Mumbai. Since ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Jai Ho and ‘RRR’ Natu-Natu, Indian songs and music have been playing all over the world. Indian singers are working closely with many foreign singers. But have you heard the name of Indian singer Gauhar Jaan? Have you ever heard his songs? No, so here we are telling you about them. His birth anniversary was on 26 June. He was born in the year 1873. His fees were so high that even today’s singers will not be able to match him.
Gauhar Jaan’s fees were so high that everyone used to think twice before asking her to perform. According to reports, at that time when the price of 10 grams of gold was Rs 20, Gauhar Jaan used to charge Rs 3000 to record a song. If compared according to today’s inflation, then it will be around 1 crore rupees.
Hearing Gauhar Jaan’s songs was a dream for the common people, so the gramophone company recorded her songs and made them available to the general public. He was also given a private train when he was invited to sing. Gauhar Jaan used to wear precious gold and silver jewelery and never repeated her jewellery. Gauhar Jaan was India’s first crorepati singer.
Even though Gauhar Jaan created history in singing and changed the map of the music industry, but her childhood was full of struggles and she spent her childhood in a brothel. Gauhar Jaan also faced many problems in her personal life as she was cheated by her relatives. According to reports, Gauhar Jaan, who was once a millionaire, died due to lack of money.
Gauhar Jaan was born in Azamgarh. His father was English and mother was from Armenia. When she was 6 years old, her parents got divorced. Mother Victoria took him to Banaras, where he took training from some of the great music and dance masters of that era. After this Victoria came to Kolkata in 1883 and changed her name to Malka Jaan and Eileen became Gauhar Jaan.