Shamshad Begum (born April 14, 1919) is an Indian singer who was one of the… Read Full Bio ↴Shamshad Begum (born April 14, 1919) is an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry.
Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab. She was a big fan of K.L. Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times. She earned 15 rupees per song and was awarded 5,000 on the completion of the contract on Xenophone, a renowned music recording company.

Begum made her debut on radio on Peshawar Radio in Lahore on December 16, 1937, captivating the hearts of her listeners with the enchanting depth of her voice. Shamshad was very much conscious of her not so beautiful face and she never posed for any pictures and not many people saw her pictures anywhere. Until the end of the 1970s, nobody knew her face at all, though everybody could recognise her melodious voice as it was used by the great maestros like Naushad Ali and O. P. Nayyar. Even today, her songs from the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s are popular and continue to be remixed by music directors.

Begum sang for the All India Radio (AIR) through her musical group 'The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts', set up in Delhi. The then AIR Lahore helped her entering the world of movies as they frequently broadcast her songs, which induced music directors to use her voice for their films. Shamshad also recorded naats and devotional music for a couple of gramophone recording companies.
Her crystal-clear voice caught the attention of sarangi maestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale Saheb, who took her as his disciple. Lahore-based composer Ghulam Haider used her voice skillfully in some of his earlier films like Khazanchi (1941) and Khandaan (1942). When he moved to Bombay in 1944, Shamshad went with him as a member of his team, leaving behind her family and staying with her Chacha (paternal uncle). She is credited with singing one of the first Westernised songs, Meri jaan...Sunday ke Sunday by C. Ramchandra. O.P. Nayyar describes her voice as that of a "temple bell" for its clarity of tone. Begum became a national rage between the 1940s and the late 1950s, having a voice different from her peers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt and Amirbai Karnataki.

Yeh Afsana Nahin Zalim
Shamshad Begum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

यह अफसाना नहीं ज़ालिम
मेरे दिल की हकीकत है
मुझे तुम से मोहब्बत है
मुझे तुम से मोहब्बत है
यह अफसाना नहीं ज़ालिम
मेरे दिल की हकीकत है

लगी है आग सीने में नहीं

कुछ लुत्फ़ जीने में
नजर कुछ कहे नहीं सकती
कहे बिन रहे नहीं सकती
तुम्हे कयूं कर मैं समझौ
मुझे तुम से मोहब्बत है
यह अफसाना नहीं ज़ालिम
मेरे दिल की हकीकत है
मचलती हैं तमन्नाये
कहीं रुसवा न हो जाये
कहीं रुसवा न हो जाये
मुसीबत उलझने दिल की
क़यामत धड़कने दिल की
तुम्हे कयूं कर मैं समझौ
मुझे तुम से मोहब्बत है
यह अफसाना नहीं ज़ालिम
मेरे दिल की हकीकत है

न जीती हूँ न मरती हूँ
कालिश महसूस करती हूँ
कहीं ऐसा न हो जाये
कली खिलते ही मुरझाये
तुम्हे क्यूँ कर मैं समझौ
मुझे तुम से मोहब्बत है

यह अफसाना नहीं ज़ालिम
मेरे दिल की हकीकत है

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song, "Yeh Afsana Nahin Zalim" by Shamshad Begum, depict a deep and intense love that the singer feels in her heart. She expresses her love towards someone, emphasizing that it is not just a story or a fantasy but a reality that exists within her heart. The song conveys the message that the singer's love for the person is genuine and authentic.

The lyrics beautifully capture the emotions and longing of the singer. She describes that her heart is aflame with passion, and she finds solace in the love she shares with the person she is singing about. The singer believes that her eyes can't express the true depth of her feelings, and she can't live without voicing her love for the person. She questions why she should try to make him understand her love when it should be evident from her words and actions.

The song continues with the singer expressing her desires and fears. She mentions that her desires tremble and hope not to be disgraced. She highlights the troubles and confusions her heart goes through, as it beats like an impending catastrophe, intricately tangled and in danger. Once again, she questions why she should explain her feelings when her love is evident.

Towards the end of the song, the singer conveys that her existence is not defined by winning or losing, but she constantly feels the turmoil of emotional disturbances. She fears that her love may fade away like a flower that withers as soon as it blossoms. The singer expresses her hope that this does not happen but reiterates that her love for him is real and not just a tale or an illusion.

Overall, "Yeh Afsana Nahin Zalim" is a beautiful song that portrays the intense love and emotions of the singer, emphasizing the reality and authenticity of her feelings.

Line by Line Meaning

यह अफसाना नहीं ज़ालिम
This is not a cruel story

मेरे दिल की हकीकत है
It is the reality of my heart

लगी है आग सीने में नहीं
There is a fire burning inside me

कुछ लुत्फ़ जीने में
In living with some enjoyment

नजर कुछ कहे नहीं सकती
Eyes cannot express anything

कहे बिन रहे नहीं सकती
Without saying anything, they cannot exist

तुम्हे कयूं कर मैं समझौ
Why should I try to understand you

मुझे तुम से मोहब्बत है
I am in love with you

मचलती हैं तमन्नाये
Desires are stirring

कहीं रुसवा न हो जाये
They shouldn't be disgraced

मुसीबत उलझने दिल की
The heart is tangled in troubles