Wikipedia
Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh (15 June 1929 – 31 January 2004) was an Indian Hindi/ Hindustani film actress and playback singer in Bollywood in 1940s to early 1960s. She was one of the most popular actresses and singers of the Indian sub-continent of her generation. Only till 1943, as a child singer Suraiya gave play-back for one actress, namely, Mehtab in three films and also in some of her own films for her role as a child artiste. After which, she only sang for her films as an actress, and as a heroine after 1945 till 1963.
She was the only child of her parents. She had natural talent for singing, acting and dancing from childhood. She got basic music training in childhood, when her mother used to take her to Hindustani music trainer or 'masterji' for training. She first sang for a children's program for All India Radio in 1937. Later on Naushad gave her on the job 'training', while recording. She went on to become a most successful singing film star. She first sang for a children's program for All India Radio in 1937. She had received training in dancing from Mumtaz Ali, dancer-actor and father of famous comedian, Mehmood. She was also known for her North Indian Muslim feudal style acting or 'Adakari' in many of her films ( Mirza Ghalib, Phool, Afsar, Shayar, Jeet, Anmol Ghadi, Dastan). This style 'endowed modernity with an aura of tradition' and brought nostalgic feudal tinge to the scenes. Her performance 'expertly integrated gestures, music and speech'. Suraiya in her hey days was known as Malika-e-Husn (queen of beauty), Malika-e-Tarannum (queen of melody) and Malika-e-Adakaari (queen of acting), all rolled into one.