The New Indian Express ·
Odisha Literary Festival 2026: Talat Mahmood’s legacy lives on through ghazals & global concerts
BHUBANESWAR: Talat Mahmood, one of the defining voices of India’s golden era of film music and a pioneer of ghazal singing, continues to resonate with younger generations, said journalist, author and Hunar TV founder Sahar Zaman at the Odisha Literary Festival (OLF-2026) here on Sunday.
In a conversation with senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai during the session ‘Decoding a Legend: The Life and Times of a Singing Star’, Zaman, grandniece of the legendary singer, recalled Mahmood’s journey from Lucknow to Kolkata and Mumbai, his rise as a playback singer and his later emergence as an actor.
Born into a culturally rich family in Lucknow, Mahmood grew up surrounded by mushairas and musical gatherings where artists such as Begum Akhtar and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan performed. Although his father was initially reluctant to see him pursue singing as a profession, Mahmood followed his passion.
