Surinder Kaur Biography 
Surinder Kaur was a Punjabi singer who predominantly sang folk songs and was also known as a lyricist. She has been one of the popular female voices who popularized Punjabi folk songs and known by the name, ‘Nightingale of Punjab’. Her career spans to about 6 decades in music. She has also done playback singing for Hindi films during the period - 1948-1952. She sang Punjabi Sufi Kafis of Bulleh Shah and verses by contemporary poets like Amrita Pritam and Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Her wedding songs like Athe di chadar, Suhe ve cheere waleya and Kaala doria is an integral part of Punjabi culture. Noted Punjabi singers - Prakash Kaur is her sister and Dolly Guleria is her daughter.
Kaur was born in Lahore (present Pakistan) in British India on November 25, 1929. Kaur made her professional debut in Lahore radio station in the year 1943. Same month, on August 31, 1943, she and her elder sister, Parkash Kaur sang a duet, “Maavan ’te dheean ral baithian” which became very popular. After partition, her family relocated to Delhi. She married Prof. Joginder Singh Sodhi, a lecturer in Punjabi literature at Delhi University who supported her singing career. She was introduced to Hindi film singing field by music director, Ghulam Haider. Badnam Na Ho Jaye Mohabbat Ka Fasaana, Aanaa hai tho aajaao and Taqdeer ki aandhi of Shaheed (1948) are her popular Hindi songs.
But later she returned to Punjabi folk music and played a significant part for its revival. According to her, it was her husband who made her a star. Together they have penned many lyrics such as "Chan Kithe Guzari Aai Raat," "Lathe Di Chadar," "Shonkan Mele Di," "Gori Diyan Jhanjran" and "Sarke-Sarke Jandiye Mutiare". They were members of IPTA, an arm of the Indian Communist party in Punjab. As a singer, Kaur’s popular songs are Maavan ’te dheean, Jutti kasuri paireen na poori, Madhaniyan, Ehna akhiyan ’ch pavan kiven kalra and Ghaman di raat lammi.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 30, 2017
