Jagjit Kaur, playback singer and wife of late composer Khayyam, dies at 93

Jagjit Kaur, a veteran singer and the wife of the late composer Khayyam, died at her residence in Juhu, Mumbai on Sunday. She was 93.

The artiste had been suffering from age-related illnesses.

Speaking to the Press Trust of India news agency, Pritam Sharma, spokesperson of the Khayyam Jagjit Kaur KPG Charitable Trust, said on Sunday, "The last rites will be performed with limited attendance today at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Vile Parle."

Beginning her career in Anjuman (1948), Jagjit Kaur went on to lend her voice to films such as Dil-E-Nadaan (1953), Shola Aur Shabnam (1961), Shagoon (1964), Heer Ranjha (1970), as well as iconic films like Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Umrao Jaan (1981) and Bazaar (1982). 

Some of her most popular songs are 'Pehle To Aankh Milana' from Shola Aur Shabnam, 'Tum Apna Ranjo-Gham Apni Pareshani' and 'Sada Chidiya Da Chamba Ve' from Kabhi Kabhie and 'Dekh Lo Aaj Humko Jee Bhar Ke' from Bazaar as well as 'Kaho Ko Biyahi Pardes' from Umrao Jaan. 

The singer married Khayyam in 1954. After the passing of the couple's son, Pradeep, in 2012, they started the Khayyam Jagjit Kaur KPG Charitable Trust to help artistes and technicians in need. She was overseeing the functioning of the trust after the legendary composer's passing in 2019.

Several prominent personalities took to Twitter to pay their respects to the artiste.