Surinder Kaur, affectionately called “the Nightingale of Punjab,” was an iconic singer whose melodious voice left an everlasting impact on Indian music. She is known for her songs like “Sadke sadke jandiya,” “Maavan ‘te dheean,” “Jutti kasuri,” “Madhaniyan,” “Ehna akhiyan ‘ch pavan kiven kajra’,” “Ghaman di raat,” and “Bajre da sitta.”
Early Life
Surinder Kaur was a musical luminary born on November 25, 1929 in Kharar, Punjab, which is now part of Pakistan. Her family belonged to a conservative Sikh household. Her father, Bishan Dass, worked as a daily wager, while her mother, Maya Devi, was a homemaker. Surinder had eight siblings, including her elder sister Prakash Kaur and Narinder Kaur, who also became a renowned Punjabi singer. Surinder’s father, a local musician, recognized her talent early and encouraged her to sing.
She received rigorous training in Hindustani classical music under Ustad Inayat Hussain and Pandit Mani Parshad in Lahore. Her brother Harbans Singh played a key role in supporting her and Prakash, convincing their mother to allow formal training. Parkash Kaur, 10 years her senior and already an established and acclaimed singer, took little Surinder under her wing. In 1943, Parkash Kaur took her thirteen-year-old sister, Surinder Kaur, along to the studios of All India Radio Lahore. The rest is history. The following year, on August 31, 1943, she and Prakash recorded their first duet, “Maavan Te Dheeyan Ral Baithian,” for the His Master’s Voice label. The song, capturing the emotional bond between a mother and daughter, became a massive hit across the Indian subcontinent. Both sisters recorded several duets in each other’s company under the direction of music director Master Inayat Hussain.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Kaur and her parents moved to Ghaziabad, Delhi. In 1948, she married Professor Joginder Singh Sodhi, a Punjabi literature lecturer at Delhi University. Joginder ji greatly encouraged and supported her throughout her career.
Musical Career
Surinder Kaur was introduced to the Hindi film industry by Master Ghulam Haider. He also gave her a break in Mehandi (1947), where she sang the song “Woh Dekho Chaand Raat Aayi.” One of her most famous song “Badnam Na Ho Jaye Mohabbat Ka Fasaana” also came under Ghulam Haider. The film was Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal starrer Shaheed (1948). She sang two more songs “Aanaa Hai To Aajao,” and “hum kahaan aur thum kahaan,” in the film.
She also sang for films like Patjhad (1948), Shagan (1951), Kaneez (1949), Dada (1949), Badi Bahu (1951), Mutiyar (1951), Khamosh Sipahi (1950), Balo (1950), and Madari (1950).
Surinder Kaur again sang for Kamini Kaushal’s “Ankhiyan Mila Ke” in Nadiya ke Par. Some of her famous songs include “Kitne Door Hain Huzoor” in Pyar Ki Jeet, O “Bedardi Yun Mujhko Sataana” and “Ae Darde Mohabbat Toone Mujhe” in Singar, “Chanchal Man Kaahe Dhadke” in Lal Dupatta, “Jhaank Jharokhe Se Tu Mehlon Wale” in Sabak, “Main Mubarakbaad Dene Aayi Hoon” in Aandhiyan, “Majhdhaar Mein Kashti Doob Gayi” in Buzdil, “Ab Tere Bina Mera Nahin Thikana” in Naao, “Tum Sang Ankhiyan Mila Ke” in Sunehre Din, and many more.
Legendary Stage Career
However, her interest was in stage performances and reviving Punjabi folk songs. After a short but successful career in films, she eventually moved back to Delhi in 1952. Surinder Kaur and her elder sister, Parkash Kaur, played a pivotal role in pioneering and popularising this genre.
Surinder Kaur collaborated with numerous artists, enriching Punjabi music. She extensively worked with her equally iconic sisters Prakash Kaur and Narinder Kaur. One of her most frequent stage partner was Asa Singh Mastana, whom she first met in Russia in 1954. Their collaboration became a staple at cultural events. They recorded several duets, including the 1970 album Surinder Kaur & Asa Singh Mastana.
Surinder also worked with singers like Deedar Singh Pardesi, Karnail Gill, Harcharan Grewal, Rangila Jatt, and Didar Sandhu, recording over 2,000 songs. Her husband, Joginder Singh Sodhi, played a pivotal role in her career, selecting lyrics and collaborating on compositions. Together, they popularized classics like “Lathe Di Chadar,” “Shonkan Mele Di,” and “Gori Diyan Jhanjran.” Surinder’s sister Prakash Kaur was her earliest collaborator, with their 1943 duet marking her debut. Later, she performed with her daughter Dolly Guleria and granddaughter Sunaini Sharma, culminating in the 1995 album Surinder Kaur: The Three Generations, which featured 10 tracks across three generations.
Nightingale of Punjab
Surinder Kaur’s repertoire featured Punjabi Sufi Kafis by Baba Bulleh Shah. She also sang verses from contemporary poets like Nand Lal Noorpuri, Amrita Pritam, Mohan Singh, and Shiv Kumar Batalvi. She gifted the world timeless songs such as “Sadke sadke jandiya,” “Maavan ‘te dheean,” “Jutti kasuri,” “Madhaniyan,” “Ehna akhiyan ‘ch pavan kiven kajra’,” “Ghaman di raat,” and “Bajre da sitta.” Her wedding songs, including “Lathe di chadar,” “Suhe ve cheere waleya,” and “Kaala doria,” have become integral to Punjabi culture, echoing through generations. Surinder Kaur’s musical legacy continues to resonate, enriching the culture of India.
With a career spanning nearly six decades, Surinder Kaur earned the affectionate title of Nightingale of Punjab for her significant contributions to Punjabi music. Her musical journey was adorned with many awards and accolades. She recived the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984 and the prestigious Padma Shri in 2006. The Doordarshan documentary Punjab Di Koyal (2006) chronicled her life, later winning a National Award.
Personal Life
Surinder Kaur married Joginder Singh Sodhi, a professor of Punjabi literature at Delhi University, in 1948. Sodhi, whom she called her “friend, philosopher, and guide,” supported her career, choosing her lyrics and composing with her. They had three daughters: Dolly Guleria, Nandini Singh, and Promodini Jaggi. Dolly, a noted Punjabi folk singer, and her daughter Sunaini Sharma continued Surinder’s musical legacy. Sodhi passed away in 1976, a loss Surinder often reflected on, noting they never quarreled. After his death, she moved to Delhi, later settling in Panchkula in 2004 to be closer to her roots, near her daughter Dolly. She planned to build a house in Zirakpur, Chandigarh, but fell ill. Surinder traveled to the U.S. for treatment and died on June 14, 2006, in a New Jersey hospital at age 77 after a prolonged illness. Her passing marked the end of an era in Punjabi music.
Surinder Kaur passed away on June 14, 2006, in New Jersey, U.S., leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and enthrall music lovers. Her songs remain a testament to the enduring spirit of Punjabi culture and its folk traditions.
Surinder Kaur on IMDB
