Shakeela Bano (English: Shakeela Bano, born- 1942; died- 16 December, 2002) is a famous Indian Qawwal. Shakeela Bano, the identity of Bhopal, has the status of being the first female Qawwal. After a long struggle, he got the opportunity to showcase his talent in films and on stage. Shakeela Bano is famous in countries outside India also. He has presented his programs in countries like East Africa, England and Kuwait etc.
Introduction
The country’s first female Qawwal Shakeela Bano was born in 1942. After many days of long struggle, he got the opportunity to work in films. Gradually she started presenting programs in other cities of India also. Shakeela Bano never married. He is survived by his sister and a brother. There was a time when the idea of a female Qawwal was a distant thing. At that time, the arrival of a female Qawwal on the stage was surprising to the people, but Shakeela Bano created her own influence through her outspoken style and domineering personality. In his early days, he teamed up with Jani Babu Qawwal and the on-stage competition between the two kept the audience captivated.
career
In the fifties, Shakeela Bano came to Mumbai on the invitation of famous actor Dilip Kumar. The lovers of Qawwali accepted him wholeheartedly. He also gave the magic of his voice in films. In 1957, producer Sir Jagmohan Mattoo especially gave him an opportunity to act in his film ‘Jagir’. After this she got many opportunities to play the role of co-actress and character actress. HMV company made her first record in 1971 and Shakeela Bano became recognized all over India for her beauty and talent.
Shakeela Bano died on 16 December, 2002[2] happened in. In the year 1984, gas leak in Bhopal took away her voice from Shakeela Bano. In her last days, she started suffering from asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure. In his last days he saw a life of considerable deprivation. Some filmmakers like Jackie Shroff also helped him, but it was not enough. Shakeela Bano Bhopali had left everything to fate, like the lines of one of her famous qawwali – “Now I have left it to you whether it gives me poison or jam…”
