The singer, now faded in oblivion, is known as the voice behind evergreen hits like Mujhko Apne Gale Lagaa Lo, O Mere Humrahi and Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Yun Hamari Yaad Aayegi, apart from Hum Haal-e-dil Sunaenge from Bimal Roy's classic Madhumati (1958).
Begum
is unwell for quite some time has been living a life in penury due to a tottering financial condition. She gets a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,400 from the state government and lives in a small house in Behrampauda area in western suburb of Jogeshwari with an ailing daughter and a son, who drives a taxi.
Though widely appreciated in the 1950s and the 1960s, Begum did not attain pole position in the Hindi mainstream movies.