Swaran Lata

Swaran Lata, (1924-2008) was a Pakistani film actress. She was born into a Sikh family in Rawalpindi, British India in 1924. She became a shining star in the film industry first in India and later on in Pakistan. She was described as a "Tragedy Queen" because of her intense presence on screen and her apt dialogue delivery.

After completing her education, she joined Academy of Music and Arts -
Lucknow. In early 1940's her family was moved to Bombay. Swaran Lata started her career as an stage actress. Her first film was "Awaaz" released in 1942.

Sawarn Lata was born a Sikh and converted to Islam after she married Nazir Ahmed, a famous actor, director and producer at the time. She changed her name to "Saeeda Bano". The "Swaran-Nazir" pair was a very creative ensemble, churning out many movies together both before and after Partition.

In 1947, Swaran and Nazir migrated to Pakistan at the time of the Partition of India. They left everything they had behind in Bombay and shifted to Lahore. The duo had to start from scratch and in the process became one of the pioneers of the Pakistan film industry.

Swaran Lata was heroine of Pakistan's first ever silver jubilee film "Pherey". As heroine "Laarey", "Naukar", "Heer" and as character actress "Sawaal" were her big films.

Swaran Lata passed away at the age of 83 in Lahore on February 8, 2008. Swaran Lata had four children - Three daughters (Ismet Murshed, Iffat Rashed and Talat Abbasi) and a son (Aslam Nazir).

Filmography

* "Awaaz" (1942) Hindi film
* "Tasveer" (1943) Hindi film
* "Pratigya" (1943) Hindi film
* "Ishara" (1943) Hindi film
* "Us Paar" (1944) Hindi film
* "Raunaq" (1944) Hindi film
* "Ratan" (1944) Hindi film
* "Ghar Ki Shobha" (1944) Hindi film
* "Preet" (1945) Hindi film
* "Laila Majnu" (1945) Hindi film
* "Pratima" (1945) Hindi film
* "Chand Tara" (1945) Hindi film
* "Wamaq Azra" (1946) Hindi film
* "Shaam Savera" (1946) Hindi film
* "Abida" (1947) Hindi film
* "Gharbar" (1948) Hindi film
* "Sachai" (1949) Urdu film
* "Pherey" (1949) Punjabi film
* "Anokhi Daastan" (1950) Urdu film
* "Laaray" (1950) Punjabi film
* "Bheegi Palken" (1952) Urdu film
* "Sheri Babu" (1953) Punjabi film
* "Khatoon" (1955) Urdu film
* "Naukar" (1955) Urdu film
* "Heer" (1955) Punjabi film
* "Sabira" (1956) Urdu film
* "Soteeli Maa" (1956) Urdu film
* "Noor-e-Islam" (1957) Urdu film
* "Shama" (1959) Urdu film
* "Billo Jee" (1962) Punjabi film
* "Azmat-e-Islam" (1965) Urdu film
* "Sawaal" (1966) Urdu film
* "Duniya Na Maney" (1971) Urdu film

External links

*
* [http://www.dawn.com/weekly/images/archive/080217/images2.htm In memoriam: Swaran Lata (1924-2008) The end of a great innings - DAWN.com]
* [http://www.dawn.com/weekly/images/archive/060611/images11.htm The years gone by: Swaran Lata - DAWN.com]
* [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C02%5C14%5Cstory_14-2-2008_pg3_7 Swarnlata - Daily Times]