Library. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  4. "Prabha Bharti Ghazal & Qawali - Bollywood Ost Lp - Kesar Singh Narula". Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  5. Kelly Pemberton (31 July 2010). Women mystics and sufi shrines in India. University of South Carolina Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-57003-919-5. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  6. Ajīta Kaura; Arpana Cour (1976). Directory of Indian Women Today, 1976. India International Publications. p. 534. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  7. Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces, 1993, p. 20, retrieved 5 July 2013
  8. Cultural News from India. Indian Council for Public Relations. 1980. p. 78. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  9. Indian and Foreign Review. Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 1980. p. 29. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  10. Tripathi, Shailaja (March 5, 2011). "Song and struggle". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 July 2013. .. passed away a few years back. (2011)
  11. Rubeena Film Directory. Rubeena Collection. 2002. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
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